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Is Iran targeting internet cables?

Is Iran targeting internet cables?

2026-08-17

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Wall Street Journal revealed on Monday that Iran is considering options to respond to recent developments, including targeting internet cables and instigating external unrest.

The newspaper reported that Tehran considers the proposed memorandum of understanding to be an American and Israeli attempt to buy time, given the ongoing tensions.

The 60-day deadline stipulated in the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran expired Read more…

Trump reveals “secret” contact with the Revolutionary Guard: Iranians are good gamblers

Trump reveals “secret” contact with the Revolutionary Guard: Iranians are good gamblers

2026-08-17

Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he does not have a specific timetable regarding Iran, noting that there is a secret channel of communication with officials in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Trump told Fox News, “I’m not in a hurry with Iran, but they should raise the white flag and surrender,” describing the Iranian side as “a good gambler, but one that is breathing its last.” Read more…

Axios reveals a secret channel between Trump and the Revolutionary Guard, led by Nechirvan Barzani from Erbil.

Axios reveals a secret channel between Trump and the Revolutionary Guard, led by Nechirvan Barzani from Erbil.

2026-08-16

Shafaq News – Washington
A report by the American website ” Axios ” revealed on Sunday a secret communication channel established by the administration of President Donald Trump with the leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, in which the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, played the role of direct mediator, in an attempt to ascertain the position of the most influential military establishment in Iran regarding the negotiations aimed at ending the war.

According to the report translated by Shafaq News Agency, the US administration faced a fundamental problem Read more…

Iran offers a $30,000 reward for the capture or killing of a US soldier.

Iran offers a $30,000 reward for the capture or killing of a US soldier.

2026-08-16

Shafaq News – Tehran
The commander-in-chief of the Iranian army, Major General Amir Hatami, announced on Sunday that a financial reward of $30,000 has been allocated to anyone who manages to capture or kill an American soldier.

Hatami said during the celebration of Journalist Day, according to the Iranian news agency Fars, that any Iranian soldier who, with the participation of the people, manages to capture or kill an “aggressor American soldier” will receive a reward of $30,000. Read more…

Trump: I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory (Update)

Trump: I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory (Update)

2026-08-15

Shafaq News – Washington
On Friday evening, US President Donald Trump revealed his intention to soon declare the Strait of Hormuz “US territory,” while simultaneously threatening Iran with “strong economic blows.”

Trump added to Fox News: “I don’t care whether the economic hit comes before the midterm elections or not.”

He continued, “The naval blockade against Iran is ongoing and is a wall of steel; no ships will pass through unless we Read more…

Gold prices are falling as investors move to take profits.

Gold prices are falling as investors move to take profits.

8-14-2026

Information/Follow-up…
Gold prices fell on Friday as investors took profits after the precious metal hit its highest level in more than two months in the previous session.

The decline came after recent inflation data supported market expectations that the US Federal Reserve might not raise interest rates in September, which helped push gold to higher levels during the previous session.

Spot gold fell Read more…

The Toman under pressure: When the currency crisis becomes a mirror of the Iranian economy

The Toman under pressure: When the currency crisis becomes a mirror of the Iranian economy

8-13-2026

Researcher Shatha Khalil
The Iranian Toman crisis is no longer merely a fluctuation in the exchange market; it has become a reflection of the immense pressures facing the Iranian economy. The decline in the value of the local currency is now linked to a complex interplay of factors, most notably sanctions, military tensions, disruptions to shipping, and a drop in oil exports, coupled with high inflation. The problem is that the toman’s weakness is not confined to the currency market; it is rapidly impacting prices, production, and the purchasing power of ordinary citizens. Read more…

90 days… Pakistani predictions of an extension to the truce between Iran and America

90 days… Pakistani predictions of an extension to the truce between Iran and America

2026-08-12

Shafaq News – Islamabad
Pakistani security sources reported on Wednesday that the ceasefire agreed upon in mid-June, as part of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran, will be extended, according to the German news agency DPA.

Sources familiar with the matter told the agency that the extension could last for an additional 60 or even 90 days, but noted that it has not yet been decided whether the ceasefire extension will be officially announced. Read more…

Trump: We have complete control of Hormuz

Trump: We have complete control of Hormuz

2026-08-12

Shafaq News – Washington
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his country’s complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, while also indicating that Iran is unable to do anything about it.

Trump stated in a post on the Truth Social platform, which was monitored by Shafaq News Agency, that “everyone calls our naval blockade the ‘Wall of Steel,’ and I believe we will maintain this control.” Read more…

Former Mossad chief: Our agents entered Iran’s Fordow facility several times

Former Mossad chief: Our agents entered Iran’s Fordow facility several times

2026-08-11

Shafaq News – Middle East
Former head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Yossi Cohen, said on Tuesday that agents from the agency had toured Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility several times, without specifying the dates.

Regarding the American strike on Fordow in June 2025, Cohen added: “The bombing of the site by the Americans was the fulfillment of all my dreams,” according to the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Read more…

“3 strategies for dealing with Tehran”… Trump: Iran cannot pay its soldiers’ salaries

“3 strategies for dealing with Tehran”… Trump: Iran cannot pay its soldiers’ salaries

2026-08-11

Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States controls a large amount of Iranian money and assets, noting that Tehran is facing difficult economic conditions and does not have the ability to borrow.

Trump added, in statements reported by American media, that Washington is considering three strategies for dealing with Iran. The first is to monitor the extent of its deteriorating situation, the second is to launch strong military strikes, while the third is based Read more…

The Syrian judiciary has sentenced Bashar and Maher al-Assad to death and ordered their international prosecution.

The Syrian judiciary has sentenced Bashar and Maher al-Assad to death and ordered their international prosecution.

2026-08-11

Shafaq News – Damascus
A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced former Syrian President Bashar Hafez al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and a number of fugitive defendants to death after convicting them of murder, torture, and crimes against humanity, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, who presided over the trial, said that the court found Bashar al-Assad guilty of the felony of premeditated murder of more than one person and of children, in Read more…

The Washington Post reveals the details of Trump’s secret departure from Türkiye after an Iranian threat.

The Washington Post reveals the details of Trump’s secret departure from Türkiye after an Iranian threat.

2026-08-11

Shafaq News – Washington
The Washington Post has revealed the behind-the-scenes details of US President Donald Trump’s departure from Turkey last month on a secret military plane, contrary to what the White House announced regarding his departure on Air Force One, due to a credible Iranian threat to target him.

The newspaper quoted an American official familiar with the operation as saying that Trump boarded the old Air Force One plane in front of cameras in the capital, Ankara, before being secretly transferred by a catering truck inside the airport to a smaller C-32A military plane, on which Read more…

An Iranian cleric issues a fatwa calling for the killing of women who do not wear the hijab, and the judiciary summons him.

An Iranian cleric issues a fatwa calling for the killing of women who do not wear the hijab, and the judiciary summons him.

2026-08-09

Shafaq News – Tehran
Iranian hardline cleric Mohammad Baqer Kharrazi sparked widespread controversy after calling on his supporters to form groups to take to the streets and violently confront unveiled women, prompting the Iranian judiciary to summon him.

In one of the recordings, Kharrazi, the Secretary-General of “Hezbollah Iran,” called for the formation of a group of 50,000 people in Tehran to issue strong warnings to unveiled women, and then went so far as to call for their killing if they refused, describing this as a “fatwa.” Read more…

First publicly announced activity: Mojtaba Khamenei meets with Pezeshkian

First publicly announced activity: Mojtaba Khamenei meets with Pezeshkian

2026-08-09

Shafaq News – Tehran
The official website of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei announced on Sunday that he met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in the first official meeting announced by Khamenei since he was named Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an American airstrike on February 28, 2016.

The Guide website stated that the meeting coincided with the beginning of Pezeshkian’s third year as president, Read more…

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey sign the “Mecca Agreement” for joint defense.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey sign the “Mecca Agreement” for joint defense.

2026-08-07

Shafaq News – Riyadh
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the “Mecca Agreement” on Friday for joint defense, which includes confronting any aggression or armed attack on any of the three countries.

According to Saudi and Gulf media, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the agreement during the trilateral summit of the three countries in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Read more…

Trump responds to the Washington Post: We are building the largest ammunition factories in American history.

Trump responds to the Washington Post: We are building the largest ammunition factories in American history.

2026-08-06

Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has large quantities of ammunition, asserting that his country is building the largest number of ammunition factories in its history.

Trump added that his administration would seek prison sentences for those who leaked what he called “treasonous statements”.

Earlier today, the White House denied a Washington Post report that said US President Donald Trump was growing Read more…

Two international organizations warn of an “environmental disaster” off the coast of Oman.

Two international organizations warn of an “environmental disaster” off the coast of Oman.

2026-08-06

Shafaq News – Follow-up
Two organizations, one Canadian and one Dutch, warned on Thursday of an “environmental disaster” threatening a marine reserve off the southern coast of Oman, due to an oil spill from a tanker that was attacked more than a month ago.

A maritime security company reported that the tanker was hit by explosions last June, the causes of which were unclear, according to Agence France-Presse.

Satellite images seen by AFP showed a patch consistent with the shape of an oil spill in the vicinity of Oman’s Qibla Read more…

Between Oman and Iran: A new navigation map in the Strait of Hormuz without financial burdens on ships

Between Oman and Iran: A new navigation map in the Strait of Hormuz without financial burdens on ships

2026-08-06

Shafaq News – Follow-up
A high-ranking source revealed on Thursday details of a new proposal to manage maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with regional diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing security and military tensions between Washington and Tehran in the region.

Al-Arabiya satellite channel quoted the source as saying that ships entering Hormuz will use the shipping lane closest to Iran, while departing ships will use the shipping lane closest to Oman. Read more…

CENTCOM: The southern route to the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial vessels.

CENTCOM: The southern route to the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial vessels.

2026-08-05

Shafaq News – Middle East
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday evening that the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial vessels wishing to cross this international waterway.

The command said in a post on the “X” platform, which was followed by Shafaq News Agency, that during the past three months, US forces provided assistance to more than a thousand ships to successfully cross the strait despite the unjustified Iranian aggression, and these operations are still ongoing to this day. Read more…