TOP STORIES
US Forces Exit Iraq After Two Decades, Leaving Opening for Iran | Reuters
“US forces are set to pull out from their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, a departure celebrated as a victory by Iran and its allies who now have deep influence in the country where 4,500 Americans died during more than two decades of war. Iraqi security experts say the withdrawal—agreed in 2024 under President Joe Biden and carried out by Donald Trump's administration even as it wages war against Iran—could give Tehran and its powerful allies free rein, while also allowing other US enemies to stage a comeback, including Islamic State.”
Saudi Arabia Resumes Red Sea Oil Exports in Blow to Iran | Wall Street Journal
“Saudi Arabia has resumed exporting oil via its East-West pipeline after repairing damage caused by drone strikes, people familiar with the matter said Monday, restoring a crucial route around the Strait of Hormuz and dealing a blow to Iran.”\
“Iran’s currency fell to a new record low on Tuesday, with traders in Tehran exchanging more than 2.5 million rials to the U.S. dollar in a stark reflection of how the war in the Middle East has steadily eroded the Iranian economy.”
UANI IN THE NEWS
Iran Under Scrutiny After Plot Foiled near UK Base Used by US Military | Fox News
“Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which tracks Iran’s terrorist and spycraft activities in the United Kingdom, told Fox News Digital, ‘I believe Iran would have a motive for such a plot. This is because in July, authorities in Cyprus arrested a man accused of spying for Iran at RAF [Royal Air Force] Akrotiri. Iranian officials and media have also pointed to RAF Fairford specifically, dubbing it ‘an important matter for our self-defense’ amid Operation Epic Fury.’”
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Iranian Airliner with Passengers on Board Seized at Istanbul over €3-Million Debt | Euronews
“A Caspian Airlines Boeing 737 was seized at Istanbul Airport on Monday by court-ordered enforcement officers acting on a debt claim of approximately €3 million, stranding passengers who had already boarded a flight bound for Iran. . . . Passengers and cabin crew were removed from the aircraft and returned to the terminal. Caspian Airlines is a Tehran-based carrier founded in 1993 and operating as part of Iran’s state aviation group. It flies Boeing 737s on domestic and international routes, including to Istanbul.”
US to Grant Sanctions Waiver for Flights Between Iran and Iraq’s Najaf, Source Says | Reuters
“US President Donald Trump’s administration was set to grant a limited waiver to its Iran sanctions program on Monday to allow for flights carrying Shi’ite Muslim religious pilgrims between Iran and Iraq, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. The source, who is involved in the deliberations, said the US Treasury Department waiver would allow Iraqi Airways to fly back and forth between Iran and the Shi’ite holy city of Najaf in Iraq for one month, with a more permanent waiver potentially following.”
Washington Urges Lebanon to Target Iranian and Hezbollah Financial Networks | IranWire
“U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged the Lebanese government to act decisively to disrupt the financial networks of the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah while advancing comprehensive reforms across Lebanon’s banking sector. According to an official statement from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bessent met in Washington on Monday, September 28, 2026, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Finance Minister Yassine Jaber.”
“Iran International has obtained exclusive information and documents indicating that Mostafa Ahadi, a senior official in the IRGC Intelligence Organization, runs the organization’s corruption network in the sale of Iran’s oil. Over the past two months, Iran International has published three separate reports naming the trustees—oil brokers trusted by the Islamic Republic to sell Iran’s sanctioned oil—who have failed to return billions of dollars in oil proceeds to the country.”
MILITARY MATTERS & SHIPPING
U.S. Marines Were Wounded in Iranian Attack on Nonmilitary Vessel | Washington Post
“Eight U.S. Marines were injured this month when the nonmilitary vessel on which they were embarked was attacked by Iran, U.S. officials said, in an incident that was not publicly disclosed by the Trump administration. The ship attack resulted in what U.S. officials characterized as minor wounds, including smoke inhalation and head injuries.”
Trump Says US Will Win Iran War ‘Very Soon’ | Reuters
“‘We’re going to win, as far as I’m concerned, it’s going to be one way or the other,’ Trump said in the Oval Office. ‘It’s going to go pretty quickly.’”
DIPLOMACY
Trump Denies Offering Iran Sanctions Relief for Nuclear Concessions | Reuters\
“US President Donald Trump on Monday denied offering Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds in return for nuclear concessions from Tehran. ‘This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social, responding to an Axios report that cited US officials as saying that he was willing to give Iran sanctions relief and release Iranian frozen funds in return for ‘concrete’ Iranian steps regarding the nuclear program.”
Iran Says It Expects US Response Tuesday on Plan to Reopen Strait of Hormuz | France 24
“Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he expected a formal answer on Tuesday from the United States to Tehran's proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported. Qatari intermediaries ‘presented ideas, and we discussed them; they are set to raise the matter with the American side once more, after which the final US response will be conveyed to us,’ Araghchi said late Monday.”
Iran Officials Pessimistic About US Deal Before Midterms | Bloomberg
“Iranian officials have privately expressed pessimism about reaching a deal to end hostilities with Washington and reopen the Strait of Hormuz before US midterm elections in November, according to people familiar with the matter.”
TERRORISM & PROXY WARS
UK Examines Foreign State Involvement in Suspected Airbase Plot, Releases Suspects | Reuters
“British police said on Monday they were investigating whether individuals acting for a foreign state were involved in an apparent plot to attack an airbase used by the United States but said five suspects they had arrested would be released on bail. The five men, all British nationals from London in their early 20s, were detained early on Sunday after police were alerted by a local farmer about three white vans driving towards RAF Fairford, a British base that houses US bombers that fly missions against Iran.”
PROTESTS & HUMAN RIGHTS
Iran Court Upholds Lashes Sentence for Singer Who Performed Without Hijab | BBC News
“An appeals court in Iran has confirmed a sentence of 74 lashes handed to a prominent singer who performed without the mandatory hijab, lawyers say. Parastoo Ahmadi sang while wearing a sleeveless dress during a concert livestreamed on her YouTube channel in December 2024. Iran's laws ban public performances by women and require them to wear headscarves and modest clothing.”
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Plans to Replace Mojtaba Khamenei as Leader of Iran after the War | IranWire
“Two informed sources told IranWire that upon reaching an agreement with the United States and following the end of military engagements with the U.S. and Israel, a new Supreme Leader will be selected for the Islamic Republic. These two sources, who maintain close ties with various factions inside the Islamic Republic regime, stated in exclusive interviews with IranWire that both political leaders across different factions and numerous Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders believe that continuing Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership, purportedly assisted by artificial intelligence, is unsustainable and actively weakens the system.”