Al Monitor

How should the UK balance its defense needs with the risks of escalating tensions with Iran?

LONDON, July 23 (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a warning over allowing U.S. bombers to fly from UK bases. "Our Armed Forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it's on our soil or from abroad. The UK stands ready 24/7 to defend itself," a government spokesperson said

How might the plans for fees and cooperation in Hormuz affect trade and relations in the region?

By Timour Azhari and Parisa Hafezi DUBAI, July 28 (Reuters) - Oman has won backing from Gulf states for a plan that would let Tehran collect voluntary fees to use the Strait of Hormuz, a Gulf source told Reuters on Tuesday, a path towards ending the disruption to oil trade caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran

What should be the role of Congress in decisions about military action in Iran?

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives backed a resolution on Thursday directing President Donald Trump to halt U.S. military action against Iran unless he obtains Congress' approval, but the Senate voted hours later to block a separate, similar measure. The House vote, the latest rebuke of Trump from Congress, was 214-208 in favor of the war powers resolution as four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it

How should the U.S. balance talks with Iran while ensuring national security?

WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has paused attacks on Iran to allow more room for diplomacy, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Sunday. "He's giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room," Mike Waltz told the "Fox News Sunday" program

How might the recent attacks on tankers in the Red Sea impact peace efforts in the Middle East?

What should be the best approach for the US in dealing with tensions in the Strait of Hormuz?

U.S. forces carried out a multiround strike against Iran on Tuesday after Iran targeted three commercial shipping vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. Central Command saying it hit over 80 targets total, including over 60 Iranian small boats. “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed a new round of offensive strikes against Iran, July […]

How should countries respond to threats in important shipping routes like the Bab al-Mandeb Strait?

Yemen's pro-Iranian Houthi rebels have claimed attacks in the Red Sea on two Saudi oil tankers and say they will blockade the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a crucial passage into the Red Sea, as part of a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. - Gateway to the Red Sea - Known as the "Gate of Tears" in Arabic, the Bab al-Mandeb strait sits at the southern tip of the Red Sea, connecting it with the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean

What are the different views on increasing military funding for the conflict with Iran?

The Pentagon seeks an additional $80 billion to cover the costs of the conflict and replenish depleted weapons stocks

What are the benefits and risks of allowing Ukraine to produce its own Patriot missiles?

By Gram Slattery and Humeyra Pamuk ANKARA, July 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, a huge boost for Kyiv, which has long sought permission to produce the defensive weapons. "We're going to give a license to you to make Patriots. That's pretty cool. This way, you can't complain that we're not giving 'em enough," Trump said at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the NATO summit in Ankara

How should countries respond when they feel a leader has broken promises in international agreements?

July 18 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement on Saturday that repeated U.S. breaches of a memorandum of understanding signed by the presidents of Iran and the United States had shown that President Donald Trump's signature was "utterly worthless and devoid of credibility." Washington and Tehran have exchanged strikes after a ceasefire agreement fell apart last week, raising fears of a return to all-out war