A recent flurry of high-level meetings across Central Asia and the Middle East signals a quiet but marked shift: Iran and Russia are increasingly sidelined in the region’s political and economic realignments in favor of Arab states.
Three of Iran’s most resource-rich provinces, Khuzestan, Kerman and Hormozgan, recorded the highest levels of economic hardship in spring 2025, the news site Rokna reported Thursday, citing official statistics from the Iranian Statistics Center.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was forced to complete part of a recent trip to Tabriz by taxi after the fuel in three official vehicles was found to be contaminated with water, leading to a mechanical failure, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly smuggling 2 million liters of fuel, the chief justice of Hormozgan province said on Wednesday, according to state-linked media.
China's imports of Iranian crude oil surged in June to their highest level since March, reaching over 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd), as sellers accelerated shipments to avoid potential disruptions linked to Iran’s conflict with Israel, Bloomberg reported.
The US has warned Iraq it could face sanctions over what it called Iranian oil smuggling and ties to armed groups, threatening to freeze millions in revenue and target state oil firm SOMO, Iraqi media reported.
Israel’s 12-day military campaign against Iran caused extensive ecological harm, with huge cleanup costs and heightened public health risks, according to Iran’s Department of Environment.
An Iranian national and US lawful permanent resident has been arrested on charges of illegally exporting electronics from the United States to Iran, violating US sanctions, the Justice Department said Friday.
New data shows Iran’s foreign trade took a sharp hit during last month’s 12-day war with Israel, despite officials’ claims that it remained stable.
A nationwide internet outage likely imposed by the Tehran beginning just after midnight on July 6 has deepened concerns among a weary public over the already parlous state of the economy and access to information.
As air quality in Tehran and much of neighboring Alborz province reaches hazardous levels, medical experts are advising the vulnerable to stay indoors, with preparations underway for an emergency response.
Iran is losing over $1.5 million every hour to internet restrictions, the Internet Business Association said in an open letter, as media linked to the Revolutionary Guards said the disruptions may signal an intensifying cyber war.
Iranian investors withdrew over 132 trillion rials—nearly $145 million—from Tehran’s stock market on Wednesday alone, marking a historic record amid deepening mistrust following the recent conflict with Israel.
Iran loaded naval mines onto vessels in the Persian Gulf last month, intensifying concerns in Washington that Tehran was preparing to close the Strait of Hormuz, two sources briefed on classified intelligence told Reuters on Tuesday.
Iran must move swiftly to demonstrate its ability to rebuild across all sectors following the 12-day war with Israel, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Tuesday, according to state media.
Iran’s banking sector continues to face severe service disruptions, with Sepah and Pasargad banks still struggling to fully resume operations after cyberattacks blamed on Israeli-linked groups.
Tehran’s stock market reopened after a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel with a sharp collapse, as investor anxiety triggered a sweeping sell-off.
Iranian oil exports to China surged in June, reaching record highs as shipments accelerated and independent Chinese refineries stepped up purchases, Reuters reported on Friday.
President Donald Trump's surprise remark—that China can now buy Iranian oil—made immediate headlines, but also raised a few eyebrows and fresh questions.
Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, has confirmed a security breach after a suspected cyberattack that resulted in the theft of tens of millions of dollars, as reports circulated of a $48 million loss.
A confidential report from Iran’s oil ministry appears to show a widening gap between domestic fuel production and consumption, highlighting growing pressure on the country’s energy infrastructure.
A senior Iranian lawmaker has issued a rare and sharply worded rebuke of the country’s entrenched corruption and perceived cronyism, warning that public anger over inequality and elite privilege is growing.