Author: News Desk

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed it has seized another vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, alleging the ship was in contact with the US military and had violated navigation rules in the strategic waterway. According to Iranian authorities, the vessel ignored repeated warnings after entering restricted waters and failed to alter its course, prompting what they described as a “lawful interception” by Iranian forces. Officials said the ship was accused of breaching regulations imposed in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints through which a significant share of global…

News Desk LONDON: Global crude oil prices climbed by more than 2% amid renewed uncertainty in the Middle East, according to market data. Benchmark Brent crude oil rose to around 107 dollars per barrel, while WTI crude oil increased to about 96 dollars per barrel. Traders said the surge was driven by fears of supply disruption linked to heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. Earlier reports had also pointed to rising volatility in energy markets due to escalating US-Iran tensions, which have kept investors cautious. Analysts warn that any further disruption in…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, has thanked the Pakistani government, military leadership and public for what he described as their role in facilitating peace-related efforts and ensuring smooth arrangements during a recent Iranian delegation’s visit. In remarks issued after the visit, the ambassador praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying their engagement and coordination had contributed positively to efforts aimed at de-escalation and regional stability. He said the Iranian delegation’s stay in Pakistan had been marked by comprehensive security arrangements, careful planning and effective administrative coordination. According…

News Desk Berlin: Two additional empty oil tankers have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, including a vessel operated by a German company and another sailing under the Panamanian flag, according to international media reports. The German-operated vessel, Tema Express, and the second tanker, LB Energy, reportedly continued their passage through the narrow waterway without carrying cargo. The developments come amid a heightened naval presence in the region, with reports indicating that around 19 military vessels remain deployed in the broader Middle East maritime zone, including ships stationed in the Arabian Sea and two aircraft carriers. According to reports citing…

News Desk ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has announced an ambitious overhaul of its public administration, saying it will introduce a new government operating model powered heavily by artificial intelligence, with a target of automating up to 50 per cent of government sectors, services and operations within two years. The plan, unveiled under the direction of the UAE president, marks one of the most far-reaching attempts yet by any state to embed so-called “agentic AI” into core governance functions. Officials said the technology would move beyond conventional automation tools, instead acting as an active system capable of analyzing data,…

News Desk LONDON: A two-day international conference on the reopening and security of the Strait of Hormuz began in London on Thursday, bringing together military planners from more than 30 countries. The meeting, jointly backed by United Kingdom and France, aims to assess coordinated strategies for ensuring safe maritime passage through the critical global shipping route. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, participants will discuss national military capabilities, command and control structures, and potential deployment of forces in the region. Officials said any military planning would be contingent on the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire agreement, indicating that diplomatic…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s military has warned that it is prepared to launch strikes on pre-determined targets in response to repeated threats from US President Donald Trump, amid rising tensions and uncertainty over the ceasefire. Earlier, Iranian state media reported that the United States had unilaterally extended the ceasefire period, while Tehran rejected US conditions for negotiations. According to Iranian state media, officials said the extension of the ceasefire had no legal or political value, and Iran would not accept what it described as pressure-based diplomacy. A political adviser to Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the continuation of…

News Desk TEHRAN: An Iranian official said Tehran rejects any negotiations aimed at forcing Iran into surrender, amid ongoing regional tensions and stalled diplomatic efforts. Speaking to a news agency, the official said that the United States must abandon its policy of pressure and threats before any meaningful diplomatic process can resume. He added that mediation efforts by Pakistan are continuing to help restore dialogue and ease tensions around key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. The official also claimed Pakistan was attempting to facilitate the release of an Iranian-flagged vessel allegedly held by US forces, while accusing Washington…

News Desk KABUL: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has called for the holding of elections in Afghanistan, rejecting the current Taliban-led administration as unacceptable and urging what he described as urgent political reform, according to Afghan media reports. The veteran political figure said the existing governing structure in Afghanistan did not reflect public aspirations and warned that continued political exclusion risked deepening instability in the country. He argued that the absence of an electoral process had weakened legitimacy and limited opportunities for meaningful participation in national decision-making. Hekmatyar maintained that long-term stability in Afghanistan depended on bringing the population back into the political…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would continue to assert its legitimate rights and rejected remarks by Donald Trump on Tehran’s nuclear programme. In a statement, Pezeshkian said Iran’s fundamental position was based on preserving peace, stability and security in the region, adding that Tehran did not seek to escalate conflict or initiate wars. He said Iran had no intention of attacking any country and was exercising its lawful right to self-defence, stressing that no external power had the authority to deny people their rights. Pezeshkian said Trump had no right to claim that Iran could…