IIME Morning Brief · September 23, 2026

Trump puts deescalation on the table, threatens to “annihilate” Iran at the UN. Saudi Arabia restarts its East-West oil pipeline while fighting in Yemen drives further displacement and reported civilian casualties.

President Donald Trump puts forward stark alternatives on Iran in UN speech — Politico.

Middle Eastern leaders agree on the need to find a path towards regional de-escalation — The National.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns it will “change the geography of the war” if the United States escalates the conflict — AP.

Iran presents Washington with conditions for ending the war — An Nahar.

The UN expects more Yemenis to flee amid an upsurge in fighting — Reuters.

The United Kingdom sends a Voyager refuelling aircraft to support Saudi Typhoon jets amid Houthi strikes from Yemen — The National.

Saudi Arabia restarts its East-West oil pipeline and plans to resume exports from Yanbu, according to sources — Reuters.

Israel’s defense minister threatens to relocate one million Gazans south if Hamas abducts another Israeli — The Times of Israel.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney commits $100 million in assistance for Palestinians — Politico.

South Lebanon faces a possible security gap as UNIFIL’s withdrawal approaches without an agreed successor force — The National.

Lebanon freezes the bank accounts of former central-bank governor Riad Salamé, his brother and nine other figures — L'Orient-Le Jour.

Qatar opens tenders for infrastructure projects worth $39 billion — AGBI.

Egypt plans five new ports to expand trade capacity — AGBI.

Cargo from Fujairah can now clear customs in Abu Dhabi after travelling about 200 kilometers by rail — Railway Supply.

Egypt-based fintech Paymob raises $35 million to expand its MENA payments infrastructure — Ventureburn.

Israel selects two funds for state-backed defence-technology investment — Calcalist.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita receives a Joe Wilson, Congressman behind a bill to designate the Polisario as a terrorist group — Yabiladi.