Middle East

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai

Trump urges other nations to help secure Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has called on nations to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for shipping as Iranian forces continue their retaliation campaign amid US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Middle East • 30 mins

Satellite view of Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran

Why has Kharg Island become focus of Middle East war?

Iran's Kharg Island, targeted in US air strikes overnight, is a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran's crude exports.

Middle East • 7 hrs

Oil pump with an Iran flag in the background

Crude awakening: Europe reels from Trump's Gulf war

The US-Israeli attack on Iran presents a cascade of political and economic problems, our Europe Editor Tony Connelly examines the matter of sky-rocketing oil and gases on EU members states.

Analysis and Comment • 14 hrs

US President Donald Trump departs Air Force One.

Economic ramifications of Iran war puts pressure on Trump

The Biden administration's obsession with gas prices is continuing in the Trump administration as the economic ramifications of the US military operation against Iran begins to increase pressure on the US president and officials.

Analysis and Comment • 14 hrs

Smoke and flames rise from an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah

As it happened: US attacks Kharg as Iran retaliates

The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon continues to increase as US President Trump threatened to strike the oil infrastructure of Iran's Kharg Island hub unless Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Middle East • 29 mins

An Emirates Airbus A380 passenger aircraft prepares for landing at Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 8, 2026. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, sparking swift retaliation by the Islamic republic which r

Aviation in turmoil as travellers look for alternatives

Only limited flights are operating through the Gulf, as passengers scramble to make sense of their travel plans - both now and for weeks or months ahead.

Business • 13 hrs

Smoke rises after airstrikes in Tehran, Iran

US sending more marines, ships to Middle East - reports

The United States is sending more marines and ships to the Middle East two weeks into the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, US media reported today.

Middle East • 13 Mar

Photo shows the site of a strike on a girls' school in Minab, Iran

Pentagon elevates investigation into Iran school strike

The US military said today it has elevated the investigation into a devastating strike on 28 February on an Iranian girls' school after media reports revealed the probe shows US forces were likely responsible.

Middle East • 13 Mar

A view of buildings that are completely destroyed during the US-Israeli military campaign that strikes a residential area in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026

As it happened: Iran vows to keep Hormuz shut

Read back on developments as they happened on the day Iran's new supreme leader issued his first message and Israel said it was preparing to expand operations in Lebanon.

Middle East • 12 Mar

The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut, Lebanon

US and Israel 'crushing' Iran and Hezbollah - Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the joint US-Israeli campaign is "crushing" Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and called for Iranians to rise up and overthrow the Islamic Republic.

Middle East • 12 Mar

The UNIFIL flag used on all installations, vehicles and checkpoints

Lebanese face more death, displacement in latest war

It is 36 years since the late journalist Robert Fisk published his bestselling book 'Pity the Nation', which recounted the horror and hell which Lebanon went through during its long-running and bloody civil war from 1975 to 1990.

Analysis and Comment • 12 Mar

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) deliver a speech during a joint press conference

Macron says no 'respite' for Russia despite Iran war

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to keep up pressure on Russia to end its four-year invasion of Ukraine after Washington partially rolled back sanctions against Moscow to cool oil prices sent soaring by the Middle East war.

Ukraine • 13 Mar

Members attend a United Nations Security Council meeting where a resolution condemning Iran's missile attacks on Gulf countries hosting US bases was adopted at the UN headquarters in New York

Security Council demands Iran halt attacks on Gulf states

The UN Security Council has called for Iran to halt its attacks on Gulf states, in a resolution that did not mention US or Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Iran's ambassador to decry a "blatant misuse" of the international body.

Middle East • 11 Mar

Strike on school a US 'targeting error' - report

The deadly missile strike on a girls' primary school in Iran - which killed at least 175 people - was the result of a targeting error by the US military, according to preliminary findings of a US military report.

Middle East • 13 Mar

The flight from Abu Dhabi was carrying 217 people including 27 citizens from other EU member states (File image)

Second Govt charter flight from Gulf lands in Dublin

The second Government charter flight from the Gulf, assisting Irish citizens in the region, will arrive in Dublin this afternoon.

Ireland • 11 Mar

Two armed police officers stand guard in front of a giant banner depicting a portrait of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and military commanders

As it happened: Strikes hit Tehran as war continues

Follow developments in the Middle East as Israel launches new strikes on Tehran and the US says it will temporarily lift Russian oil sanctions.

Middle East • 13 Mar

The sales ring at Athenry Mart in County Galway

Effects of war causing 'frustration' for Irish farmers

As the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt global fuel and fertiliser supply chains, farmers across Ireland are feeling the ripple effects.

Ireland • 11 Mar

Home-heating oil hikes eight times higher than EU average

Increases in the price of home-heating oil in the aftermath of the Iran war were around eight times higher in Ireland than elsewhere in the European Union.

Business • 11 Mar

IEA to release 400 million barrels from oil reserves

The International Energy Agency is to recommend the release ⁠of 400 million barrels of oil, the largest such move in IEA history, to try to restrain soaring crude prices amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Business • 11 Mar

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - MARCH 4: Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the Development Committee Barry Andrews speaks during a press conference titled 'The Urgent situation in occupied Palestinian territories and lack of debate in European Parliam

Irish MEPs' 'deep concern' over 'unilateral' Iran war

Several Irish MEPs have today used a European Parliament debate to raise concerns about the decision by the United States and Israel to launch military action against Iran.

Europe • 11 Mar

Smoke rises from various locations in Tehran, Iran following multiple explosions across the capital.

Iran war may be decided by stability of global economy

This war may not be decided in the battlespace, rather in the stability of the global economy.

Analysis and Comment • 12 Mar

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - MARCH 11 : United States President Donald Trump (R) and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt (L) are seen during the his departure the White House en route Hebron, Kentucky on March 11, 2026, in Washington DC, United

As it happened: US 'not finished yet' in Iran - Trump

Follow developments on the conflict in the Middle East.

Middle East • 11 Mar

Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris speaking to the travelling media in Paris during his visit to France

OTB could be ready before summer, says Tánaiste

The Government's planned law to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land could be ready before the summer, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.

Middle East • 10 Mar

An employee pumps gasoline into the vehicle of a customer at a gas station in Hanoi on March 9, 2026. Vietnam is considering a plan to scrap tariffs on fuel imports, the government said, as the US-Israeli war with Iran disrupts oil supplies and pushes pri

Call on Govt to extend fuel allowance over energy prices

A representative body for one-parent families in Ireland has called on the Government to extend the fuel allowance for a number of weeks due to the increase in energy prices.

Ireland • 10 Mar

Smoke rises among residential buildings in Tehran

Israeli military launches new 'wave of strikes' on Tehran

Israel's military said tonight that it had unleashed a new "wave of strikes" on Tehran, shortly after a round of explosions was heard in the Iranian capital.

Middle East • 10 Mar

middle-east

Trump urges other nations to help secure Strait of Hormuz

Why has Kharg Island become focus of Middle East war?

Crude awakening: Europe reels from Trump's Gulf war

Economic ramifications of Iran war puts pressure on Trump

As it happened: US attacks Kharg as Iran retaliates

Aviation in turmoil as travellers look for alternatives

US sending more marines, ships to Middle East - reports

Pentagon elevates investigation into Iran school strike

As it happened: Iran vows to keep Hormuz shut

US and Israel 'crushing' Iran and Hezbollah - Netanyahu

Lebanese face more death, displacement in latest war

Macron says no 'respite' for Russia despite Iran war

Security Council demands Iran halt attacks on Gulf states

Strike on school a US 'targeting error' - report

Second Govt charter flight from Gulf lands in Dublin

As it happened: Strikes hit Tehran as war continues

Effects of war causing 'frustration' for Irish farmers

Home-heating oil hikes eight times higher than EU average

IEA to release 400 million barrels from oil reserves

Irish MEPs' 'deep concern' over 'unilateral' Iran war

Iran war may be decided by stability of global economy

As it happened: US 'not finished yet' in Iran - Trump

OTB could be ready before summer, says Tánaiste

Call on Govt to extend fuel allowance over energy prices

Israeli military launches new 'wave of strikes' on Tehran