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☆ Rising oil is still the big market risk despite today's pullback, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Markets kept their cool on Monday amid a fast-moving and volatile geopolitical landscape in the Middle East — but the longer-term risk premium has likely risen, while oil prices remain on edge, analysts said. Iran said it was acting in self-defense in response to a strike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month. By Monday, global players including the U.S. and European leaders were seeking to cool tensions, urging Israel to show restraint in its response. Sinha nevertheless added that "the fact that we moved from a proxy confrontation to a direct confrontation, even though that de-escalates in the near term, the longer term risk premium probably goes up." "I think the FX market ultimately will take its cue from oil prices because ultimately, that's the channel through which it spills over to the FX market," he said.

Persons: Adarsh Sinha, CNBC's, Sinha Organizations: U.S . Energy Information Administration, U.S, Asia FX, Bank of America, Iranian, FX Locations: Iran, Israel, Damascus, Syria, Strait, Hormuz, Tehran, Asia, U.S

☆ Arab states unexpectedly helped Israel fight off Iran's attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jordan shot down an Iranian missile, and other Arab states may've provided intel. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored ties with the help of China, agreeing to reopen embassies in their respective capitals. AdvertisementHowever, according to reports, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are willing to continue discussions with Israel once fighting in Gaza has abated. There is a risk for Arab states though in being seen to come to Israel's aid, Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, told Business Insider. AdvertisementAs the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, Arab states face a tough choice between their security priorities and addressing public anger over Gaza.

Persons: Israel, Jordan, may've, —, Samih, Marj Al, Yasmine Farouk, Farouk, Abraham, Trump, Israel's, Giorgio Cafiero Organizations: intel, Service, Deutsche Welle, St, Anadolu, Getty, Israel, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, New York Times, Abraham Accords, Analytics Locations: Iranian, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Jordan, Gaza, Jordanian, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Gulf, Marj, Amman , Jordan, China, Bahrain, Amman

☆ Restraint or retribution? Israel faces dilemma in its response to Iran’s attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Israel must balance international pressure to show restraint on the one hand, while searching for an appropriate response to an unprecedented attack. Western and Arab allies of Israel have been discouraging it from responding to Iran’s attack. Benny Gantz, a key member of the war cabinet, has pushed for a swifter response to Iran’s attack, two Israeli officials told CNN. He believes that the longer Israel delays its response to Iran’s attack, the harder it will be to garner international support for it, the sources said. Risking Arab tiesArab states, including those that are friendly with Israel, have expressed concern about a potential escalation from Iran’s attack, but haven’t outright condemned it.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Raz Zimmt, Israel …, Amir Cohen, ” Zimmt, Alon Pinkas, Tamir Hayman, Israel’s, Jordan, ” Hayman, Joe Biden, Biden, Adam Schultz, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, it’s, ” Pinkas, Pinkas, Louai Beshara, Israel, ” Yaakov Amidror, Iran’s, Benny Gantz, haven’t, CNN’s Becky Anderson, Ayman Safadi, ” Safadi Organizations: CNN, Islamic, Analysts, Hamas, Institute for National Security Studies, Sunday, Reuters, National Security, White, Domestic, Getty Locations: CNN — Israel, Islamic Republic, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Tehran, Ashkelon, Israeli, France, Pinkas, Iranian, Syria, AFP, Rafah, United States, Jerusalem, Jordanian, “, Persian, Hormuz

Should the Israeli regime commit any military aggression again, Iran's response will assuredly and decisively be stronger and more resolute,” Ambassador Iravani added. Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus. Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions. However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iravani, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, ” Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, Representative, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, United Nations Security Council, Revolutionary Guards, Israel Defense Forces, CNN Locations: Ashkelon, Israel, Reuters Iran, Tehran, Syria's, Damascus, “, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Iranian, Quds

☆ US forces shot down over 75 Iranian missiles and drones in its biggest air-defense battle of the Middle East crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUS forces engaged and shot down more than 75 of the missiles and drones that Iran fired at Israel this weekend, marking its biggest air-defense battle of the six-month-long Middle East crisis. Iran and its proxy militias launched a barrage of 170 attack drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles at Israel in a massive and unprecedented attack on Saturday night local time, according to the Israel Defense Forces. A few of the ballistic missiles entered Israeli territory and struck targets, including an IDF base, causing minor damage, the military said. US fighter jets also shot down more than 70 Iranian one-way attack drones, the American military official said. For now, Israel appears to be calibrating a response to the Iranian attack, although it is unclear at this time what that may look like.

Persons: —, Arleigh Burke, Carney —, Israel's, Joe Biden, Scott Pittman, Lloyd Austin, Grant Shapps, Japan — Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Business, US Navy, IDF, American, US, Hamas, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Iran, Israel, Iraq, US, Syria, Gulf of Aden, Yemen, Iranian, Tehran, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan

☆ White House will ‘wait and see’ on Iran response after attempted Israel strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The White House is taking a "wait and see" approach in response to Iran's attempted strike on Israel, National Security spokesperson John Kirby said Sunday, as President Joe Biden aims to cool down the situation through diplomacy rather than military action. "President Biden, since the beginning of this conflict, has worked very hard to keep this from becoming a broader regional war, to keep the tensions from escalating." On Sunday, Biden convened G-7 leaders to discuss the Iran attack. "Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran's response will be considerably more severe," the statement added. Israel, in turn, vowed to "react and attack" if Iran were to go through with those threats.

Persons: Joe Biden, Iran's, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, Iran's U.N, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: National Security, Fox, Sunday, White, Israeli, NBC Locations: Hiroshima, Japan, Israel, Iran, U.S, Tehran, Damascus

☆ Strikes Upend Israel’s Belief About Iran’s Willingness to Fight It Directly
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Iran’s unprecedented strikes on Israel this weekend have shaken Israel’s assumptions about its foe, undermining its long-held calculation that Iran would be best deterred by greater Israeli aggression. For years, Israeli officials have argued, both in public and in private, that the harder Iran is hit, the warier it will be about fighting back. Iran’s barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles on Saturday — the first direct attack by Iran on Israel — has overturned that logic. The attack was a response to Israel’s strike earlier this month in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials there. “I think we miscalculated,” said Sima Shine, a former head of research for the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency.

Persons: Israel —, Israel, ”, Sima Shine Locations: Israel, Iran, Syria, Tehran, Lebanon, Yemen

☆ Why Iran attacked Israel and what comes next
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

How did Iran attack Israel? Israel and Iran are long-standing rivals and have been engaged in a shadow war for years. Israel’s war on Hamas, waged since the militant group attacked Israel on October 7, has heightened those tensions. But fears of a spiralling regional war spiked further in early April, when Iran accused Israel of bombing its diplomatic complex in Syria. The “Zionist regime” is a term Iran uses to refer to Israel.

Persons: percolated, Daniel Hagari, won’t, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Donald Trump, IRGC, Qassem Soleimani, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel, Ebrahim Raisi, “, IRNA, Yoav Gallant, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Biden, Benny Gantz, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Hossein Organizations: CNN, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Revolutionary Guards, West, Israeli, White, Finance, National Security, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, TV Locations: East, Iran, Damascus, Syria, Israel, Iranian, Iraq, Gaza, Baghdad, Lebanese, ”

☆ Live Updates: Israel Says Confrontation With Iran ‘Is Not Over’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Mike Ives | Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The Iranian armed forces are among the biggest in the Middle East, with 580,000 soldiers and officers and also 200,000 reservists. The start of a direct military confrontation between Iran and Israel has brought renewed attention to Iran’s armed forces. Instead, Israel and Iran have been engaged in a long shadow war via air, sea, land and cyberattacks, and Israel has covertly targeted military and nuclear facilities inside Iran and killed commanders and scientists. It’s that they realize any war against Iran is a very serious war.”What sort of military threat does Iran pose? The commander in chief of Iran’s armed forces is the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all major decisions.

Persons: ”, Afshon Ostovar, “ It’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Fabian Hinz, “, Atta Kenare, Ostovar, Ayatollah Khamenei, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Will Israel’s Organizations: Naval Postgraduate School, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Guards, General Staff of, Armed Forces, Quds Force, Agence France, Phantoms, Iranian Army, Associated Press Locations: Tehran, Iranian, Iran, Israel, Damascus, United States, Washington, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jihad, Gaza, Berlin, speedboats, Persian, Hormuz, Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, North Korea

☆ Iran’s attack seemed planned to minimize casualties while maximizing spectacle
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Tehran’s operation was highly choreographed, apparently designed to minimize casualties while maximizing spectacle. Over 300 drones and missiles navigated above Iran’s neighbors, including Jordan and Iraq — both with US military bases — before penetrating the airspace of Iran’s mortal enemy, Israel. Rather than fire from one of the neighboring countries where Iran and its non-state allies are present, this was a direct attack from Iranian territory on Israeli territory. This compromised Iran’s ability to damage Israel because it robbed the operation of the element of surprise. Demonstrators wave Iran's flag as they gather at Palestine Square in Tehran on April 14, 2024, after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel.

Persons: Lebanon CNN —, Israel’s, Amir Cohen, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Donald Trump’s, Qassem Soleimani, Asad, Iran’s, Netanyahu’s, Atta Kenare, “, ”, Parsi Organizations: Lebanon CNN, West Bank, United Nations, Trump, Iranian, US, Getty, Quincy Institute Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, —, Iran, Ashkelon, Republic, Damascus, Syria, Yemen, Tehran, Netanyahu’s Israel, Palestine, AFP, DC

☆ Israel says 300 Iranian drones and missiles downed in ‘unprecedented’ overnight attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Iranians are waving Iranian flags and a Palestinian flag as they celebrate Iran's IRGC UAV and missile attack against Israel on April 14, 2024. Iran rained a deluge of drones and missiles on Israel on Saturday night in response to a suspected Israeli strike that killed top Iranian officials in Syria, in a deep escalation of Middle East tensions. Last night marked the first instance of a direct attack on Israel from Iranian territory. Iran vowed revenge after a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1, which killed several top Iranian military commanders. The European Union has blasted Tehran's offensive: "The EU strongly condemns the unacceptable Iranian attack against Israel," EU High Representative Josep Borrell said late Saturday on social media.

Persons: Israel, Daniel Hagari, Bashar al, –, Iran's, Mohammad Bagheri, Gilad Erdan, Josep Borrell, Joe Biden, Washington, Steve Scalise, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Yemeni, Guards, Islamic Republic News Agency, . Security, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, European, EU, Biden, –, U.S . House, Republican Locations: Iran, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Strait, Hormuz, Gaza, Iranian, Damascus, France, Ukraine, U.S

☆ Gold prices rise, Asian markets fall after Tehran’s attack on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

It had hit an all-time high of $2,431 per ounce on Friday because of fears of a potential attack by Iran on Israel. US gold futures also added 0.1% on Monday. The Middle East was plunged into uncharted waters after Iran launched scores of missiles toward Israel late Saturday. Before Iran’s attack, US stocks ended Friday sharply lower, as Wall Street worried about escalating tension in the Middle East. Dow futures rose 80 points, or 0.2%, in Asian hours on Monday.

Persons: Kospi, Brent, Joe Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Nikkei, ANZ, Dow, Nasdaq Locations: Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, Shanghai, Syria, East

☆ Iranian currency plunges to record low against dollar after strikes on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Two men are holding Iranian banknotes on a sidewalk in Tehran's business district, in Tehran, Iran, on April 13, 2024. Iran's currency, the rial, briefly plunged to a record low against the dollar on the unofficial market, after Tehran launched an expansive missile and drone attack on Israel on Saturday night, exacerbating tensions in the Middle East. The exchange rate was at 705,000 rials / USD on the open market around 10:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, according to data from foreign exchange monitoring site Bonbast. The government set an official exchange rate of 42,000 rials / USD in 2018. The development marked the first instance of a direct attack on Israel from Iranian territory, and Tehran now runs the risk of being hit with further trade and diplomatic restrictions.

Persons: Joe Biden, Iran's rial, Donald Trump's, Biden Organizations: Israel, . Security Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Damascus, U.S

☆ Donald Trump appears to endorse pro-Palestine 'genocide Joe' chant at rally: 'They're not wrong'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At a Pennsylvania rally, Donald Trump appeared to endorse his supporters, chanting, "Genocide Joe." "Genocide Joe" was coined by Pro-Palestine supporters to protest US support for Israel's Gaza siege. AdvertisementAt a rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Donald Trump appeared to endorse some of his supporters who were chant "genocide Joe," in reference to President Joe Biden's handling of the Middle East conflict. However, at the rally, Trump also expressed his support for the Jewish state. All I can do is tell the truth; the truth is they have no case," he said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe, Trump, —, Joe Biden's, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Jordan, — Simon Ateba, Stormy Daniels, I'm Organizations: Pro, Palestine, Gaza, Service, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, US Defence, TRUMP, Biden, White, Trump, Mar Locations: Israel, Schnecksville , Pennsylvania, Gaza, Iran, Iranian, Damascus, Tehran, France, Delaware

☆ Biden tells Netanyahu US will not support counter-strike against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Mj Lee | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Saturday, Biden sought to frame Israel’s successful interception of the Iranian onslaught as a major victory — with the suggestion that further Israeli response was unnecessary. Biden told the Israeli prime minister in his phone call that he should consider Saturday a win because Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, a senior administration official said. Even as American officials stressed to their counterparts that the final decision on how to respond to Iran is up to Israel, Biden has sought to prevent a wider escalation of the conflict. In this handout photo, released early Sunday local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks on the phone with US President Joe Biden. “I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks — sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” Biden said in a statement following his conversation with Netanyahu.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, John Kirby, ” Kirby, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, “, Israel, ” Biden, Netanyahu, Kirby, Israel —, ”, Tapper, Gallant, Hossein, CNN’s Catherine Nicholls, Tamar Michaelis Organizations: CNN, White House, Union . ”, Seven, Sunday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Israel, Iran, “ State, Gaza, Tehran

☆ Iran has launched drone attacks at Israel, U.S. officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Office of the Iranian SupremeIran on Saturday launched attacks against Israel, according to U.S. officials, escalating long-standing tensions between the two nations that have the potential to trigger a regional war. "Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel," National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a Saturday statement. Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship with links to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a Saturday statement that the missile and drone launches were "in response to the crimes by the Zionist Regime." "If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will react and attack in Iran," Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz wrote in a Wednesday post on X, tagging the Ayatollah's X account.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Israel, Adrienne Watson, Daniel Hagari, Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, perpetrating, Israel Katz Organizations: Iran's, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Saturday, Security, Israel Defense Forces, U.S, White, Defense, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, House, Zionist, Foreign Affairs Locations: Damascus, Tehran, Iran, Iranian, United States, Israel, Portuguese, Strait, Hormuz, Gaza

Iran has warned that it will respond with “stronger and more resolute” actions if Israel retaliates over this weekend’s strikes, according to Tehran’s ambassador to the United Nations. Biden will also meet with G7 leaders on Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House. US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement. US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least 3 ballistic missiles Iran fired toward Israel, according to two US official familiar with the situation. US fighter jets were also part of the US’ response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Iran –, “, ”, Biden, Netanyahu, Jordan, ” CNN’s Nic Robertson, –, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Donald Trump, IRGC, Qassem Soleimani, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, IRNA, ” Israel, General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Iran’s, António Guterres, Josep Borrell, Rishi Sunak, Javier Milei, Manuel Adorni, CNN’s Paul Murphy Organizations: CNN, Israel, United Nations, Iran, White House, US Navy, US, Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s Defense, Foreign Ministry, UN, British Locations: Iran, Syria, Israel, Republic, Haifa, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Damascus, Baghdad, Lebanese, Quds, East, Europe, America, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, China, Beijing, Chile, Mexico, Denmark

☆ As Iran attacks Israel, Biden confronts an escalating Middle East crisis he had hoped to avoid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —For President Joe Biden, an attack on Israel launched from Iranian soil amounts to a scenario he’d greatly sought to avoid since the start of the current Middle East conflict. In the immediate aftermath of Iran’s attacks, American officials acknowledged they were entering uncharted territory, with the extent of Iran’s attacks initially unclear. One significant question mark is how proxies might potentially join Iranian efforts to target Israel and add a new layer of unpredictability. Administration officials saw Iran’s attacks on Israel Saturday as disproportionate to Israel’s strikes in Damascus that prompted the retaliation, a US official told CNN. As Iran’s plans to attack Israel grew clearer, American officials increasingly assessed that Tehran was not seeking direct conflict with the United States.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden —, Biden, areexpected, Benjamin Netanyahu, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, Erik Kurilla, Israel, CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Israel, United, White, Israeli, Iran, US Central Command, US Locations: Israel, United States, Gaza, Delaware, Damascus, Syria, Iran, Tehran, Jordan

☆ Iran seizes cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz, Israel goes on high alert
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Blaming Israel — which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility — Iran vowed retaliation. Jordan on Saturday declared its airspace closed, in a possible precautionary move given the likelihood of its territory being overflown by any missiles exchanged by Iran and Israel. On Friday, Biden warned Iran against attacking Israel but said such a scenario could be imminent. On Tuesday, the Revolutionary Guards' naval head, Alireza Tangsiri, said the force could close the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, if necessary. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.

Persons: Israel —, Zodiac, Eyal Ofer, Israel Katz, Joe Biden, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Alireza Tangsiri, Abraham, Hasan Alhasan Organizations: Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hamas, Jordan, Saturday, Guards, Aries, MSC, Gortal Shipping, Zodiac Maritime, House, Iran, U.S . Defense, Pentagon, State, Revolutionary Guards, United Arab, Israel, International Institute for Strategic Studies, MSC Aries, Maritime Information Center Locations: Iranian, Syria's, Damascus, Strait, Hormuz, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Tehran, Iran, Iran's, State, United States, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Britain

☆ Vessel seized in Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions, shipping firms say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A vessel has been seized by "regional authorities" between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, maritime security agencies said on Saturday, days after Iran warned it could close the area to sea traffic. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel had been seized 50 nautical miles (92 km) northeast of the Fujairah, an area close to the Strait of Hormuz that forms the entrance to the Gulf. Marine tracking sites said the vessel was the MSC Aries of Zodiac Maritime, an international shipping company partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. Reuters could not immediately confirm that and UKMTO said it could not provide more information when asked if the regional authorities were Iran and if the seized vessel was MSC Aries. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.

Persons: Eyal Ofer, UKMTO, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Alireza Tangsiri, Abraham, Joe Biden Organizations: United Arab, Maritime Trade Operations, ., MSC Aries, Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac, MSC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Israel, Abraham Accords, Revolutionary Guards Locations: United Arab Emirates, Iran, Hormuz, U.S, UAE, United States, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Syria's, Damascus, Tehran, Yemen's Iran, Britain

☆ Iran Seizes Commercial Ship Linked to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | More About Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Tehran has vowed a retaliatory strike after blaming Israel for an attack on an Iranian embassy building in Syria that killed 12 people, among them top military generals. Iran is a backer of Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, but has so far stayed clear of direct involvement. On Friday, President Biden said that he expected Iran to launch a retaliatory attack “sooner than later,” and reiterated that the United States remained committed to the defense of Israel. It was not immediately clear if the seizure of the ship was part of Iran’s promised response to the attack in Syria, but it was not the first time Iran had directly seized a commercial vessel. Before the war in Gaza, the United States said that Iran had “harassed, attacked or interfered” with more than a dozen internationally flagged merchant ships in recent years.

Persons: Eyal Ofer, Israel, Israel Katz, Biden, ”, Iran’s Organizations: MSC, Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac Group, ”, Iran’s Locations: Israel, Tehran, Iranian, Syria, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Oman

☆ Iranian navy seizes Israel-linked container ship amid escalating tensions in Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Adam Pourahmadi | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed the seizure, saying there are 25 crew on board. Portugal’s government said that it was in touch with the Iranian authorities. The Strait of Hormuz, at the northern end of the Gulf of Oman, is the biggest oil chokepoint in the world. The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, wrote on social media platform X that he had spoken with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. The two discussed their “shared concerns about Iranian threats to attack Israel,” Cameron wrote, adding that “further escalation in the region is in no-one’s interest and risks further loss of civilian life.”

Persons: CNN —, IRNA, “, Eyal Ofer, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Israel, David Cameron, Benny Gantz, ” Cameron, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Navy, Zodiac, Mediterranean Shipping Company, United, Israel Defense Forces, United Kingdom’s Locations: Israeli, Hormuz, Iran, Syria, Portuguese, Gulf of Oman, Tehran, Iranian, United States, Damascus, Gaza, The Iran, Yemen, Red, Israel

A view across the demarcation into Metula, Israel as seen from the Lebanese side of the demarcation line. But a Lebanese source familiar with the matter ruled this out. Hezbollah may only be compelled to join an Iranian war effort if the strike leads to further escalation, the same Lebanese source said. It provided a glimpse of how Hezbollah might attempt to overwhelm Israel’s defensive systems as Iran conducts its expected attack. From one of Spain’s bases near the demarcation line, there is a clear view of a microcosm of Lebanon’s long-standing border issues with Israel.

Persons: Kafr, Lebanon CNN —, ”, Juan Garcia Martinez, Charbel Mallo, —, Mohammad Reza Zahidi, “, Ali Khamenei, Sina Toosi, Yemen’s Houthis, ” Nasrallah, Israel –, Mallo, CNN Hezbollah’s, Hector Alonso, CNN’s MJ Lee, Natasha Bertrand, Zeena Saifi, Oren Liebermann Organizations: Lebanon CNN, CNN, UN, United Nations, Iran’s, Center for International, Hezbollah, Spanish UNIFIL, Israel Locations: Kafr Kila, Lebanon, Galilee, Spanish, Israel, Metula, Lebanese, Iran, Damascus, UNIFIL, Iranian, Gaza, Ghajar, Syrian, al

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, Iran attack fears, Gaza aid crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

People attend the funeral procession for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria, which Iran blamed on Israel, in Tehran on April 5. Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty ImagesThe US and Israel are on high alert for a potential attack by Iran or its proxies that could escalate regional tensions stoked by the war in Gaza. Iran has vowed revenge on Israel after a deadly strike on its embassy compound in Syria last week. Concerns about this possible attack have prompted diplomatic conversations around the globe. Here's what you need to know:And here's the latest on the conflict in Gaza:

Persons: Atta Kenare Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Getty Locations: Syria, Iran, Israel, Tehran, AFP, Gaza

☆ Oil prices head back up on Middle East jitters
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A view of an oil well at Arab Desert in Jebel Dukhan, Bahrain on March 4, 2024. Oil prices rose in early trade on Friday on heightened tensions in the Middle East, where Iran has promised to retaliate for a suspected Israeli air strike on its embassy in Syria, which could risk disruptions to supply from the oil producing region. Israel is keeping up its war in Gaza but is also preparing for scenarios in other areas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. "The European Central Bank's decision to leave policy rates unchanged ... was expected, but accompanying statements open the door for near-term monetary easing," S&P Global Market Intelligence said in a note. However in the U.S., Federal Reserve officials signalled on Thursday no rush to cut interest rates, as sticky U.S. inflation remains a concern.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Israel, Washington, ANZ Research, Organization of, Petroleum, P Global Market Intelligence, Federal Locations: Jebel Dukhan, Bahrain, Iran, Syria, Damascus, Gaza, Israel, Tehran, Europe, U.S

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