The Media Line

Iran war opens new rifts between Washington, Europe, the Vatican, and Israel

Disputes over Iran, Lebanon, NATO, and diplomatic legitimacy are testing the cohesion of the Western alliance.

US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting on January 21, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.
Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026.

Pressure on Strait of Hormuz threatens global energy, Red Sea exposed to disruption - explainer

Bita Hemmati

Iran to execute first woman prisoner linked to January protests as regime executions surge

Taliban Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat speaks during a press conference about the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3, 2026.

Afghan women’s rights advocates urge Melania Trump to support girls facing Taliban restrictions


Bedouin lawyer Hanan Alsanah eyes politics to advance Arab-Jewish partnership, women’s leadership

“I am a Bedouin feminist human rights lawyer as a peace builder,” Alsanah said at the outset, describing the identity she says she has “paid a very high price” to claim.

Hanan Alsanah is the only one among her sisters to attend university.

Iran war shifts Middle East dynamics, leaving Palestinian issues sidelined - analysis

The war with Iran dominates the regional agenda, but Palestinians face growing crises, including insecurity, violence, and a sidelined political authority with an uncertain future.

 A Palestinian man stands next to a burnt car after an attack by Israeli settlers in Kafr Malik, in the West Bank, June 26, 2025.

Not just about Israel: Iran poses threat to world's oil market, Israel's ambassador to US warns

Roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption passes through the strait, making even the threat of mining or disruption enough to rattle oil markets and governments alike.

 Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter speaks to the media at the Capital Jewish Museum, near the site where two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead, in Washington, DC, US, May 22, 2025

Records reveal hidden billions in global wealth tied to Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei

Khamenei’s financial agent, Ali Ansari, has circumvented sanctions, laundered money for the IRGC and the regime, and financed the IRGC and its proxy groups.

Mojtaba Khamenei; the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; is seen in Tehran; Iran; on December 14; 2016.

‘I shielded the baby with my body’: Paramedic protects newborn during Iran missile alert

Emergency crews operate under clear safety procedures during missile alerts, but the presence of both a newborn and a mother who had just given birth created a particularly complicated situation.

Magen David Adom paramedic Elad Pas shields a newborn baby during a missile alert.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan reaffirm mutual defense pact after Iranian missile, drone strikes

According to the media wing of the Pakistan Army, “both leaders discussed the seriousness of the security situation arising from Iranian drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia."

Smoke rises above Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 5, 2026

After Iran, Israel will still have the Gaza issue, with more pressure to solve it - analysis

Hamas remains embedded in the enclave and Israel faces a renewed dilemma over how to end the war once the confrontation with Iran subsides

Palestinians live among the ruins of their destroyed homes after returning to the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, February 8, 2026

Israel operating in Lebanon to ensure Hezbollah can never interfere on Iran's behalf, expert says

Israel’s Lebanon offensive is now part of a wider confrontation with Iran, as Hezbollah remains a central threat and the risk of a broader regional conflict continues to grow.

Hezbollah supporters attend a ceremony held by Hezbollah to commemorate the first anniversary of their late leader Hassan Nasrallah's killing by Israel, on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon, September 27, 2025

‘Facing the Middle East’ spotlights women champions for change, power in action

In this episode, a 50-woman initiative led by Danny Hakim, featuring Hanan Alsanah, Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay, and Donna Orender on empowerment, Iran’s crisis, leadership, and cooperation.

Felice Friedson.

Iran war tests India’s balancing act between the US, Israel, and Tehran - analysis

New Delhi seeks to balance ties with Washington, Jerusalem, and Tehran while protecting trade routes, energy supplies, and 9 million citizens working across the Gulf.

The flags of Israel and India flutter as Narendra Modi makes a state visit to Israel, outside of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, February 25, 2026