Becky Anderson

Iran's leadership appears united on one thing: getting the U.S. refocused on the MoU, @AlexVatanka tells me. But there’s heated internal debate over how far Tehran should go to achieve that. Here's why:

I asked @WillWechsler if we should be concerned about renewed military conflict between the Houthis and the Saudis. Here’s what he told me:

Oil prices are up as Trump prepares to renew the “Iranian blockade.” But markets seem to be ignoring this escalation. @Equiti_en’s @NourHammoury weighs in.

Global outrage is only growing after Argentina’s controversial win over Egypt. So what really happened in that game? @KuperSimon tells me it was a case of “big team bias.”

@citrinowicz Israel is so far sitting out these recent rounds of strikes. I asked @citrinowicz about Israel’s calculus at this point. (4/4)

@citrinowicz Beyond Hormuz, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have accused Saudi Arabia of attacking Sanaa's airport. Could further escalation choke the region’s oil output even further? @citrinowicz weighs in. (3/4)

In the last 72 hours, we have seen an escalation between the U.S. and Iran. But @citrinowicz thinks the two parties still want to avoid an all-out return to war. (1/4)

My interview @cnni with @BeckyCNN regarding the latest escalation between the United States: First, if President Trump is determined to secure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz by force, he will eventually confront a fundamental reality: Iran is highly unlikely to relinquish control over the strait voluntarily. Any attempt to fundamentally alter the military balance would likely require operations against Iran's positions along its side of the strait , a far more demanding undertaking than punitive strikes or limited naval operations. Second, the current exchange still appears to be operating within relatively limited boundaries. However, the longer the cycle of retaliation continues, the greater the risk of miscalculation and unintended escalation, even if neither Washington nor Tehran is actively seeking another large-scale war. Third, President Trump's proposal that commercial shipping pay for U.S. protection in the Strait of Hormuz raises difficult questions. Washington has long criticized any attempt by Iran to impose costs or conditions on international navigation. Asking commercial vessels to pay for passage risks creating an uncomfortable contradiction with America's longstanding position in defense of freedom of navigation. Fourth, the Houthi front may prove just as consequential as Hormuz itself. Reports that the Houthis have sought to expand their air bridge with Iran, followed by Saudi military action, increase the likelihood of Houthi retaliation. If that retaliation extends to disrupting traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the consequences for global energy markets could rival developments in Hormuz. Such a scenario would directly serve Iran's broader objective of increasing pressure on global energy supplies and raising oil prices. Finally, Israel is unlikely to view the collapse of U.S.-Iran diplomacy negatively. At the same time, the current dynamics suggest that neither Washington nor Tehran has a strong interest in bringing Israel directly into the confrontation, since doing so would significantly increase the risk of a broader regional war. #IranWar‌

CNN: US eases export controls on UAE in major boost to AI and defense ties: “The United States eased export controls for the United Arab Emirates on Friday, elevating its Gulf Arab ally into one of its most trusted defense and technology partners. The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) said it will “significantly upgrade” the UAE’s status under the Export Administration Regulations in recognition of its role as a Major Defense Partner and its support in advancing US national security interests, including its war with Iran. The move would allow approved UAE entities to receive advanced AI chips, AI servers, military and dual-use technology, commercial satellites, drones, and technologies used in oil, gas and civil nuclear industries without going through the US licensing process.

.@IbrahimAlAssil joined me from Damascus to unpack the significant diplomatic wins for Syria this week, while highlighting the challenging reality on the ground for Syrians still struggling to make ends meet and still pushing for greater participation in institutional reform:

It’s been a stunning week for #Syria on the global stage, between President Trump lifting the last restriction on doing business with the country and President Macron becoming the first Western leader to visit Damascus. I take a closer look at why all eyes are on #Syria as the key economic story of this region:

Haaland is winning on and off the pitch. The internet can’t get enough of him. And @SaintSkipper5 says he’s just as lovable in real life: (2/2)

Erling Haaland is one of the top scorers at this @FIFAWorldCup and could become one of England’s worst nightmares. Former Norway captain @SaintSkipper5 played with Erling’s father, so I asked him whether he had watched Erling grow up as a footballer: (1/2)

The new official trailer for #DunePartThree has just dropped. It premiered here in Abu Dhabi, where the epic blockbuster was filmed. We sent a few of our CNN Academy Abu Dhabi cohort to get a sneak peek:

.@HTAlHasan joined me from Bahrain after Iran struck U.S. facilities there and in Kuwait and Qatar. He says Tehran is sending a message that “no one is safe” even as some of the region’s diplomats attended Khamenei’s funeral.

You’ve definitely seen the controversy over the decisions made by the referee in the Egypt vs. Argentina game that’s left the pharaohs and their fans in fury. @IshaanTharoor gave me his take.

A billion-dollar deal to secure a foothold in one of Africa’s biggest fuel markets. After @ADNOCDist announced a deal to acquire @Shell’s business in South Africa, I spoke with CEO Bader Saeed Al Lamki:

Gulf countries are now on the receiving end of further strikes as attacks between the U.S. and Iran escalate. @DEsfandiary tells me the war was the Gulf’s “worst-case scenario” but a prolonged war is “their literal worst nightmare.” Here’s why: