Shafaq News- Damascus

Syrian transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on Tuesday discussed the role of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in the next phase of the January 29 integration agreement with YPJ leadership member Newroz Ahmed in Damascus.

Al-Sharaa had also met Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi and Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) foreign relations co-chair Ilham Ahmed. A source told Shafaq News that the talks covered regional developments and the agreement’s implementation. Abdi then announced the formal dissolution of the SDF and AANES, saying their military and civilian institutions had been brought under Syrian state authority and that the SDF would no longer operate as an independent military force.

The January agreement provides for phased integration of SDF military and administrative structures into Syrian state institutions, including a division comprising three SDF brigades, while a Kobani brigade would join an Aleppo-based division. When the agreement was announced, Ilham Ahmed clarified that YPJ members would be included in the Al-Hasakah division, while broader issues, including Kurdish constitutional rights, remained subject to further negotiations.

Read more: Kurds in Syria: From marginalization to a defining political force

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Harakat Al-Nujaba*, one of the country’s most hardline Iran-backed factions, accused the United States on Tuesday of applying “double standards” to armed groups across the Middle East, arguing that Washington selectively pressures factions in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen while overlooking others in the region.

Speaking at a National Civil Dialogue Coordination Committee forum in Baghdad, Al-Nujaba political bureau member Haidar Al-Lami questioned why calls to bring weapons under state control had not extended to Syria despite the presence of numerous armed groups. He also accused Washington of ignoring “Saudi-backed groups in Yemen while focusing on Ansarallah,” adding, “The same policy applies to Lebanon and Iraq.”

Al-Lami maintained that the weapons issue extends beyond Iraq to the “Islamic Resistance” in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran. He nevertheless backed bringing arms under government authority if the measure applied to all groups operating outside official institutions nationwide.

Read more: Iraq's disarmament deadline pits Baghdad against Iran-aligned factions

While acknowledging that Iraq’s Constitution prohibits “militias,” Al-Lami estimated that more than 24 local and foreign armed groups operate in the country. He rejected imposing a deadline to settle the issue and pointed to the continued presence of US and Turkish forces as another security concern.

Other participants differed over Baghdad’s approach. Former judge Wael Abdul Latif cited several factions’ refusal to disarm and said that “ISIS no longer poses a significant threat” in western Iraq following the deployment of army and security forces, apart from limited activity in rugged areas of Kirkuk. Lawmaker Shurooq Al-Abayechi favored dialogue, warning that escalating rhetoric at home and abroad could carry serious consequences.

She also played down the Sep. 30 deadline for resolving the issue, which coincides with arrangements for the end of the Global Coalition’s military mission, arguing that “easing tensions should take precedence over a fixed timetable.”

Read more: Scoop: Iraqi Shiite leaders propose ‘weapons management’ compromise

Former Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Al-Mutlaq supported restricting arms to state institutions, contending, “The uncontrolled spread of weapons has harmed Iraqis and, in some cases, facilitated extortion.”

Participants also raised economic concerns, with Abdul Latif favoring annual budgets and Al-Mutlaq describing the economy as “fragile” and calling for greater emphasis on development.

Disagreements, particularly over the weapons issue, prevented participants from agreeing on a final statement or recommendations, prompting organizers to call for further talks.

* Harakat Al-Nujaba is led by Akram Al-Kaabi, a US-designated figure, and belongs to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose coalition of Iran-aligned factions focused on driving US forces out of the country. Unlike allied groups such as Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, whose Sadiqoun bloc holds 27 parliamentary seats, or Kataib Hezbollah, which runs the six-seat Hoqooq bloc, Al-Nujaba has no registered political wing or seats in the Council of Representatives.

Read more: What happens to Iraq's armed factions after September 30?

Shafaq News- Beirut

Israeli aircraft and artillery struck several areas in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, with no casualties reported so far, according to Lebanese media reports.

Israeli forces fired more than 10 artillery shells at Ali al-Taher Hill in the Nabatieh district, while warplanes carried out strikes on the Mansouri area in the Tyre district and Wadi Saluki in the Bint Jbeil district.

Israeli forces also set fire to homes and vineyards in Ainata and blew up several houses in the Dubay area of Mais al-Jabal.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry put the toll from Israeli attacks since Oct. 8, 2023, at 8,920 people killed and 30,543 others wounded as of Aug. 25, including 4,350 killed and 12,310 injured since March 2.

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi on Tuesday announced the formal dissolution of the SDF and the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), bringing their military and civilian institutions under state authority.

Speaking at a press conference, Abdi framed the move as a transition from armed conflict to participation in rebuilding Syria, noting that SDF fighters had been integrated into Syrian army brigades and that the group would no longer operate as an independent military force.

He also highlighted Kurdish-language education, saying Al-Sharaa had pledged to protect the right to study in Kurdish and that implementation would begin this year.

Earlier in the day, Al-Sharaa met Abdi and Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of AANES’s foreign relations department, in Damascus. A source familiar with the talks told Shafaq News that they discussed regional developments and issues of mutual concern.

The dissolution completes an integration process agreed by Damascus and the SDF on Jan. 29, under which military and administrative structures, prisons, oil fields, border crossings, and other institutions in northeastern Syria would come under state authority.

Abdi had confirmed on Aug. 20 that Kurdish military, security, and administrative institutions had been incorporated into the state, calling it the start of a new phase for Syria's Kurds after years of self-administration during the conflict.

Read more: Kurds in Syria: From marginalization to a defining political force

Shafaq News- Erbil

Authorities in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, will increase its daily supply of subsidized gasoline by about 82% to 1.44 million liters to ease a fuel shortage that has affected the region since mid-July.

In a press conference, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw explained that the province’s allocation would rise from 22 tankers to 40 per day, each carrying 36,000 liters. Subsidized regular gasoline will remain priced at 750 Iraqi dinars, about $0.57, per liter, with each vehicle receiving 40 liters per week.

Erbil plans to introduce a broader electronic distribution system once the current shortage eases to ensure more regular access to gasoline, he added.

The shortage has left many filling stations in Erbil and Duhok without gasoline and produced long vehicle queues. Commercial prices have also climbed sharply, with regular gasoline reaching 1,575 dinars per liter in Erbil on August 7, improved gasoline 1,950 dinars, and super gasoline 2,150 dinars.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has authorized fuel imports, maintained subsidized regular gasoline at 750 dinars per liter, and capped commercial regular gasoline at 850 dinars in an effort to stabilize supply.

In July, Acting Natural Resources Minister Kamal Mohammed Salih said the Kurdistan Region needs about 126,700 to 140,000 barrels of fuel per day but receives only 50,000 barrels, prompting the KRG to seek a larger allocation from Baghdad.

Read more: Fuel costs in Iraqi Kurdistan defy ceiling prices

Shafaq News- London

Tottenham Hotspur signed Brazilian winger Savio from Manchester City on Tuesday in a deal worth up to $116 million, taking the club's summer spending to about $439 million.

Tottenham confirmed the transfer without disclosing financial terms. Sky Sports reported that Spurs will pay about $102.3 million, with a further $13.6 million in add-ons, including about $6.8 million in bonuses understood to be effectively guaranteed.

Sávio's first day 📸🔹 @AlipayPlus pic.twitter.com/HHLPPAQqJ1

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 25, 2026

The 22-year-old will wear the No. 17 shirt and is available to make his debut against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

"It's taken a while but I'm very happy to be here," Savio said in a statement released by Tottenham. "As soon as I spoke to the Head Coach I knew I had to come."

Manager Roberto De Zerbi said Savio brings "energy, imagination and quality in wide positions," and can play on either wing.

Savio leaves Manchester City after two seasons, having made 84 appearances and scored seven goals. He helped the club win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season. He joined City in July 2024 after a breakthrough loan spell at Girona, where he scored 11 goals in 41 appearances as the Spanish club finished third in LaLiga and qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

The winger began his senior career at Atletico Mineiro before joining Troyes and later spending a season on loan at PSV Eindhoven. Savio has also made 13 appearances for Brazil and scored once, having made his senior international debut against England at Wembley in March 2024.

Sky Sports said the deal is Manchester City's record player sale, surpassing Julian Alvarez's move to Atletico Madrid in 2024.

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syria will introduce Kurdish as an optional school subject for the first time starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, with two classes per week, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Tuesday, citing the Education Ministry.

The measure follows Decree No. 13, issued by transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Jan. 16, 2026, which recognizes Kurdish as a national language and Kurdish citizens as an “essential and integral part” of the Syrian people, with their cultural and linguistic identity forming part of the country’s “diverse and unified national identity.” It also permits Kurdish to be taught as an elective or educational cultural activity in public and private schools in areas with significant Kurdish populations.

Under the ministry’s plan, Kurdish will be taught across all grades, with students’ marks included in their overall scores but not affecting whether they pass or fail.

The National Center for Curriculum Development will prepare curricula for all educational levels within six months, with approval and printing due before the start of the academic year. Education authorities will also recruit teachers from within or outside the existing workforce, require applicants to pass written and oral Kurdish proficiency tests, and provide training for those selected.

Read more: School closures disrupt Kurdish-language education in Syria

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syria on Tuesday condemned Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s entry into southern Syrian territory as an illegal crossing and a violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Foreign Ministry said the entry also breached international law, the UN Charter, and the 1974 disengagement agreement. Damascus demanded Israeli forces withdraw from Syrian territory they had entered and return to the disengagement line.

بيان صادر عن وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين في الجمهورية العربية السورية pic.twitter.com/OvglDz0pTF

— وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين السورية (@syrianmofaex) August 25, 2026

Katz visited Israeli forces on the Syrian side of “Mount Hermon” earlier today and claimed that Israel would not leave the mountain or its “security zone” while threats persisted, according to remarks carried by Israeli media.

The visit followed US-mediated talks between Syrian and Israeli officials in Jordan on August 23 aimed at easing tensions and reviving security negotiations. Syria sought a halt to Israeli strikes, arrests, and other military activity, along with a withdrawal to positions held before December 8, 2024.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani told Reuters over the weekend that Damascus expected negotiations to resume, while ending Israeli attacks remained the “immediate priority” before security talks could advance.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday welcomed the US removal of Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, calling it an important step toward the country's recovery, stability and stronger ties with Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region.

Barzani said the move could help Damascus regain its “natural role in the region and the world” and build “a secure future that safeguards the rights of all components of Syria.”

أرحب بقرار الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية رفع اسم سوريا من قائمة الدول الراعية للإرهاب، وهي خطوة مهمة لدعم تعافي سوريا واستقرارها وازدهارها، وتعزيز عودتها إلى دورها الطبيعي في المنطقة والعالم.نأمل أن تسهم هذه الخطوة في بناء مستقبل آمن يحفظ حقوق جميع مكونات سوريا، ويفتح آفاقًا أوسع…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) August 25, 2026

The US State Department announced Syria's removal from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list on Monday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move came “in recognition of the positive actions” taken by transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa to “fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism.”

Syria had been on the US list since 1979, when Washington designated the government of former President Hafez al-Assad over its support for militant groups. The designation remained throughout the rule of his son Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 by opposition forces led by al-Sharaa.

Shafaq News- Duhok

Residents across Duhok province, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), celebrated the Prophet Muhammad’s Mawlid (birthday) on Tuesday, with religious gatherings, community festivities, and the free distribution of sweets, food, and drinks, particularly to children.

Mosques across the province hosted religious gatherings featuring devotional poetry and readings highlighting the Prophet’s life, character, and teachings, drawing large numbers of worshippers and residents.

In Duhok city, residents organized celebrations near the Grand Mosque, where shopkeepers and locals set out sweets and food for passersby, reflecting the spirit of community solidarity associated with the annual occasion.

Celebrations were particularly visible in the markets and narrow streets of Amedi, where residents, shopkeepers, and restaurant owners offered sweets, food, and drinks free of charge amid a festive atmosphere.

Residents of Amedi told Shafaq News that marking the Prophet’s birthday has become an annual tradition shared by generations, describing the occasion as an opportunity not only to celebrate but also to recall Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and values of compassion, tolerance, and helping those in need.

Children were a prominent feature of the celebrations, moving through Amedi’s markets and streets as tables filled with food and sweets were set up for visitors and residents.

In Duhok’s market, one customer highlighted the importance of following the Prophet’s example by embracing honesty, trustworthiness, and good conduct toward others. He described the distribution of sweets as a way to help children and adults remember the occasion and preserve its traditions.

Participants also called for using the occasion to support poor and vulnerable people, emphasizing compassion, generosity, and solidarity as central values of the celebration.

Shafaq News- Gaza/ West Bank

Israeli forces seized a UNRWA vocational training center north of occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, while Israeli attacks killed at least nine Palestinians in Gaza and violence wounded at least six across the occupied West Bank, Palestinian media reported.

West Bank

More than 50 Israeli security personnel, accompanied by at least four armored vehicles, “forcibly” entered UNRWA's Qalandia Training Centre in the morning, with approximately 20 employees on site, according to the agency. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accompanied the operation, during which forces evacuated the center, closed surrounding entrances and raised the Israeli flag inside the compound, Palestinian media documented.

UNRWA said Israeli officials subsequently announced that authorities had taken control of the premises, describing the operation as an “unauthorised and deeply concerning incursion” into a UN site protected by privileges and immunities under international law.

UN premises are inviolable.The forcible and unauthorised entry of Israeli forces into UNRWA’s Kalandia Training Centre is deeply alarming and threatens access to education and training for young #Palestine Refugees.Their opportunities and future must be protected.Full UNRWA… pic.twitter.com/l4Vbsnc0e0

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 25, 2026

The center, UNRWA's oldest vocational training facility, has served Palestinian refugees for more than seven decades and provides hundreds of students from camps across the occupied West Bank with free vocational education each year. It urged immediate international action to protect UN premises in occupied East Jerusalem, warning that such interference undermines its ability to carry out its mandate.

Around Qalandia, Israeli forces fired tear gas as clashes broke out near the refugee camp, where Israeli gunfire injured a teenager. The Jerusalem Governorate also documented demolition notices in the area and warned that the evacuation of the training center, removal of its staff and steps to take control of the compound were part of what it described as an Israeli plan targeting Palestinian and international institutions in Jerusalem.

Hamas denounced the action as a “blatant attack” on a UN institution and described the agency as “a UN witness to the Palestinian refugee issue and their inalienable right to return to their homes.”

Elsewhere across the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces detained six Palestinians during raids and demolished structures and livestock pens south of Nablus. The Palestinian Red Crescent recorded five injuries from beatings and tear gas during a settler attack near Bethlehem, while other incidents included damage to Palestinian vehicles and property, settlers preventing firefighters from reaching a blaze, and an armed settler detaining two Civil Defense volunteers near Ramallah.

The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented 1,819 violations in March, including 1,322 attributed to Israeli forces and 497 to settlers. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, at least 1,183 Palestinians, including 210 children, have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society estimates that more than 21,000 Palestinians have been detained, many without formal charges, while the International Foundation for Solidarity with Prisoners registered 466 arrests and re-arrests in June 2026 alone, including 13 children, 10 women, 25 previously released prisoners, and members of various professional and social groups, in addition to recording 554 administrative detention orders and renewals during the month.

Gaza

In the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry recorded nine deaths and 36 injuries reaching hospitals over the past 24 hours.

Among the latest casualties, one Palestinian died from wounds sustained in an earlier Israeli strike on Deir al-Balah, while three others succumbed to injuries from attacks on Khan Younis, where Palestinians also held funerals for two people killed in an Israeli strike a day earlier. A separate Israeli strike on a gathering in Al-Mawasi, southern Gaza, killed one Palestinian and wounded four others, while Israeli fire critically injured a girl east of Deir al-Balah.

The Israeli military also carried out a series of large explosions east of Deir al-Balah.

Since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, 2025, the Gaza Health Ministry has recorded 1,296 deaths and 4,296 injuries, along with 814 bodies recovered, bringing the cumulative toll since October 7, 2023, to 73,431 killed and 174,437 injured.

Shafaq News- Damascus

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz toured areas of southern Syria on Tuesday, reaffirming that his forces will not withdraw from “Mount Hermon” or its “security zone” in Syria as long as threats against Israel persist, Israeli media reported.

Speaking during the tour, Katz also said Israel had acted against “Turkish efforts to establish a presence in Syria,” calling it a threat to Israeli security interests.

His remarks followed a series of Israeli military operations inside Syria, including recent strikes in the south and an attack on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in the Idlib countryside. Israel said the latter operation stemmed from concerns over a potential Turkish military presence at the site.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have sought to ease tensions. Jordan hosted Syrian-Israeli talks on Sunday under US mediation, with the discussions aimed at curbing Israeli military activity in Syria and reviving security negotiations between the two sides.

Damascus has called for Israeli forces to withdraw to positions they held before December 2024 and for a full return to the 1974 disengagement agreement. Israel has cited security concerns to justify its presence and military operations.

Israel expanded its deployment in the buffer zone and at positions inside Syrian territory after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024 and has continued military operations and airstrikes in southern Syria.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran’s currency fell to a fresh record low on Tuesday, with the US dollar reaching 204,000 tomans on the open market, up 9.4% from 186,500 tomans at the beginning of last week.

The euro reached about 238,700 tomans and the British pound 279,050 tomans, according to market rates.

Gold prices also climbed, with 18-karat gold rising 0.36% to about 21.35 million tomans per gram. A mesghal reached 92.5 million tomans, while the Emami coin was quoted at about 214 million tomans.

On August 24, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” targeting nearly 60 Iran-linked individuals, entities, and vessels and widening potential secondary sanctions across sectors including digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping.

Iran is also facing high inflation and weaker oil sales. The Statistical Center of Iran reported annual inflation of 66% in July, with prices 87.9% higher than a year earlier and food inflation at 128%.

Shipments to China, Tehran’s largest crude customer, fell to about 534,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August from 823,000 bpd in July, according to Kpler data, after reaching about 1.58 million bpd earlier this year.

*One toman equals 10 rials

Shafaq News- Bangkok

Iraq's U20 football team completed its Thailand training camp unbeaten on Tuesday after a 0-0 friendly draw with Iran in Bangkok ahead of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers.

The result followed a 1-0 win over Kuwait and a 2-1 victory against Indonesia, giving Iraq two wins and a draw from its three warm-up matches.

Iraq will now compete in Group F in Chonburi against host Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkmenistan. The team opens against Turkmenistan on August 31, faces the UAE on September 3, and plays Thailand on September 6.

The 2027 qualifiers are the first to use the AFC's new two-stage system, with eight group winners and the seven best runners-up advancing to the finals alongside host China.

Iraq reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup after finishing second in Group B with one win and two draws. Australia eliminated Iraq 3-2 after twice coming from behind before going on to win the tournament.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil

The US dollar edged lower against the Iraqi dinar in Baghdad and Erbil on Tuesday, hovering around 154,000 dinars per $100.

In Baghdad, the dollar dropped to 154,250 dinars per $100 at the al-Kifah and al-Harithiya central exchanges, down slightly from 154,350 dinars in the morning, according to a Shafaq News market survey.

At currency exchange shops in Baghdad, the dollar was selling for 154,750 dinars per $100 and buying for 153,750 dinars.

In Erbil, the dollar was selling for 154,450 dinars per $100 and buying for 154,350 dinars.

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Tuesday in Damascus with Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

Citing a source familiar with the meeting, a Shafaq News correspondent reported that the talks focused on regional developments and several issues of mutual concern. 

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Iraqi Parliament’s Education Committee plans to host Education Minister Abdul Karim Abtan to discuss preparations for the new academic year, Committee Chairwoman Zulaiha Elias told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

The meeting will address government measures to end overcrowding and the use of double- and triple-shift schedules in schools, she added, clarifying that Iraq needs more than 10,000 additional schools to address the problem and eliminate multiple shifts.

The committee will also discuss the ministry’s plans to regularize contract teachers and lecturers by placing them on permanent staff. “It's essential to resolve these issues alongside preparations for the new school year.”

Read more: Overworked Iraqi private school teachers demand reform

Shafaq News- Najaf

Gypsum plants in Iraq’s Najaf province have received no fuel oil since May despite monthly deductions for their allocations, their representative Haider Maji told Shafaq News.

Maji said each plant is allocated 60,000 liters a month, down from 80,000 liters before the allocation was cut around 2010, enough to operate for only about 10 days. Each plant can produce roughly 60 tons of gypsum per day when fuel is available.

A source in Najaf attributed the shortage to higher summer demand from electricity stations after reduced Iranian gas supplies pushed some plants toward greater use of fuel oil. The Najaf refinery currently produces about 2,800 cubic meters of fuel oil per day, with roughly 2,600 cubic meters supplied to power stations.

Maji urged authorities to restore regular fuel allocations, warning that gypsum production cannot continue without them. Iraq holds an estimated 142 million tons of primary gypsum reserves, according to an Iraqi Geological Survey study, which identifies the mineral as an important raw material for the country’s cement and plaster industries.

Read more: US pressure puts Iraq’s Iranian energy ties at risk

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Ankara

Zaid al-Muharib, an Iraqi social-media figure, has been arrested in Turkiye over accusations of defaming military officers and institutions in a special intelligence operation carried out under established legal procedures, a security source told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

Al-Muharib had for years published material on social media targeting military and security officers and institutions, causing harm to several officials, according to the source.

He had previously faced legal action in Iraq. On April 13, the Federal Police said it had filed a lawsuit against him over social-media posts accusing Lt. Col. Haider Abdul-Rasoul Ali, commander of the Second Battalion of the 14th Brigade in the Fourth Division, of corruption.

The Federal Police alleged at the time that an investigation found al-Muharib had sought money in connection with the posts and threatened to publish further material if payment was not made. It also said he had created a page using the name “Sabreen News” to publish content targeting the officer and security institutions.

Shafaq News- Beijing/ Doha

China on Tuesday rejected Washington’s expanded sanctions on Iran, insisting that its economic dealings with Tehran comply with international law.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing that the country opposes unilateral sanctions lacking a basis in international law or authorization from the UN Security Council and would protect its legitimate interests.

Beijing remains Iran’s largest oil customer. The opening round of measures did not target major Chinese banks.

Qatar also criticized the measures as unilateral while maintaining its mediation between Washington and Tehran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, in remarks issued by the ministry, confirmed that Doha remains in contact with both sides to revive negotiations, warning that further escalation would affect the Middle East and the world.

On August 24, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled “Operation Economic Outcast,” describing it as a broad campaign to intensify economic pressure on Iran and those supporting its economy. The Treasury then announced sanctions on about 60 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Iranian nuclear and missile procurement, oil revenues, and other sanctioned activities, while expanding potential secondary sanctions across sectors including digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping.

Governments and companies continuing activities targeted by the measures could eventually lose access to the US financial system, Bessent warned, although Washington could provide compliance periods for certain activities.

Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh, speaking on Iranian state television after the measures were announced, warned that Tehran was prepared to respond if the sanctions threatened its interests and predicted resistance to Washington’s pressure from China, Russia, and other partners.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has continued parallel mediation efforts. Following Army Chief Asim Munir’s meetings with Iranian officials in Tehran on Tuesday, Pakistan’s military reported “significant progress” in discussions focused on de-escalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied Munir, later described the talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as “very constructive.”

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and I had a very positive and productive meeting with the President of Iran. Our discussion focused on the Iran US conflict, tensions in the Middle East and the way forward, as well as the steps needed by both sides for restoration of the Islamabad… https://t.co/jt1wtlESCa

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) August 24, 2026

Shafaq News- Gulf

At least 20 seafarers or port workers have been killed in 68 maritime incidents across the Gulf and neighboring waters near the Strait of Hormuz during six months of war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, according to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The incidents averaged one every 2.6 days, leaving at least 35 people wounded and one missing. Tankers accounted for about half of the incidents, container ships for 20% and bulk carriers for 15%. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) classified 47 as attacks.

Liberia-flagged vessels were the most affected, with 13 involved in incidents, followed by Panama- and Marshall Islands-flagged ships with 10 each. Four Iran-flagged vessels were also involved.

Shafaq News- Tehran

The head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, said Tuesday that Iraq stands with Iran against the "criminal American and Israeli aggression" during a visit to Tehran, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.

During his meeting with the head of Iran's judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, Tasnim quoted Zaidan as condemning “economic terrorism” against Iran and called for the full implementation of judicial agreements signed between the two countries.

Recalling Iranian support during past crises, Zaidan was quoted as saying, "We will never forget Iran's support for Iraq, whether in 2003 or during the days of the terrorism crisis," a reference to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and the subsequent war against the Islamic State (ISIS).

Mohseni-Ejei said cooperation between the two countries had deepened across all areas, and that judicial and legal ties had expanded through memorandums of understanding and agreements signed by both sides.

Separately, Zaidan met with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and stressed the need for regional cooperation and stronger security along the shared border.

Rezaei said Iran wanted a strong and independent Iraq and that the countries of the region would decide their own future, adding that the United States "will have no place in the region's future." He also called for addressing anti-Iran groups present along the two countries' shared border, according to Tasnim.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Timur Pechatkin as Russia’s new ambassador to Iraq on Tuesday, succeeding Elbrus Kutrashev, according to a presidential decree.

Pechatkin, who holds a Candidate of Historical Sciences degree with research focused on Soviet-Saudi and Russian-Saudi relations from 1924 to 2011, served as deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Middle East and North Africa Department and as press attaché at the Russian Embassy in Damascus.

Shafaq News- Erbil/ Al-Sulaymaniyah

Cities across Iraqi Kurdistan held religious ceremonies and public gatherings on Tuesday to mark the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, known as Mawlid, featuring Quran recitations, devotional chanting, and the free distribution of thousands of meals and sweets.

In Erbil, streets and older districts were decorated with green flags and lights. Large crowds gathered at the historic Erbil Citadel, the Qaysari Bazaar, and the city's Bata area, where residents handed out food and drinks at no charge and held devotional gatherings in mosques and public squares.

Mullah Ahmed al-Erbili, a religious affairs instructor, told Shafaq News that residents of Erbil have marked the occasion in a distinctive way for decades, which he said reflects values of tolerance and peace.

The public celebrations were preceded by Sufi observances in several areas around Erbil, including ceremonies held by the Sayyid Abdullah tekke in the village of Toraq, southwest of the city, with dervishes and followers of the Qadiri Sufi order joining residents and visitors.

In Al-Sulaymaniyah, similar celebrations took place at mosques and religious centers. The city's Grand Mosque hosted one of the largest events, drawing thousands of people from different communities and faiths.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Coordination Framework (CF) urged Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi to prevent a repeat of security operations targeting senior figures in the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) during a meeting partly attended by Mohsen Qomi, the new representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader, an informed source told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

The meeting, held yesterday evening at the home of Islamic Supreme Council head Humam Hamoudi, brought together Al-Zaidi and senior figures from the CF, the alliance of Shiite parties that has run Iraq since 2022, with recent PMF detentions at the center of discussions on the country’s security situation.

A PMF commander and three other members were detained and transferred to the force’s security directorate on Monday. Muhannad Al-Uqabi, spokesperson for the PMF —an umbrella organization of predominantly Shiite armed groups backed by Iran and formally incorporated into Iraq’s state security apparatus in 2016— said a “misunderstanding” surrounding the detention had been resolved. The reasons for the detentions were not immediately available.

According to the source, CF figures expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which some PMF leaders had been detained and urged Al-Zaidi to prevent similar operations that could be perceived as “provocative.” They argued that detaining a wanted PMF member did not require military force and that authorities could instead issue a formal summons requiring the individual to appear before the judiciary or another relevant authority.

Qomi attended only part of the meeting, with the source saying his presence was intended to introduce him in his new official capacity to Iraqi government, religious, and political figures. The Iranian official reportedly informed CF figures that Hamoudi would serve as a “liaison” between Iran and Iraq before leaving shortly afterward without taking part in all of the discussions.

Difficult security conditions in Iran in recent months, the source added, had delayed Qomi’s visit to Baghdad.

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