As military operations continue in Yemen and Lebanon, the Middle East continues to be a flash point, and diplomatic efforts over the conflict between U.S. and Iran are bringing focus to the United Nations General Assembly.
Under Washington’s new sanctions, Iranian airlines will be effectively grounded all over the world on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. The warning doesn’t only address the Iranian carrier, but also includes its airports, fuel suppliers and other companies rendering services to the carrier. Iran Air even confirmed that despite the threat, it is continuing operations of scheduled flights to Najaf in Iraq from its Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan cities.
Government troops in Yemen reported having struck Houthi groups and supply routes in Bab al-Mandeb and Al-Bayda governorates. Yemeni forces in Taiz province’s southwest peninsula also claimed to have shot down a Houthi drone. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, meanwhile, declared the “conflict with the Americans” would go on “until they are what they want, that is, domination over the people of Yemen.”
Israel was also reported to have attacked several areas in southern Lebanon, including the Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil and Nabatieh districts and the Wadi al-Hujeir area, escalating tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Qatar has blamed Israel’s far right government of trying to sabotage the mediation process regarding Gaza and said it is asking media outlets not to be “a source of misinformation for or speculation on the matter” at Doha. The remarks follow attempts by Qatar to play the role of a mediator in regional affairs.
The oil markets have also been reacting to the hope for potential diplomatic possibilities in the future. However, crude oil prices were volatile as they dropped to their lowest level in about 12 days on the assumption that the UN General Assembly might achieve progress between Washington and Tehran.
Tehran is also playing a key role in Pakistan’s engagement. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart in Tehran over ‘bilateral cooperation and regional developments’. Topics of the talks included enhancing bilateral ties in various fields, Iranian officials said.
The changes coincide with global summits in New York and diplomacy being conducted as military action is happening in various flash points in the Middle East.