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Pakistan warns of “powerful parties” seeking to obstruct mediation between Iran and the US

Pakistan warns of “powerful parties” seeking to obstruct mediation between Iran and the US

2026-10-31

Shafaq News – Islamabad
On Friday evening, the Pakistani army expressed cautious optimism regarding mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, while warning of powerful parties that it said were seeking to obstruct these efforts.

Army spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan has no objection to Iran joining the (Mecca) agreement, noting that the decision rests with Read more…

Iranian committees discuss Washington’s proposals in Qatar; a “positive atmosphere” prevails in the negotiations.

Iranian committees discuss Washington’s proposals in Qatar; a “positive atmosphere” prevails in the negotiations.

2026-10-31

Shafaq News – Follow-up
Saudi media reported on Saturday that Iranian committees have been formed to discuss American proposals related to the nuclear file, following what they described as a “positive message” from US Vice President JD Vance, amid a positive atmosphere prevailing in the course of negotiations and expectations of a breakthrough in the coming period. Read more…

Oil surpasses $117 a barrel, while gold falls to its lowest level in a year.

Oil surpasses $117 a barrel, while gold falls to its lowest level in a year.

2026-10-30 07:14

Shafaq News – Follow-up
Brent crude prices rose on Friday to above $117 a barrel, while spot gold prices fell by 2% to their lowest level since November 2025.

Media outlets reported that Brent crude surpassed $117 a barrel amid fears of renewed strikes on Iran and escalating tensions in the region.

Meanwhile, spot gold fell 2.1% to $3,935.26 an ounce, and gold futures dropped Read more…

CENTCOM: We helped the Gulf transport 1.5 billion barrels of oil since the summer

CENTCOM: We helped the Gulf transport 1.5 billion barrels of oil since the summer

2026-10-30

Shafaq News – Washington
The commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday that US forces had removed Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the forces remain vigilant to ensure freedom of navigation in the waterway.

The commander of CENTCOM said in a statement seen by Shafaq News Agency that he visited US forces in the Middle East this week and saw oil tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Read more…

Washington: Iranian oil disappears from the seas for the first time in history

Washington: Iranian oil disappears from the seas for the first time in history

2026-10-29

Shafaq News – Washington
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent said Wednesday evening that the process of economically isolating Iran is proving successful.

Bisent added in statements followed by Shafaq News Agency that “Iran is unable to obtain dollars and funding for its proxies is decreasing.”

The Treasury Secretary confirmed: “There are no Iranian oil shipments at sea, perhaps for the first time since Iran began producing oil.” Read more…

Report: US preparing for “intensive military campaign” against Iran in coordination with the Gulf states

Report: US preparing for “intensive military campaign” against Iran in coordination with the Gulf states

2026-10-28

Shafaq News – Follow-up
The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, revealed that the United States has informed Gulf states of the need to prepare for a short and intensive military campaign against Iran, amid American and Israeli military moves aimed at weakening Tehran and pushing it back to the negotiating table.

According to the newspaper, these contacts came through diplomatic and Read more…

Netanyahu: Likud is the largest party, and there will be no government formed by Arab lists.

Netanyahu: Likud is the largest party, and there will be no government formed by Arab lists.

2026-10-28

Shafaq News – Follow-up
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his Likud party is the largest party in Israel, and that the right-wing camp has a “large, influential” and “decisive” majority, calling for the formation of a strong national government and rejecting the establishment of a government that relies on Arab lists. Read more…

Qatar calls on Iran to stop its threats and open the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the success of mediation efforts.

Qatar calls on Iran to stop its threats and open the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the success of mediation efforts.

2026-10-27

Shafaq News – Doha
On Tuesday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Iran to demonstrate good faith, cease its threats against the Gulf states, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that these steps are essential for the success of mediation efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and ending the crisis between Washington and Tehran through peaceful means. Read more…

The Mecca-Tehran Alliance: Motives and Strategic Messages

The Mecca-Tehran Alliance: Motives and Strategic Messages

10-27-2026

Iyad Al-Anaz
International, regional, and Arab attention was focused on the significant development represented by the visit of the tripartite delegation from the countries of the Mecca Agreement to Iran on October 26, 2026. The delegation included Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin. This joint visit and diplomatic move was of paramount importance Read more…

Gold stabilizes near $4,000 an ounce after its biggest weekly loss since June.

Gold stabilizes near $4,000 an ounce after its biggest weekly loss since June.

2026-10-26

Shafaq News – Follow-up
Gold prices stabilized on Monday near $4,000 an ounce, after posting their biggest weekly loss since last June, as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve meeting and assessed the impact of rising energy prices on inflation and interest rates.

Spot gold fell 0.1% to $3,993.20 an ounce, after declining more than 4% last Read more…

The Hill: Strike plans are complete… Bombing Iran awaits Trump’s order

The Hill: Strike plans are complete… Bombing Iran awaits Trump’s order

2026-10-25

Shafaq News – Special Translation
The American newspaper ” The Hill ” revealed that the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) has prepared military plans to launch new strikes against Iran, which may be carried out after the midterm congressional elections next November, amid Iranian threats of a broader and more severe response than previous confrontations, and escalating fears of a new round of the war that has been ongoing for more than eight months. Read more…

Trump’s envoy to Iraq predicts Iran will be bombed on Saturday or Sunday

Trump’s envoy to Iraq predicts Iran will be bombed on Saturday or Sunday

2026-10-24

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The US special envoy to Iraq, Tom Barrack, predicted on Friday that Iran would be hit by a US strike over the weekend (Saturday or Sunday).

This came in response to a question during a podcast about the possibility of an attack this week against Iran, to which Barak replied: “Absolutely.” Read more…

Axios: Iranian plot to assassinate senior officials abroad

Axios: Iranian plot to assassinate senior officials abroad

2026-10-24

Shafaq News – Washington
US intelligence has concluded that Iran has significantly intensified its efforts to target American diplomats and officials in the Middle East and beyond.

The American website Axios reported that those Iranian assassination plans had reached “advanced stages,” according to a memo dated October 23 addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Read more…

Wall Street: Closing Iraqi ports increases Iran’s isolation after the naval blockade

Wall Street: Closing Iraqi ports increases Iran’s isolation after the naval blockade

2026-10-24

Shafaq News – Follow-up
The Wall Street Journal revealed that Iran is facing increasing restrictions on its land trade routes, after Iraq and Pakistan closed some vital crossings, while the newspaper says that the US naval blockade and sanctions imposed on the transport and aviation sectors have contributed to reducing shipping and trade options, exacerbating economic pressures on Tehran.

The newspaper reported that these measures come in conjunction with US President Donald Trump’s escalation Read more…

Trump: We will keep Iran completely paralyzed.

Trump: We will keep Iran completely paralyzed.

2026-10-23

Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump asserted on Friday that Washington would keep Iran in a state of complete paralysis, as it is currently, adding, “We could finish the Iran thing very quickly; it’s a failed state.”

Trump added in a press statement: “All the oil we want goes through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran is under a naval blockade,” continuing: “We control the Strait of Hormuz and we can control all of Iran and they don’t have any money.” Read more…

Trump: Iran is fabricating fake attacks in Hormuz to raise oil prices

Trump: Iran is fabricating fake attacks in Hormuz to raise oil prices

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump asserted on Thursday that Iran is doing everything it can to raise oil prices before the US midterm elections by fabricating fake attacks, even though the amount of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz now exceeds what it was even before the outbreak of the conflict, as he described it. Read more…

New US sanctions target Iran’s “shadow fleet” networks (update)

New US sanctions target Iran’s “shadow fleet” networks (update)

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Washington
The US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday evening a new package of sanctions targeting international networks supporting Iran’s “shadow fleet,” including 5 individuals and 4 companies, including law firms, legal services offices, and shipping agents, as well as 9 commercial vessels, as part of a broad campaign known as “Operation Economic Paragon.” Read more…

Musk threatens Democrats if they regain control of Congress

Musk threatens Democrats if they regain control of Congress

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Washington
American billionaire Elon Musk, an ally of President Donald Trump, threatened on Thursday to go after the Democrats and expose those behind their actions if they regain control of Congress following the midterm elections scheduled for November 3.

Musk wrote on his X platform, commenting on a Politico report about Democrats’ plans to investigate his activities, saying: “He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.” Read more…

Iran: Dollar nears 274,000 tomans amid record inflation

Iran: Dollar nears 274,000 tomans amid record inflation

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Tehran
The Iranian toman continued its decline against the US dollar on Thursday, with the price of the US currency rising in the free market to about 274,000 tomans, amid continued economic pressures, US sanctions and worsening inflation rates.

According to a monitoring report by Shafaq News Agency, the selling price of the dollar during Thursday’s trading reached about 273,700 tomans, an increase of 3,900 tomans from the previous Read more…

Washington is preparing to evacuate some of its embassy staff and their families from the Gulf states.

Washington is preparing to evacuate some of its embassy staff and their families from the Gulf states.

10-22-2026

Reuters reported, citing three US officials, that the US State Department is preparing to order the evacuation of some staff and their families from US embassies in the Gulf and several Middle Eastern countries. Two spokespeople, according to the agency, indicated that the decision is linked to the possibility of renewed fighting in the region, and in particular, there was talk of clashes involving the Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis).

The US Embassy in Riyadh also issued a warning today due to possible Houthi attacks on the kingdom, with two US Read more…