IIME Morning Brief · September 30, 2026

Morocco chooses first woman Prime Minister. US-led coalition has ended its mission in Iraq.

Iranians are facing soaring costs after seven months of war — Reuters.

Middle East crude exports are rebounding as the United States and Gulf states improve their ability to evade Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz — The Wall Street Journal.

Saudi Arabia has restored flows through its East-West oil pipeline to at least 3.5 million barrels a day — Bloomberg.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled’s wealth fund is supporting a UAE strategy to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz — Bloomberg.

The US-led coalition has ended its mission in Iraq — The National.

Iraqi factions threaten to bring down the government over a ban on flights to Iran — Asharq Al-Awsat.

The United States warns that Houthi ties with al-Shabaab threaten Red Sea trade — Financial Times.

The European Union is seeking more ships for its Red Sea mission while European navies adjust their Hormuz deployments — USNI News.

Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret weekend trip to Abu Dhabi to meet the Emirati president — AP.

The UAE condemned the storming of the Al Aqsa compound — The National.

Lebanon hopes to reach a new staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund — Reuters.

Morocco choses its first female prime minister following elections — The National.

The Saudi-Egypt electricity interconnection is nearing operation — Asharq Al-Awsat.

Etihad Rail’s UAE passenger service completed its maiden journey — The National.

The UAE and Egypt renewed their Dh5 billion currency-swap agreement — The National.

Japan lifted asset freezes on 16 Syrian entities as it eased sanctions — SANA.