Middle East conflict

Joseph Kent's resignation from the National Counterterrorism Center over the Iran conflict has exposed divisions within US security leadership, while President Trump delayed a Beijing summit to focus on Middle East escalation.

President Trump has denied knowledge of military findings linking US forces to a deadly strike on an Iranian girls' school, as Iran-linked hackers launched retaliatory cyberattacks against American companies.

The escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict is hitting African economies hard, with currencies weakening, oil prices surging, and regional stability threatened as Iranian forces deploy sea mines and drone boats in the Persian Gulf.

Iran has pulled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid intensifying military tensions with the US and Israel, while Washington warns of strikes on Iranian civilian ports and Tehran threatens to block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Sustained US and Israeli military operations against Iran have triggered widespread economic disruption, with at least 85 countries reporting petrol price increases and governments scrambling to release strategic oil reserves.

Iran has vowed to block Gulf oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz as the 11-day conflict with the US and Israel intensifies, prompting diplomatic intervention from the EU and triggering global economic ripples.

Iran's oil blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is sending shockwaves through African economies, driving up fertilizer costs, disrupting currency markets, and threatening to deepen poverty across the continent.

US President Donald Trump characterized the 11-day military campaign against Iran as a "short-term excursion" while threatening escalation if oil shipments are blocked, even as Iran rules out ceasefire negotiations and civilians flee across borders.

Escalating conflict in the Gulf has triggered sharp oil price increases, with South Africa bracing for record fuel price hikes and supply disruptions as regional tensions threaten critical shipping routes.

Brent crude breached $100/bbl following Iranian missile attacks on Israel and Gulf producers, threatening African economic growth and energy access as regional conflict escalates under new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Gaza faces heightened siege conditions amid wider regional conflict, while Sudan's war shows no signs of abating and Venezuela's prison system draws international scrutiny.

The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran over the weekend, prompting Tehran to threaten closure of the Strait of Hormuz and retaliate with missile attacks on U.S. bases across Gulf states.

Joint US-Israeli airstrikes hit facilities housing Iran's supreme leader election process, whilst Britain cuts growth forecasts and African nations bolster security amid escalating Middle East tensions.