Iraq's prime minister faces a mounting political crisis as powerful Shia paramilitary factions refuse to disarm ahead of a September 30 deadline. The standoff threatens to reopen tensions between Baghdad and armed groups aligned with Iran-backed militias.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk said Iran has executed at least 56 people since March on national security-related charges. Twenty-seven of the cases were linked to protests that swept the country in January.
Goods have begun returning to markets in Gaza City as the ceasefire holds, but displaced Palestinians say soaring prices and scarce income leave them unable to afford basic food and supplies. Aid workers and residents describe a gap between restocked shelves and household purchasing power that continues to strain daily life.
US President Donald Trump said Iran would be "hit very hard" if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping soon, even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said talks had advanced toward resuming shipments. Oil prices fell on signs the standoff over the vital waterway may be easing.
Qatar says mediation efforts between the US and Iran are continuing, though no direct talks are currently planned. Tehran has denied President Trump's assertion that negotiations are already under way.
Iran and Oman have held what officials describe as positive talks aimed at reopening safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. US officials say progress has been made toward resuming regional oil shipments, though negotiators say key differences between the parties remain unresolved.
A seventh round of talks between Israel and Lebanon has begun, coming as Israel continues to occupy and strike southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's disarmament remains one of the central topics on the agenda. The talks' progress is being closely watched for its implications for regional stability.
A mass funeral was held in Gaza City for 112 Palestinians killed in a 2023 Israeli strike. The remains, belonging to members of two extended families, were only recently recovered from under rubble in the city. The funeral underscored the continuing toll of bodies still being found beneath the wreckage of the war.
Thousands of young people in Gaza are pursuing roles in the digital economy as the territory's wider recovery stalls. Remote work offers some a stable income and a glimmer of hope for the future amid the destruction.
The board overseeing the peace plan said Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas disarms. The statement came after a meeting between Netanyahu and a board official, amid tension over recent Israeli strikes on Gaza.