US eases Venezuela oil sanctions as Trump seeks to boost world oil supply during Iran war The Treasury Department is easing sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company, with some limits The Independent UK · Mar 18
Who Runs Iran? Donald Trump Questions if New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Is Alive or Dead Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive as assassinations hollow out Tehran's leadership and power consolidates around the Revolutionary Guard. International Business Times UK · Mar 18
Iran women's soccer team returns home after some players sought asylum, Iranian media reports Iranian media is reporting that Iran’s national women’s soccer team has returned to the Islamic Republic after several of the players sought asylum in Australia The Independent UK · Mar 18
The Iran war and high gas prices are getting Americans excited about EVs again As the war in Iran sends gas prices surging, the world's growing electric vehicle fleet is providing a buffer. In America, it may finally be enough to win over reluctant buyers. Fortune · Mar 18
Trump can’t get his spelling ‘Straight’ in post bashing US allies over Hormuz refusal President lately has been fixated on whether it is ‘Straits’ or ‘Strait’ of Hormuz but either way, his Truth post botched the execution The Independent UK · Mar 18
Many in Egypt struggle as the costs of a distant war drive up prices in local markets Rising energy costs caused by the Iran war have forced Egypt to hike fuel and cooking gas prices, hitting the country's already struggling poor and middle classes hard The Independent UK · Mar 18
Who is Esmail Khatib? The Iranian intelligence minister Israel claims to have killed IN FULL The Independent UK · Mar 18
US contractors stranded in Iraq under threat of imminent attack: ‘We are sitting ducks’ More than 200 Americans at Balad site say they have no evacuation plan as fears grow of a post-Ramadan assault The Guardian - US · Mar 18
Japan's leader heads to Washington for a visit complicated by the Iran war fallout Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is heading to the United States for what she expects to be a “very difficult” meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump The Independent UK · Mar 18
Why Iran’s ‘drifting’ mines in the Strait of Hormuz will be so difficult to clear – despite Trump’s claim ‘we don’t need help’ Experts tell The Independent that mine clearance is a ‘slow and grinding business’ The Independent UK · Mar 18
China treads carefully on Iran war as it balances energy security and neutrality The Iran war is disrupting global energy flows and increasing the risk of wider regional escalation, leaving major economies such as China walking a tightrope. Euronews · Mar 18
Sri Lanka just launched a four-day work week and declared Wednesdays a holiday—and the Iran War is why Sri Lanka is giving workers Wednesdays off to save fuel amid Iran war—and other Asian countries are quietly turning to four‑day weeks and WFH too. Fortune · Mar 18
Trump criticises allies over reluctance to commit to Strait of Hormuz defence Sir Keir Starmer insisted he would not allow the UK to be drawn into a wider war as Donald Trump maintained his criticism of allies. Evening Standard · Mar 18
Irish leader survives Trump ordeal Trump misgenders Ireland's president, rants about "windmills," demands world's gratitude — all in all, it went OK Salon · Mar 18
FourFourTwo · Mar 18 Plans to move Iran's World Cup 2026 matches to Mexico 'denied by FIFA' after Donald Trump comments Trump 'cannot ensure the security' of Iran at the World Cup
The Guardian - UK · Mar 18 Israel strikes Iran’s South Pars gasfield hours after forces kill intelligence minister Death confirmed of Esmail Khatib, the third senior Iranian figure killed in 24 hours, as Israel also launches intense airstrikes on Lebanon
The Guardian - UK · Mar 18 First Thing: Trump says US does not need Nato after strait of Hormuz rebuff Snub comes as Iran vows revenge for killing of Ali Larijani. Plus, judge orders reinstatement of Voice of America staff
The Independent UK · Mar 18 US producer prices rose by a surprisingly hot 3.4% last month, the most in a year U.S. wholesale prices came in hotter than expected in February
The Independent UK · Mar 18 What Trump’s ‘special’ relationships with prime ministers are really like Keir Starmer’s challenges are not just limited to Kemi Badenoch grilling him at PMQs. As the Iran conflict continues, Trump is back to banging the “he’s no Churchill” drum. But what is it actually like to manage the ‘special relationship?’
The Independent UK · Mar 18 Tulsi Gabbard declines to say whether there was an ‘imminent nuclear threat’ posed by Iran: Live Gabbard’s written opening statement claimed Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was ‘obliterated’ last year
Axios · Mar 18 Israel strikes Iran natural gas facility in coordination with U.S. Trump called it putting Iran "out of business."
We Got This Covered · Mar 18 JD Vance downplays past foreign intervention criticism, says this time the president isn’t ‘dumb’ This could end up defining Vance's career.
Euronews · Mar 18 UN maritime body starts talks on Middle East shipping with Hormuz strait effectively closed At least 21 ships have been hit, targeted or reported attacks since the start of the conflict, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, a naval monitor.
The Conversation · Mar 18 Spain-US rift: Pedro Sánchez’ defiance of Trump is dictated by domestic politics – but it’s also a litmus test for Europe The war in Iran has yet again exposed the tensions between Spain’s Pedro Sánchez and Donald Trump. The two leaders have clashed repeatedly over the last year, including over Spain’s ongoing opposition to Israel’s conduct in Gaza, its refusal to raise Nato spending above 2% of GDP, and now its…
Euronews · Mar 18 Israel says Iran's intelligence minister killed and authorises targeting of all officials Israel killed top Iranian security official Ali Larijani and the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani, on Tuesday.