AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Rubio to hold talks with China's Wang Yi as regional powers join ASEAN meeting

2026-07-21T23:46:50-0400

By Michael Martina

MANILA, July 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday on the sidelines of aregional gathering led by the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN, where the two top diplomats are expected to discuss a possible September summit between their leaders.

Rubio says US still willing to negotiate over Iran crisis

2026-07-21T23:46:50-0400

DUBAI/MANILA, July 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday the United States is still willing to negotiate an end to the Iran crisis but Tehran is not serious about talks, as the widening conflict disrupted two of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.

Rubio made his comments in a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers a day after three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to Asia reversed course in the Red Sea, apparently in response to threats from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis.

Hormuz vessel crossings fall further as security concerns linger

2026-07-21T23:46:50-0400

SINGAPORE, July 22 (Reuters) - Vessel crossings via the Strait of Hormuz dropped further on Tuesday, shipping data showed, as security concerns lingered amid ongoing attacks by the United States and Iran.

A total of three commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from four the previous day, Kpler data showed.

The general cargo ship the Kaiser exited the strait loaded with cargo, while the dry bulk carrier H7 Smb8 entered the strait in ballast, Kpler data showed, meaning it will take on a cargo in the Gulf.

US military says its latest strikes on Iran have ended, marking 11th successive night of attacks

2026-07-21T21:46:40-0400

By Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said late on Tuesday it ended its latest round of strikes on Iran that marked the 11th consecutive night of American attacks.

Here are quotes and details:

• "CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

Hormuz, Malacca and other key straits spawn tensions throughout history

2026-07-21T20:30:38-0400

Hormuz and a handful of maritime straits around the world have served as the linchpin of global trade since the 16th century and have fuelled geopolitical rivalries throughout history. Its great colonial naval base in Asia would be in Singapore, allowing control of Malacca, through which the largest share of global maritime traffic from China now passes.

War in Iran has cost the US $37.5 billion so far, Pentagon says

2026-07-21T17:46:42-0400

By Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - The cost of the United States' war in Iran has risen to $37.5 billion so far, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday, as he faced skeptical lawmakers for the first time since heavy bombings resumed to seek urgent funding for the unpopular conflict.

Saudi, UAE ministers use social media to signal unity after months of tension

2026-07-21T17:46:42-0400

By Timour Azhari

RIYADH, July 21 (Reuters) - Senior Saudi and United Arab Emirates officials on Tuesday shared similar social media posts affirming their close historical ties and "wise leadership," a move that follows months of tensions owing to a rift between the two Gulf monarchies.

The posts on X by Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosary and Abdulla bin Mohammed Alhamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Authority, were both released at 7 p.m. Riyadh time.

Iran war to cost US $37.5B by end of September, Hegseth tells Senate

Jared Szuba — 2026-07-21T16:05:35-0400

Pentagon’s conservative estimate includes military pay and "operations and maintenance" costs, but does not factor in damage to military bases in the region.

Trump authorizes direct US flights to Lebanon after 4-decade halt