World News

Oil touches $87 as battle for Strait of Hormuz alarms energy markets

Brent crude climbs after US responds to Iranian attacks on tankers with fresh round of strikes

Scoop: Trump tells Netanyahu to move forces out of Syria and Lebanon

President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call Thursday that Israel should start redeploying its forces out of Syria and urged him to do the same in Lebanon, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. Why it matters: Three months ahead of an election that is existential for his political survival and personal freedom, Netanyahu is unlikely to take any significant steps to withdraw Israeli forces from territory it occupies in Syria — or to allow further redeployments in Lebanon beyond the one he's already agreed to. But Trump's requests add to growing pressure on the Israeli leader. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) currently occupies large parts of Southern Lebanon and Southern Syria — a presence the government says is needed to prevent another Oct. 7-type invasion. Senior members of the Israeli government want indefinite control over those areas and some even push for the establishment of Jewish settlements there. Behind the scenes: A U.S. official said Trump told Netanyahu that the presence of the Israeli military in Syrian territory creates tensions and could lead to an escalation. "They don't want you there. You should redeploy," Trump told Netanyahu, according to the U.S. official, who added that the same is true about Lebanon. "The Prime Minister, on his part, raised the need for security zones along Israel's borders," the Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement. Driving the news: The call between Trump and Netanyahu took place a day after a meeting the president had with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmad al-Sharaa, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey. The Trump administration has tried for months to reach a new security agreement between Israel and Syria before eventually concluding Netanyahu doesn't want to make the concessions it sought. Those included gradually withdrawing the IDF from the Syrian territory it has occupied since the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, U.S. officials say. In recent

Democrats squirm over vote to shut off aid to Israel

An upcoming House vote on a measure blocking U.S. aid to Israel has Democrats divided over how far they should go to signal displeasure with the Netanyahu government. Why it matters: The vote is revealing just how much anxiety Democratic lawmakers have about the growing anti-Israel sentiments coming from their grassroots base. "Even I'm a lean yes and think it's a crappy amendment," said one House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts on their vote. "For me, it's more of a signal that something needs to change and we can't just provide aid despite how it's being used," the lawmaker said, predicting "at least 40" of their colleagues will vote for the measure. Driving the news: The House is scheduled to vote this week on Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) amendment to a State Department funding bill that would prohibit any of the money from going to Israel. The measure — which does not make any carveout for non-military aid — has been the subject of frenzied internal discussion among House Democrats for weeks. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced in Democrats' closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday morning that he would vote against the amendment, according to several lawmakers who were present. What they're saying: In a letter to colleagues obtained by Axios, Jeffries said the "overly broad" amendment would limit funding for "humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building and U.S. Embassy operations." He also warned that it would "restrict our country's ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel." "In my view, there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government," the Democratic leader wrote. Zoom out: Centrist, pro-Israel Democrats cheered Jeffries for taking what they said is a brave and much-needed stand against the growing influence of the party

Trump backtracks on Hormuz 20% toll demand

President Trump on Tuesday walked back his demand for collecting a 20% toll from ships that transit through the Strait of Hormuz — and instead said Gulf states would make major investments in the U.S. Why it matters: Trump's Hormuz fee announcement on Monday was deemed illegal by the UN maritime agency and shocked many U.S. allies in the Gulf. It also validated the Iranian demand to collect service fees in the strait — something Trump himself rejected until several days ago. What they're saying: "Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States," Trump wrote on Truth Social. In a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister shortly after the post, Trump told reporters that he received calls from "kings and Emirs" asking him not to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. "I don't think anybody should charge a fee for the Strait or any other strait in the world," he said. "I don't like the concept of a fee, but at the same time it is not fair that we are protecting this strait for the entire world ... and we are not somehow compensated." He said investments are better compensation than tolls. Behind the scenes: Two Gulf officials said Trump's announcement on Monday about tolls caught countries in the region by surprise. Officials from several Gulf countries asked their White House counterparts for clarification, the sources said. On Tuesday, Trump spoke to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to express his condolences for the death of his father. The issue of the Strait of Hormuz also came up in the call. Reality check: Before the war with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain had already committed to invest more than $2 trillion in the U.S. over the next several years. Trump said in his post that the Gulf countries will make "new Investments" that "will make that Number even l

Europe, Flexing Muscle in Ukraine, Is Still on Sidelines in Iran

In a show of collective strength, President Emmanuel Macron of France hosted European allies at the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris. Yet Europe is still a hostage to America’s foreign policy.

Trump’s Plan to Charge a Toll in the Strait of Hormuz: What to Know

President Trump announced a 20 percent fee on cargo through the waterway, despite his own administration’s position that such fees violate international law.

Global shipping industry sounds the alarm over Trump’s Hormuz toll plan

For shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, it is "fundamentally wrong" to charge tolls for passage through international waters, regardless of the country in charge.

Iran abused mobile networks’ vulnerabilities to locate US military in the Middle East, report says

The Iranian government exploited well-known flaws in cellphone networks to locate and then strike U.S. military personnel in the build-up and beginning of the war.

U.S. crude jumps above $80 as Iran ceasefire fractures; Trump's Hormuz toll plans reignite supply fears

Oil prices rose on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose shipping fees in the Strait of Hormuz.

India presses banks to court diaspora for deposits to support rupee

Foreign exchange reserves have dwindled by $54bn since start of Iran war

Inflation cools to 3.5% in June in relief brought by brief US-Iran peace deal

Trump says he will back off plan to toll ships in Strait of Hormuz

During a meeting with the prime minister of Iraq, President Trump discussed his decision to reverse his plan to implement tolls for non-Iranian ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. NBC News' Gabe Gutierrez reports on the decision and other topics the president took questions about in the White House.

Is Hormuz open? Trump's toll threat intensifies rush to bypass the Strait altogether

Gulf producers are increasingly relying on alternative routes to keep crude moving as shipping disruptions expose the risks of depending on the Strait of Hormuz.

Gold trader gets time served in Iran sanctions case that strained US-Turkey relations

A gold trader who admitted conspiring with a Turkish bank to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions is set to be sentenced to time served

Trump backs away from plans to charge fees in the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a reversal of plans to charge a 20% toll on cargo going through the Strait of Hormuz, saying that Middle Eastern countries will instead make investment and trade deals with the U.S.

US and Iran exchange strikes for the third day

A serious escalation is occurring in the fighting between the US and Iran. Overnight and into this morning, the American military targeted sites across the Islamic Republic – while Iran fired ballistic missiles at US airbases in Jordan and Bahrain. There has been an escalation in the war of words too: President Donald Trump vowed to reinstate an American blockade of Iranian ports and charge ships for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Details and analysis by Scott Lucas, professor of US and international politics at the Clinton Institute of University College Dublin.