The Cradle

The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within. Support us:

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Rails of power: Inside the race to redraw West Asia’s trade map

As chokepoints come under strain, the Hejaz Railway and Development Road are driving a new challenge to US-backed corridors.

By Suleyman Karan
https://t.co/2gZZiNQUKD

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Lebanon signs 'framework deal' with Israel as Israeli occupation and attacks persist in the south

Israel and Lebanon have reached and rushed to sign a US-brokered framework agreement following four days of negotiations in Washington, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the deal as only the "first step" in a broader process.

The contents of the agreement have not yet been made public.

Rubio said the framework marks "the beginning of the beginning," adding that "there's a lot of work ahead" and acknowledging the difficulty of the negotiations.

The talks come after the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June, which called for the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

Despite the agreement, Israeli occupation forces remain deployed in southern Lebanon, while Israeli attacks have continued in recent days.

Hezbollah has insisted that any lasting settlement requires an unconditional Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

The agreement also comes amid growing political opposition inside Lebanon, with Hezbollah rejecting direct negotiations with Israel and criticizing the Washington process, while Israeli officials have previously voiced opposition to aspects of the US-Iran memorandum, particularly its provisions relating to Lebanon.

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ICC judges file lawsuit in US court against Trump over punitive sanctions
https://t.co/HiFZLgVZ7Z

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Trump meets US arms dealers in bid to replenish dwindling Pentagon stocks
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The unity of fields means defending Lebanon is a matter of absolute national survival for Tehran, not a luxury or an act of mercy, says Ali Alizadeh.

Full episode 👉 https://t.co/WD0YiWQN2W

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Statement by Hezbollah:
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"The Islamic Resistance categorically denies what was published by official entities affiliated with the Israeli occupation army regarding its alleged control of Ali al-Taher Hill on the eastern outskirts of the city of Nabatieh.

It affirms that the hill is free of any occupation forces and remains manned by Resistance fighters, who maintain full control over it and are in a state of complete readiness to confront any attempt by occupation forces to advance or infiltrate the area."

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Lebanese military source tells Al Jazeera:

"We have not detected any advance by Israeli occupation forces toward the Ali al-Taher Heights in the Nabatieh district."

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Al Mayadeen denies recent Israeli military reports claiming Israeli occupation forces have seized control of the strategic Ali Al-Taher heights in south Lebanon, dismissing them as fabricated propaganda.

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Turkish contractors set to lead Ukraine reconstruction efforts: Report
https://t.co/f9IUrnATOr

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Inside Israel’s prison spy system after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

How informants, coercion, and internal fractures are reshaping the battlefield behind bars.
https://t.co/0R2tMCiDyE

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BREAKING | At least 3 Palestinians killed in an Israeli drone strike on a civilian vehicle in Al-Maghazi, central Gaza Strip.

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Iran says 22 tanker crew members returned via Pakistan after US seizure
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Tehran announced on Friday that 22 Iranian crew members from an oil tanker seized by the US during the US-Israeli war on Iran had been transferred to Iran's consulate in Pakistan.

According to IRNA, Pakistan helped secure the return of “the 22 Iranian seafarers whose oil tanker had been seized by the United States.”

The agency reported that the sailors were handed over to Iranian diplomatic officials in Karachi and are expected to travel back to Iran within the next few days.

Iran’s Consulate General in Karachi also confirmed the crew’s arrival, stating that the 22 sailors “will return to their homeland in the coming days.”

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BREAKING | An Israeli drone drops a sound bomb over Nabatieh al-Fawqa, south Lebanon.

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While Iran has shown immense strength, the underlying US-Israeli geopolitical blueprint for the region remains in place, so the danger is still very much there, says Ali Alizadeh.

Full episode 👉 https://t.co/wDkbefM11o

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Iran condemns 'hostile, interventionist' US–GCC statement
https://t.co/jkjSaNprGe

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Saudi Arabia set to slash August oil Prices for Asia as regional supply rises
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Saudi Arabia is expected to significantly reduce its official selling prices (OSPs) for crude oil exports to Asia in August, bringing them to their lowest level in four months, according to a Reuters survey. The anticipated decline follows a sharp weakening in West Asian spot crude markets as regional supply increases.

Industry sources surveyed by Reuters indicated that the August OSP for the benchmark Arab Light crude could drop to a premium of $1.5 to $3 per barrel above the average Dubai and Oman quotations. This would represent a decrease of $6.5 to $8 per barrel compared with the July OSP.

Market participants also expect Saudi Arabia to apply similar price reductions across its other crude grades.

The projected cuts come amid a notable downturn in West Asian spot crude pricing. Dubai cash premiums relative to swaps fell into a discount of $1.64 per barrel this week, marking their lowest level in six years.

On average, Dubai cash premiums have stood at $3.06 per barrel so far this month, a sharp decline from $9.59 per barrel recorded in May. Meanwhile, Oman spot differentials have also dropped to six-year lows this week.

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UAE urges full compliance with US Iran pact to secure Strait of Hormuz
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The UAE and Iran engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions today during a phone call between Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

The discussions centered on regional security dynamics following the signing of a landmark memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.

Abu Dhabi strongly emphasized the necessity of strict adherence to the new US-Iran agreement, framing it as the primary mechanism to guarantee an immediate and comprehensive cessation of regional hostilities.

The UAE top diplomat stressed that honoring the pact is essential to maintaining international law, state sovereignty, and good neighborly relations across the Gulf.

Central to the exchange was the protection of critical maritime corridors, with the UAE reinforcing the imperative of unrestricted freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. In the wake of recent maritime tensions, Emirati state media confirmed that the Gulf nation views continuous diplomatic engagement and responsible dialogue as the sole framework for achieving sustainable regional stability.

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BREAKING | Israeli artillery shelling targets Beit Yahoun and Kounine, in south Lebanon.

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Trump's war on Iran becomes 'most unpopular conflict' in US history
https://t.co/WlzTlMXry1

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BREAKING | Israeli drone strike targets an open area in Qabrikha, southern Lebanon.