Iran war: Qatar says US, Iran should not wait to reach a peace deal

• Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani urges the US and Iran to reach a peace deal to end the war, warning during an interview at Oxford University that they cannot afford to wait for a “perfect moment”.
• Iran’s official news agency IRNA reports two missiles have struck Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while semi-official outlets report there were no casualties.
• US President Donald Trump says the US is talking to Tehran’s representatives after he held a phone call with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

• 2m ago

  (03:20 GMT)

  US Senator calls for incoming Congress to defund Iran war

  US Senator Bernie Sanders has said Democrats in the incoming Congress should “defund” the US war against Iran.

  “We stop that war not just by passing resolutions, but by defunding the war – that’s what you do,” Sanders told CNN on Friday.

  “This war is illegal; it is unconstitutional. It has resulted in the deaths of 19 American service members; thousands of men, women and children in Iran and neighbouring countries are dead. It has cost us hundreds of billions of dollars,” he added.

  The independent senator from Vermont, who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate, said in a social media post that American voters in the midterms sent a “clear message” to end the war.

  

  US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Denver, Colorado, US March 21, 2025. [File: Kevin Mohatt/Reuters]
• 22m ago

  (03:00 GMT)

  

  How Houthi rule is shaping a generation of Yemen’s children

  

  By Alkhadher Sulaiman

  A generation of Yemeni children has grown up under Houthi rule, with some now being recruited to fight instead of attending school, raising concerns about the long-term consequences of the conflict.

  Schools and summer camps have been used for indoctrination and military training, according to UN findings, while years of disrupted education have affected children’s development and prospects for the future.

  But the consequences extend beyond Houthi-controlled territory.

  Recent attacks on airports and military facilities in Aden, Hadramout and Shabwa, as well as deadly strikes in Saudi Arabia, have demonstrated how the conflict threatens civilians and infrastructure across the region.

  Despite years of diplomatic engagement, the Houthis have continued recruiting children, according to rights groups, even after signing a UN action plan in 2022 to end such practices.

  An opinion piece for Al Jazeera examines why international efforts have failed to contain the group’s military capabilities and argues that stronger action against weapons supplies and financing must be accompanied by measures to protect civilians.

  It also calls for investment in education, psychological support and the reintegration of children recruited by armed groups.

  Read more here.

  

  Yemen’s Houthi rebels, including young boys, march during a mobilisation campaign in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, September 10, 2026 [AP]

• 52m ago

  (02:30 GMT)

  Iranians want to see if midterms ‘changed American behaviour’, says Qatari official

  Qatari official Ali al-Thawadi has said Iranian leaders want to see the effect of the midterm elections on the US stance towards Iran.

  “Iranian leaders are waiting to see whether this election has really changed American behavior,” al-Thawadi, the Qatari foreign minister’s adviser for strategic affairs, told The Washington Post.

  “They saw [US Vice President JD] Vance’s letter as a gesture of respect, and they appreciated that Vance said the war was a mistake. Now they would like the United States to follow through on an issue that seemingly brings Democrats and Republicans together,” he added, according to a Washington Post column.
• 1h ago

  (02:15 GMT)

  Iran’s army vows to block US from rebuilding regional bases

  Iran’s army says it will not allow US military bases in the region to be rebuilt, claiming American forces have suffered extensive damage during the conflict.

  Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia said more than 228 locations or facilities at US bases across the region had been severely damaged or destroyed, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

  He claimed that no US bases in the region remain capable of operational missions, forcing US forces to bring in fuel for their vessels and supplies for personnel from outside the region.

  “We will never allow the enemy’s bases in the region to be rebuilt,” Akraminia said.