IIME Morning Brief · September 25, 2026

U.S. and Iranian sources are discussing an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while 80 countries have called at the United Nations for its reopening. Regional developments include France’s planned protection of Saudi oil shipments in the Red Sea, expanded Gulf technology investment and Palestinian plans for long-delayed parliamentary elections.

Sources: U.S. and Iran are discussing an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — Reuters.

Eighty countries called at the United Nations for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened — Reuters.

Iran threatened to paralyse neighbouring countries’ airports if they stop Iranian flights — Reuters.

The UAE suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines until further notice — The National.

France says it will send forces to protect Saudi oil shipments in the Red Sea — Reuters.

Chinese companies have become the biggest source of seized goods bound for Yemen’s Houthis — The Wall Street Journal.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to hold the first Palestinian parliamentary elections in 20 years — Reuters.

Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel at the United Nations as delegates walked out — Reuters.

U.S. officials drafted but never released a memo condemning the United Kingdom over West Bank sanctions — Reuters.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Syria’s Chareh and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, saying Lebanon should no longer be a conflict arena — L’Orient-Le Jour.

The Israeli army is reportedly reducing its forces in southern Lebanon — L’Orient-Le Jour.

Türkiye and Iraq agreed on security in Sinjar and a Bashiqa handover — Daily Sabah.

Turkey revoked the operating licence of the Istanbul branch of Iran’s Bank Mellat — Reuters.

Turkey suspended all flights between Turkey and Iran until March 2027 — Middle East Eye.

Microsoft plans to invest more than $10 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait by 2030 — Reuters.

Saudi Arabia’s market regulator proposed tighter rules for initial public offerings after a market slowdown — Reuters.

Donald Trump backed the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor during talks with Gulf and Arab leaders at the UN General Assembly — India Today.

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri emerged as a leading contender to become Morocco’s first female prime minister after her party won parliamentary elections — The New Arab.

The UAE’s Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation has flown 5,000 winter kits to Palestinian families — The National.