Author: Gulf News Week

The war on Iran has repeated the failures of past US conflicts defined by hubris and ignorance.After threatening on Tuesday that a “whole civilisation will die tonight”, US President Donald Trump had to backtrack and announce a two-week delay in making good his threat. During this stand-down the US and Iran, along with Israel in the wings, will attempt to negotiate peace. Ironically, while the US maintains an overwhelming military advantage, Iran holds the strategic cards by controlling the Strait of Hormuz and hence retaining great influence on the price of gasoline and diesel fuel and the state of global stock markets.On the current trajectory, the…

There are two currents within the Houthis: one favouring caution, and another favouring commitments to allies.During the first month of the US-Israel war on Iran, the Houthis adopted a cautious approach, even though many expected them to move faster based on the nature of their close relationship with Tehran. This assessment is not wrong — the relationship is indeed strong — but what this view misses is that decision-making within the Yemeni group has increasingly become the product of an extended internal debate.This debate goes back to the Houthis’ decision to launch military action in support of Gaza after Operation…

As the Iran war disrupts oil flows, fuel shortages hit Asia first. Is this the start of a wider global energy crisis?As oil flows come under threat due to the Iran war, parts of Asia are already under strain. Fuel supplies are tightening, prices are rising, and some countries warn stocks may run out. Far from the battlefield, the impact is immediate. What does this reveal about just how fragile the global energy system is?In this episode: Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4The Take: Palestine 36, a film about a revolt that nearly changed historylist 2 of 4The…

But past experience and current geopolitical realities show such a strategy is doomed to failure.As the US threatens to launch a ground invasion of Iran, many questions remain about its goals and geographical span. Some scenarios suggest a focus on some of the islands in the Gulf, others – joining forces with local insurgent groups.Early on in the war, Washington seemed to toy with the idea of supporting opposition groups from Iran’s large Kurdish minority to launch a war by proxy.According to reports in the Israeli media, initial efforts by Mossad to encourage attacks by Kurdish groups in Iran’s northwest…

Package aligns with Dubai government’s Dh1 billion economic support initiative; Group CEO Nabil Al Kindi says SMEs are ‘at the heart of Dubai’s economic fabric.’ DUBAI — Dubai South has announced a comprehensive support package for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at its Business Park, offering rent-free incentives, enhanced payment deferment flexibility, and the waiver of minor administrative penalties. The package, aimed at providing immediate financial relief to the SME community, comes as Dubai’s government recently approved Dh1 billion worth of initiatives and a set of strategies to defer a range of government fees — measures set to be implemented over…

Green Asha transits strategic waterway amid US-Israel-Iran war; New Delhi says 100,000 5kg cylinders sold daily, all 460 Indian seafarers safe. SHARJAH — An eighth India-flagged LPG carrier has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional hostilities, with a ninth vessel now awaiting instructions from the Indian Navy, as New Delhi moves to reassure citizens that there is no shortage of cooking gas or fuel across the country. The LPG carrier Green Asha, carrying 15,400 tonnes of LPG, transited the strait on Sunday, becoming the eighth Indian vessel to do so since the US-Israel-Iran war began on February 28. Meanwhile,…

Head coach Irhad Tinjak dedicates victory to Dubai as UAE’s sole representatives dominate European youth competition, capping unbeaten run with 69-53 final win. DUBAI — The Dubai Basketball U-18 Elite team have been crowned champions of the Basket Cup Sarajevo 2026, achieving a remarkable victory in their first-ever appearance at the tournament, which ran from April 3-5. Representing the city of Dubai, the squad delivered a series of statement performances against some of Europe’s top young talents. As the only team from outside Europe in the competition, Dubai Basketball U-18 Elite entered the event determined to showcase the emirate’s growing influence…

Atomic chief Mohammad Eslami says Bushehr plant targeted four times; latest attack killed security staff. IAEA’s mere ‘expressions of concern’ embolden aggressors, he warns. DUBAI — Iran’s atomic energy chief has accused the United Nations nuclear watchdog of “inaction” over attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities, warning that strikes on its only operating reactor could trigger a radioactive disaster with “irreparable consequences” for people, the environment, and neighboring countries. In a letter addressed to the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, Mohammad Eslami said the agency’s failure to take decisive action “emboldens aggression” against nuclear sites such…

UNRWA’s mandate to provide for Palestinian refugees makes it a direct threat to the Israeli genocidal project.It is time for the United Nations to accept that Israel’s attack on its agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is an essential part of the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people. This is not an accusation coming from a critic of Israel. It is a clear, on-the-record statement from the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Arieh King, who, in January, invoked divine Jewish authority, proudly proclaiming, “God willing, we will expel, kill, eliminate, and destroy all UNRWA personnel.”As an agency founded specifically to serve Palestinian…

Trump and Netanyahu are harbouring the same illusions Saddam Hussein had in 1980 when he invaded Iran.When the United States and Israel launched their illegal war on Iran on February 28, they called on the Iranian people to rise up. They then proceeded to bomb not just military targets, but civilian housing, universities, schools, hospitals, commercial buildings and historical sites.In the sound of explosions today, many Iranians hear echoes from the past: from the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988.In the fall of 1980, when Iraq invaded Iran, I was a 20-year-old student at Tehran Polytechnic University and a member of an…