Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Sunday they will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States fulfills a list of conditions, including compensation for war damage and the lifting of sanctions. The blockade, which has reduced vessel traffic and driven up oil prices, has drawn criticism from regional allies and market participants.

President Donald Trump described his approach to Tehran as low‑key, saying he is waiting for Iran's economic pressures to mount. He characterized the situation as a chess game, suggesting he believes economic leverage can bring Tehran to negotiate.

Tehran's Supreme National Security Council outlined on Saturday a set of requirements for reopening the strait. The list calls for an end to hostilities on all fronts, the removal of a U.S. counterblockade of Iranian ports, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and compensation for wartime damage. A provision in a June memorandum also called for a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

Iran's military said the strait has become a theatre of war, not merely a waterway, and that its blockade will continue until the United States accepts all its conditions.

Traffic through Hormuz has declined sharply. At least one tanker was struck on Saturday, according to the United Arab Emirates. Oman's foreign ministry condemned the attacks without naming Iran and said negotiations on navigation arrangements are nearing final stages.

Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen have opened a parallel blockade of Saudi Red Sea ports. Houthi forces announced they struck a Saudi oil facility on Sunday after a fire was extinguished at the site. Saudi Arabia reported three civilian deaths and eight military injuries from the attacks.

The broader regional conflict has challenged Saudi Arabia's reputation for stability and its plans to diversify its economy. On Friday, Saudi Arabia signed a joint defence agreement with Turkey and Pakistan, invoking a clause that treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. Turkey's foreign minister said Egypt may join the pact, describing the partners as natural allies.

The situation remains unresolved, with both sides maintaining their positions and diplomatic channels continuing.

Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan emerged as the leading candidate to become the United Nations secretary‑general, the first woman to hold the post. The successor to António Guterres, whose second term ends on 31 December 2026, is expected to follow an informal regional rotation that favors a Latin American candidate. A secret straw poll of the UN Security Council was conducted in August. Grynspan received ten encourage votes, four no‑opinion votes and one discourage vote, giving her a strong opening position. Her closest rival, Guyana’s former UN envoy Carolyn Rodrigues‑Burkett, obtained nine encourage votes, two discourage votes and four no‑opinion votes. A Bloomberg‑sponsored debate at the General Assembly last month showed Grynspan with 14 percent support and Rodrigues‑Burkett with 49 percent among attendees. One western diplomat noted that Grynspan is viewed as a continuity candidate with tacit support from Guterres, but the source of discouragement votes could affect the outcome if they come from Russia, China or the United States. The election takes place amid concerns about the legitimacy of multilateralism, as the UN has reduced staff by 20 percent and the secretary‑general’s mediating role is increasingly contested. If elected, Grynspan would be the first Jewish secretary‑general and would lead a UN that has documented extensive economic damage in the Palestinian territories, with a February 2026 UNCTAD report estimating cumulative losses of $212.2 billion in constant 2015 dollars from 2000 to 2024. The report linked the loss to occupation policies, restrictions and military operations. Grynspan has highlighted the figure to argue for peace, saying her parents were refugees from World War II and that peace enabled their dignity in Costa Rica. Her niece and nephew have completed service in the Israel Defense Forces. Other potential candidates, including former UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet, face opposition, notably from the United States, which has criticized her record on China. Recent suggestions that FIFA president Gianni Infantino should replace the secretary‑general reflect a shift in U.S. preferences. The secretary‑general is elected after the General Assembly endorses a single Security Council recommendation; a candidate needs nine positive votes and no veto from any permanent member. The process must conclude by the end of the year, with additional Security Council meetings planned to test support.

Israel on Sunday rejected a 15‑point cease‑fire proposal announced by President Donald Trump for the Gaza Strip, saying any Israeli withdrawal would occur only after Hamas disarms. The rejection follows statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told his cabinet that Israel will not carry out a withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.

The Gaza conflict began after a Hamas‑led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and has been marked by a fragile cease‑fire that is repeatedly tested by both sides. Trump’s plan, outlined in a document sent to Israeli officials last month, calls for a gradual Israeli pull‑out as Hamas’s weapons are destroyed.

Netanyahu dismissed the document as unacceptable but said Israel remains in talks with Washington, a position he repeated after similar comments the previous week. A White House spokesperson did not immediately comment on the statement. Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said the group expects the United States to pressure Netanyahu, who is facing domestic political pressure ahead of elections scheduled for October 27.

Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi rebels attacked the government‑controlled port city of Mocha on the Red Sea late Sunday, the second such assault in less than 24 hours. Houthi military sources told the Al‑Masirah television that the strike targeted weapons depots and Saudi troop concentrations. Yemeni government forces reported that ballistic missiles and drones hit residential neighborhoods, killing at least seven people — four troops and three civilians — and injuring 15 others, while the National Resistance Forces said the attack damaged port buildings, piers, commercial goods and food supplies. Air defense systems intercepted some drones, according to the Yemeni Armed Forces statement.

Meanwhile, Iran and Oman have been working toward a temporary arrangement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed deal would allow ships to enter near Iran and exit near Oman without paying fees or tolls during an interim period, and it is supported by Gulf Cooperation Council members, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the strait will not reopen until the United States alters its behavior, including ending threats, withdrawing its military from the region, compensating Iran for war damage, lifting sanctions and halting naval blockades of Iranian ports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman are in the final stages but that reopening the strait does not constitute a return to full diplomatic relations, which he said can resume only after violations of an interim agreement cease and the United States “remedies” its provisions. The United States has described the talks as “semi‑negotiating,” emphasizing that economic pressure is being applied.

The developments in Gaza, Yemen and the Strait of Hormuz underscore the volatility of the Middle East, with diplomatic initiatives ongoing and the potential for further disruptions to regional shipping and security.

Prosecutors in Ecuador have charged a former interior minister and six other individuals on suspicion of involvement in the 2023 assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The charges include José Serrano and Wilmer "Pipo" Chavarria, the leader of the criminal group Los Lobos. Five other suspects linked to the gang were sentenced in 2024, while the alleged gunman was killed at the scene. Six additional men were found dead in prison while awaiting trial. The attorney general's office said the accused played indirect roles, many with ties to Los Lobos. Five of the accused are fugitives; the others are located in the United States, Venezuela, Spain and Mexico. Interpol red notices have been requested for their capture. Ángel Esteban Aguilar, also known as Lobo Menor, was arrested in Mexico City in March and returned to Ecuador after a red notice. He was sentenced in 2013 for a separate murder and fled after parole. Luis Arboleda, a senior Los Lobos member, faces pre‑trial hearings. Villavicencio, a journalist turned legislator, campaigned on anti‑corruption themes and alleged connections between organized crime and government officials. He received a security detail after receiving death threats. President Daniel Noboa, elected after the incident, has pursued a hardline military approach to combat drug gangs. Ecuador's position between Colombia and Peru makes it a key transit route for cocaine, and cartels such as Los Lobos have used corruption and violence to control supply chains.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a U.S.-backed plan on Sunday that would require Hamas to lay down its weapons in Gaza in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from the territory. The proposal, announced on July 30 by the Board of Peace, set a two‑week deadline for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to pull its forces out, with an international stabilization force and a revamped Palestinian police force to follow. Hamas said it would support the plan and called on all parties to help ensure its implementation. Netanyahu said at the start of a government meeting that Israel does not accept the 15‑point document, adding that withdrawal would occur only after "genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament" and that all weapons, heavy and light, must be surrendered. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated on X that the IDF would not withdraw "a single millimeter" from Gaza until Hamas disarmed. Netanyahu also said that, as long as he is prime minister, a Palestinian state will not be established. The White House, when asked for comment, referred The Washington Post to the Board of Peace, which did not immediately respond. President Donald Trump had promoted the plan as a "historic" step toward lasting peace, describing it as a staged disarmament of Hamas with a gradual Israeli pullout. Trump said the United States is only "semi‑negotiating" with Iran and described Tehran’s demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — including U.S. troop withdrawal, war‑damage payments and sanctions relief — as steep terms that cast doubt on prospects for ending hostilities. In a related development, Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi rebels attacked a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan on Sunday, causing a fire that authorities said was brought under control with no injuries reported. The rejection marks the latest apparent setback in Trump’s effort to resolve multiple Middle East conflicts, which have driven up oil prices and affected his approval ratings.

Irish authorities said the United Arab Emirates extradited an individual identified as a senior member of the Irish Kinahan criminal gang to Ireland on August 9.

The Kinahan gang has been linked by Irish law enforcement to large‑scale drug trafficking and money‑laundering operations.

The extradition followed a request from Irish police, which was approved by Emirati officials after a legal review.

Irish officials said the case demonstrates ongoing cooperation between the two countries in addressing transnational crime, while the gang's activities remain under investigation.

President Donald Trump announced on August 10 that he will name Will Scharf as White House counsel, replacing David Warrington, effective September 1. Scharf, a longtime legal ally of Trump, will also serve as assistant to the president, moving from his current role as White House staff secretary.

Scharf joined Trump’s legal team in 2023 and represented the former president in the federal election‑interference case brought by former Special Counsel Jack Smith. The case reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2024 that presidents have broad immunity for official acts. Earlier in Trump’s first term, Scharf assisted with the confirmation of federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, according to The Associated Press.

In July 2025, Trump appointed Scharf chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, which approved a $400 million White House ballroom project on the site of the demolished East Wing. A federal appeals court has upheld an order pausing construction, stating that congressional approval is required for such a major alteration, a point Trump has said he will raise before the Supreme Court.

Trump praised Scharf on his Truth Social account, describing him as "tough, strong and smart" and noting Scharf’s background as a federal prosecutor and his work representing Trump in several legal matters. The appointment follows a pattern in which Trump has elevated lawyers who have previously represented him; Todd Blanche was confirmed as attorney general on the same day, and John Sauer, who argued the presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court, was appointed solicitor general. Emil Bove, another former Trump lawyer, was initially placed in a senior Justice Department role before his recent confirmation to a federal appeals court.

Democrats have said they will investigate Trump and his administration if they regain control of Congress in the November midterm elections, according to the Associated Press. The White House counsel’s role involves advising the president on legal matters, reviewing legislation and executive actions, and coordinating responses to lawsuits and congressional inquiries.

Rabat, Morocco – On September 23, Morocco will hold parliamentary elections, and the decision of Fouzi Lekjaa, minister delegate for the budget and president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, to join the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has sparked debate across political circles and social media.

Lekjaa, who is also known for his work in public finance and for leading the national football federation, built his reputation through administrative roles rather than electoral politics. His entry into partisan politics reflects a broader shift in Moroccan governance, where managerial competence and national prestige are increasingly cited as sources of political legitimacy.

Mustafa Ahdar, a constitutional law researcher at Ibn Zohr University, said that under the 2011 Constitution every citizen may join any party, and former PAM secretary‑general Abdellatif Ouahbi has reiterated this principle. However, Ahdar noted that a person who simultaneously heads the football federation and holds a senior ministerial post cannot be treated like an ordinary party member.

The timing is significant because the post‑election government will oversee Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will cohost with Spain and Portugal. Analysts have described the next administration as a “World Cup government,” emphasizing that its performance on infrastructure, transport and tourism projects may be judged as heavily as traditional economic indicators.

Lekjaa’s rise follows a trend in which successful public officials are recruited as political assets. As budget minister, he was associated with major infrastructure projects, and his leadership of the football federation coincided with the Atlas Lions’ run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals, which improved Morocco’s international image and highlighted the sport as a symbol of national ambition.

Ahdar warned that parties risk abandoning their mission of fostering citizen engagement when they prioritize recruiting prominent figures outside traditional party structures. He said that many party activists spend years advancing through party ranks, while outsiders can achieve senior positions quickly.

Voter turnout in the 2021 parliamentary elections exceeded 50 percent, yet nearly half of eligible voters abstained, a pattern analysts attribute to skepticism toward parties rather than a lack of political interest, especially among younger voters who rely on social media activism.

Ahdar added that the debate over Lekjaa’s entry focuses more on his personal profile than on the party’s programme or achievements. Some social media users have joked that Lekjaa attracted PAM rather than the party attracting him, illustrating a growing tendency to view politics through the lens of individual personalities.

Constitutionally, the king appoints the head of government from the party with the largest number of parliamentary seats, and the proportional electoral system typically produces coalition governments, making post‑election negotiations crucial.

Ahdar also drew parallels with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who entered partisan politics after a career outside traditional party structures, raising questions about internal party democracy and the speed at which outsiders can attain senior roles.

Nouh El Harmouzi, head of the Arab Center for Research, said Lekjaa’s administrative experience could help the next government manage the large budgetary demands of the World Cup and address broader economic risks.

Diaspora members have followed the development closely because of Lekjaa’s popularity through football, and some compare his transition to that of French President Emmanuel Macron, who moved from the private sector into national politics.

Beyond Lekjaa, observers note that the effectiveness demonstrated in football administration may not automatically translate into economic or social progress that Moroccans expect.

The next government will face substantial budgetary pressures and geopolitical challenges while delivering one of the largest projects in Morocco’s modern history, and it remains uncertain whether Lekjaa’s involvement will shape party dynamics or policy outcomes.

Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that the defense agreement his country signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is purely defensive and open to other regional states. The agreement was signed on Friday in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the three nations seek to deepen security cooperation amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. The pact states that an armed attack on any one of the three members shall be regarded as an attack on all, consistent with the right of individual and collective self‑defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Dar posted on X that the provision aligns with Article 51, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan similarly said the pact was not directed at Iran or any other country. The three governments noted that the accord does not replace existing bilateral or multilateral agreements. Public celebrations were held in Islamabad and Saudi cities, where landmarks were illuminated with the colors of the three flags. Defense analyst Abdullah Khan cautioned that the pact should not be interpreted as a NATO‑style collective defense alliance directed against Iran. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close military ties for decades and signed a separate mutual‑defense agreement in September 2025, while Pakistan and Turkey have expanded military and defense‑industrial cooperation in recent years. Dar said Pakistan will continue to work with regional partners toward lasting peace and stability, and the agreement may facilitate broader cooperation among the three countries.