02/04/2026 14:14
Thousands of Iranians take to the streets of Tehran for funeral of Revolutionary Guards Navy commander
Thousands of Iranians gathered yesterday in Tehran for the funeral of the commander of the Revolutionary Guards Navy, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, with mourners vowing to resist despite warnings from the United States.
The procession coincided with the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Republic, founded on April 1, 1979, after the revolution that ended a monarchy of 2,500 years.
“This war has been going on for a month. No matter how long it takes, we will continue,” said Musa Nowruzi, a 57-year-old retiree. “We will resist to the end.”
02/04/2026 14:11
Iran has not resumed uranium enrichment after 2025 attacks, says Tehran official
Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Reza Najafi, told the French Press Agency that his country had not resumed uranium enrichment following Israeli and U.S. attacks in June 2025 on certain nuclear facilities.
“We have not resumed enrichment, and that was a lie, a very big lie, like the other lies,” Najafi said when asked about U.S. accusations that led to the current Middle East conflict.
02/04/2026 13:51
CENTCOM: Our progress against Iran is undeniable; we see neither their navy nor their air force
02/04/2026 13:48
Putin: We hope the Middle East conflict ends soon; we are ready to contribute
Russia expects that the Middle East conflict will end soon and is ready to do whatever is possible to restore normalcy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
“We all hope the conflict will end as soon as possible. Yesterday, President Trump spoke about it, and I repeat: on our side, we are ready to do everything to restore the situation to normal, as they say in such cases,” Putin said in a meeting with Egypt’s Foreign Minister at the Kremlin.
02/04/2026 13:37
Trump’s threats of U.S. withdrawal from NATO “look like Putin’s dream plan,” says Tusk
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Trump’s repeated threats to break up NATO, the potential for a massive energy crisis in Europe, and Viktor Orban’s moves to block economic and military aid to Ukraine seem to follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plan.
02/04/2026 13:34
Macron: Military operation to “open” the Strait of Hormuz is unrealistic
The French President criticized Donald Trump for weakening NATO, creating “daily doubts about its commitment.”
He said that war does not offer a “long-term solution” to the Iranian nuclear issue and referred to Trump’s mocking comments about his spouse as “neither polite nor worthy of this level.”
02/04/2026 13:22
Russia ready to help resolve Middle East conflict, says Kremlin
Russia is ready to help resolve the conflict in Iran, and President Putin continues talks with regional leaders, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
“The president continues these contacts, and if our services are needed in any way, we are, of course, ready to contribute so that the military situation is guided toward a peaceful course as soon as possible,” Peskov told reporters.
02/04/2026 13:13The
Philippines agrees with Iran on the passage of their ships through Strait of Hormuz
Philippine Foreign Minister Ma Teresa Lazaro said she had a “productive phone conversation” with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, resulting in a “positive agreement” regarding the safety of Filipino seafarers.
“Based on recent talks, we reached a positive agreement on the security of our seafarers and the safety of our energy supply,” Lazaro wrote on X.
Last month, the Philippine government reported that about 7,300 Filipino seafarers were in high-risk areas in the Middle East, including the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.
02/04/2026 13:02
Israel: Over 40 Hezbollah members neutralized in last 24 hours
Over 40 Hezbollah members were killed, and dozens of targets in Lebanon were struck in the past 24 hours, according to the Israeli army.
The Israeli Air Force bombed command centers, weapon depots, rocket launchers, and anti-tank missile positions. The Navy also struck a Hezbollah arms depot in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, ground forces continue operations in southern Lebanon. The IDF reported that the 91st “Galilee” Division engaged a group of Hezbollah members, while the 36th Division attacked three armed members on motorcycles, killing around 10 more. The 146th and 162nd Divisions also found numerous weapons and destroyed dozens of Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon in the last 24 hours.
02/04/2026 12:52
18-year-old executed in Iran for arson at military base during January protests
An 18-year-old man convicted of attacking a secret military installation during recent protests in Iran was executed after his appeal was denied and the Supreme Court upheld the sentence, according to judicial news agency Mizan.
Amirhoosein Hatami was found guilty of entering a restricted military area in Tehran, causing damage, setting the facility on fire, and attempting to seize weapons and ammunition, charges he admitted during interrogation.
The First Deputy Head of Justice, Hamze Halili, said last month that cases related to the January protests had concluded and sentences were being carried out.
02/04/2026 12:45
Axios: Ceasefire in exchange for reopening Strait of Hormuz being discussed by U.S. and Iran; Trump informed Saudi Arabia and UAE
Discussions about a potential ceasefire, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, are underway between Washington and Tehran, according to three U.S. officials cited by Axios.
It is unclear if discussions are direct or via intermediaries, and officials warned a successful outcome is uncertain. Trump raised the topic in phone calls with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.
02/04/2026 12:33
Gulf countries seek alternatives to Strait of Hormuz; East-West pipeline model revives plans for new oil routes
The threat of Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz has forced Gulf countries to reconsider costly new oil pipeline projects to ensure continued exports despite political and economic challenges.
Officials and industry executives told the Financial Times that new pipelines may be the only way to reduce Gulf countries’ vulnerability to disruptions at Hormuz.
Iran has issued a strong warning that it will not tolerate what it described as a “vicious cycle of war, negotiations, ceasefire, and renewed conflict,” following escalating rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump. Tehran’s response came after Trump threatened that Iran could be bombed “back to the Stone Age” if it fails to meet U.S. conditions to end the war.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson stressed that the country will continue to respond militarily as long as attacks by the United States and Israel persist, describing the conflict as unjust and imposed on the Iranian people. At the same time, Iran rejected claims of ongoing direct negotiations with Washington, calling U.S. demands “maximalist and unreasonable.”
Escalation on the Ground and Global Impact
The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, with Iran launching waves of missile attacks toward Israel, injuring civilians, including children. Meanwhile, Iran-backed groups, such as the Houthis, have warned of further escalation, including the potential closure of key maritime routes like the Bab el-Mandeb strait if regional actors become involved.
Global markets have reacted sharply to the rising tensions. Oil prices surged by around 6%, while stock markets in Europe and beyond declined amid fears of a prolonged conflict. Strategic concerns are also growing over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies.
International Reactions and Uncertainty Ahead
China has called for immediate de-escalation, emphasizing that military action cannot resolve the crisis. Similarly, other international actors have urged restraint as uncertainty continues to weigh on global economic stability.
Despite U.S. claims that the war is progressing successfully, analysts note a lack of clear strategy or exit plan, raising concerns that the conflict may deepen further in the coming weeks.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
