Liverpool vs Galatasaray: UEFA Champions League – teams, start, lineups
Who: Liverpool vs GalatasarayWhat: UEFA Champions League last 16, second legWhere: Anfield in Liverpool, EnglandWhen: Wednesday at 8pm (20:00 GMT)How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream. Liverpool’s English Premier League (EPL) title defence may have been left in tatters this season, but the football club still have a shot at the UEFA Champions League if they can produce another memorable Anfield night. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Turkiye’s Galatasaray narrowly lead 1-0 following the first leg, although given the Reds’ travails this season, a comeback on home soil is far from guaranteed. Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at a huge night for Liverpool and their under-fire manager, Arne Slot. Liverpool’s EPL chase for Champions League spots falters Dominik Szoboszlai believes Liverpool are “running out of time” in their bid to secure Champions League qualification via their Premier League position after yet again dropping points late in a match. The Hungary captain said he understood why many fans left Anfield early – as some did even before Richarlison scored in the 90th minute to snatch a 1-1 Premier League draw for struggling Tottenham on Sunday – but urged them to stand by Slot’s side. Many of those who remained inside booed at the final whistle after reigning Premier League champions Liverpool missed a chance to move ahead of Aston Villa into fourth. They did gain one place and one point over Chelsea, but conceding a goal in the 90th minute or later for the eighth time this season proved costly. Advertisement “It’s a good question. If I knew the answer, I would be the first one to go to the team and say it,” said Szoboszlai when asked why Liverpool continue to drop late points. “A couple of weeks ago, we had a talk between each other saying ‘Guys, we don’t have such a lot of time to do this right so we have to wake up and start to go in a way that we want to play Champions League next season’,” added the Hungary captain, whose first-half free kick gave Liverpool the lead against Spurs. “It’s a little bit boring when I say this, but we still need to find a solution because we are running out of time.” Liverpool fans need a lift from their team Szoboszlai accepted that Liverpool did not offer the crowd much to cheer in the Spurs match after he scored his fourth free kick of the season. But he urged them to see games out, as early departures were noticed by players. “I don’t say they have no right to leave the stadium. They can leave if they want,” he said. “We need them, and they should know this. We are one less without them. “It should be normal that in hard times we stick together more because that’s what we need, we need each other. “We want to make them happy; it’s not that we do it on purpose. Last year, it was enjoyable to watch all the games. But this year, maybe it’s not that enjoyable, for sure, I can imagine. “I don’t think it helps us also that after 80 minutes people start to go home; it doesn’t help us at all. Stick with us.” What happened in the first leg between Liverpool and Galatasaray? Galatasaray’s 1-0 home win was secured via an early header from Mario Lemina in what was a compelling contest with both sides having goals disallowed late on. Despite early pressure from Liverpool, Lemina put the Turkish side ahead after seven minutes, diving to head home after Victor Osimhen nodded a corner back across the goal. The hosts maintained the momentum after the early goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili producing several superb saves in the Liverpool goal. Just after the hour mark, Osimhen tapped the ball into an open net, but Liverpool were spared as Baris Alper Yilmaz had been offside in the build-up. Liverpool found the net in the 70th minute, forcing the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble. But the effort was ruled out following a VAR review, with the ball seemingly striking Ibrahima Konate’s hand before ricocheting in. Head-to-head This will be the seventh meeting between the sides, with Galatasaray winning three. Liverpool have won only one of the encounters. Advertisement Liverpool team news Liverpool are still without Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo, who are all battling injuries. Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate were all benched for the game against Tottenham, but are expected to return to the side. Galatasaray team news Enes Buyuk is still absent through injury, while Metehan Baltaci, Gokdeniz Gurpuz and Renato Nhaga are all ineligible after being left out of the club’s Champions League squad. Defender Davinson Sanchez is suspended. Predicted Liverpool starting lineup Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike Predicted Galatasaray starting lineup Cakir; Sallai, Singo, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Yilmaz, Sara, Lang; Osimhen Adblock test (Why?)
Why aren’t gold prices rising, despite Iran war uncertainty?
As the war on Iran entered its 18th day on Tuesday, the price of gold, usually considered the safe-haven asset in times of uncertainty, has remained unexpectedly steady. Since the United States and Israel first launched strikes on Iran on February 28, the conflict has escalated across the region, sparking concerns about the knock-on effect for the global economy. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list On March 2, Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced that the Strait of Hormuz – through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas is transported – was “closed”; a move that sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. Stock prices have also fallen over the past two weeks amid uncertainty over the war on Iran, but gold prices have remained steady. What are gold prices doing? Gold has remained broadly steady at around $5,000 an ounce in recent days. On Tuesday, spot gold was almost flat at $5,001.36 per ounce at 11:00 GMT. Spot gold is the price at which physical gold is bought and sold for immediate delivery. US gold futures for April delivery rose just 0.1 percent to $5,005.20. Is this unexpected? Yes. This lack of movement is surprising, given that gold prices typically shoot up during economic crises as investors look for safe havens to shelter their cash. This is especially true during periods of global conflict. For example, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, gold prices skyrocketed, Remi Bourgeot, economist at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs in Paris and author of analysis platform Epistelem, told Al Jazeera. Advertisement The subsequent sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations created “a wave of panic” among central banks and “completely changed the dynamic behind gold prices”, with countries like China embarking on a historic buying streak to reduce their dependence on the US dollar, he said. However, with the US-Israeli war on Iran, there has been a different response. Why have gold prices remained flat? Traders may be anticipating that the US Federal Reserve will halt interest rate cuts and perhaps even raise rates in response to rising inflation, James Meadway, a former economic adviser to the United Kingdom’s shadow chancellor and currently council member of the Progressive Economy Forum, told Al Jazeera. “That makes dollar assets more attractive and gold, which pays no interest, less so,” Meadway explained. He added that investors have expected the US to cut interest rates for some time. Another factor is that gold was already performing well at the start of this year. “Gold had risen so much before that it is reacting less now to the war,” Meadway said. Rebecca Christie, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank, echoed this, noting that gold has been trading far above historic levels this year. “There are other factors in play: because the dollar has strengthened, and because gold is traded in dollars, it may be harder for interested investors to push the price up,” Christie said. “Also, a rising dollar provides an alternative safe-haven choice, and higher oil prices probably will lead to higher inflation, which also will make the dollar more attractive.” Is gold still a safe bet? Not at the moment. “It’s not seen as much of a hedge against the uncertainty as it was two years ago,” Bourgeot said. “I think there’s really a great deal of understanding at this point that gold has become a very speculative asset,” he said, adding that typical gold investors, which include central banks, tend to be more risk-averse and may have been spooked by the “volatility” of gold in the current climate. What’s next for gold? Experts say it is difficult to make predictions given the uncertainty in the Middle East. “For now, it seems like the biggest thing holding gold back from rising further is because it has already risen so much,” Christie said. For the price of gold to shift dramatically, Meadway said two things would need to happen. “First would be a clear indication from the Federal Reserve, which will be getting a new, likely more Trump-friendly chair in May, that interest rates may be cut further, despite inflationary pressure,” he said. Advertisement “The second would be a change in perception as to the length of the war; at present, there is still some belief this will be ended fairly quickly, but the longer this drags on, and the more the damage spreads, the more attractive gold will start to appear,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
What the Iran war looks like from the occupied West Bank
Iran missile shrapnel falls on West Bank Palestinians as settler attacks, Israeli raids and restrictions continue. As the Iran war continues, attention is fixed on missiles flying across the region. But in the occupied West Bank, missile shrapnel falls on Palestinian towns while deadly settler attacks, Israeli military raids and strict limits on daily life continue. With the world looking elsewhere, how do Palestinians in the West Bank view the Iran war, and what does life look like on the ground now? In this episode: Nour Odeh (@nour_odeh), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Adhil Veettil Sreechand, El Houssein Chouikhat, Tuleen Barakat, and our guest host, David Enders. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili. David Enders and Alex Roldan mixed this episode. The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Our editorial intern is Tuleen Barakat. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia released from ICE detention
NewsFeed Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia was released from an ICE detention facility in Texas after a year in custody. The 33-year-old from the occupied West Bank was the last person connected to the Columbia University anti-genocide protests still held by US immigration authorities. Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Israel policy looms large over US elections in Illinois amid Iran war
Washington, DC – Pro-Israel groups in the United States are spending millions of dollars in elections to assert their influence over the rising anger towards Israeli policies. A set of primaries in the Midwestern state of Illinois on Tuesday represents an early test for the strength of pro-Israel politics in the US amid the countries’ joint war on Iran. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The Chicago area Democratic primaries, where groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) have emerged as some of the largest spenders, come as Israel’s popularity in the US hits a historic low. As AIPAC’s brand becomes increasingly rejected by Democrats, newly formed political action committees (PACs) with generic names that share vendors with the pro-Israel lobby group have been spending heavily against progressives in Illinois. Several so-called dark-money groups that do not have to reveal their funders until after the vote have endorsed the same candidates as AIPAC. According to an investigation by Chicago’s public radio WBEZ, AIPAC and its donors have spent $13.7m on the primaries, including through funds funnelled to shadow PACs. Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for the progressive group Justice Democrats, said AIPAC is using “covert shell” groups because it is aware of the unpopularity of Israel, especially after the “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza. He noted that AIPAC’s election arm is called the United Democracy Project, a name that does not mention Israel. “AIPAC has always relied on voters not knowing the whole story,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera. Advertisement “AIPAC has become such a toxic force in the Democratic Party that voters now, when they see a candidate backed by AIPAC, they reject them simply for that support.” A source close to AIPAC told Jewish Insider this week that the group is focused on defeating six candidates who are critical of Israel across four contests in Illinois. The Kat Abughazaleh race In one of the most closely watched contests, Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old progressive activist with a large online following, is locked in a crowded race for the open seat vacated by retiring Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. Abughazaleh, who has openly called Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide, is running against several candidates for the safe Democratic seat. Her most viable opponents are Daniel Biss, the mayor of the Chicago suburb of Evanston, who is critical of some Israeli policies and backed by the liberal Zionist group J Street, and State Senator Laura Fine, seen as the pro-Israel candidate in the race. An AIPAC-linked group initially attacked Biss to prop up Fine. But fearing another miscalculation, as in the recent race in New Jersey, where attacks on the centrist candidate who is mildly critical of Israel helped an all-out progressive activist win, pro-Israel groups have focused on Abughazaleh in recent days. And in a bizarre twist, a group linked to AIPAC ran an advertisement last week supporting Bushra Amiwala, a long-shot candidate who is fiercely opposed to US aid to Israel, in an apparent effort to siphon off votes from Abughazaleh and possibly Biss. Amiwala was quick to disavow the advertisement. “This is an attempt to smear my name by putting my name next to pro-genocide, pro-war… billionaires,” she said. AIPAC did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment by the time of publication. Andrabi from Justice Democrats said that AIPAC’s tactics show the degree to which the lobbying group has become a “toxic” brand for Democratic voters. Justice Democrats has endorsed Abughazaleh in the race, but Andrabi said that even if Biss wins, it would be a defeat for AIPAC. A recent Public Policy Polling survey suggested that Abughazaleh is a close second to Biss, at 20 percent to 24 percent, respectively, with Fine behind them at 14 percent. In a Democratic primary in a neighbouring district, progressive candidate Junaid Ahmed has also been making inroads and closing the gap with the pro-Israel candidate, former Congresswoman Melissa Bean. While Ahmed has focused his campaign on domestic issues, he has highlighted AIPAC’s interference in the race. Advertisement “It’s dark money vs democracy, and tomorrow we will send AIPAC packing,” Ahmed wrote in a social media post on Monday. ‘AIPAC is losing the long-term battle’ Other competitive races include a primary contest to fill the seat of Representative Robin Kelly, who is now running for the Senate. The race pits Jesse Jackson Jr, son of the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, against several candidates, including Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, backed by pro-Israel groups, and State Senator Robert Peters, who has been critical of AIPAC. To fill the seat of retiring Democratic Congressman Danny Davis, another crowded contest is taking place on Tuesday. According to Jewish Insider, AIPAC’s priority is to defeat activist Kina Collins in that race. The other candidates include Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and State Representative LaShawn Ford. A primary election will also take place to determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the Senate, as incumbent Dick Durbin is set to leave Congress at the end of his term. On the Democratic side, where the winner will likely replace Durbin, Congresswoman Kelly, who has also accused Israel of genocide, is facing Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi – both strong Israel supporters. Andrabi said that no matter the results on Tuesday, polls show AIPAC’s shrinking influence. He also accused the pro-Israel lobby group of “moving the goal posts” from electing its favoured candidates to blocking progressive hopefuls. “We want to win all these races without a doubt. But I think it is very clear that AIPAC is losing the long-term battle for the future of this party,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera. Although the majority of Democrats in Congress are pro-Israel, an NBC poll published on Monday suggests that only 17 percent of the party’s voters sympathise more with Israelis than Palestinians. Tuesday’s elections pose an early test to voters’ attitudes towards the war on Iran, whose impact is starting to bite Americans at the petrol pump. While most Democratic candidates have voiced opposition
Top Democrat in US House slams Trump’s ‘reckless war of choice’
NewsFeed “Reckless war of choice.” US House of Representatives Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries criticised Donald Trump for what he called a failure to adequately prepare for the consequences of launching a war on Iran. Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
EU leaders reject military involvement in Strait of Hormuz amid war on Iran
Listen to this article Listen to this article | 4 mins info European leaders have rejected demands by United States President Donald Trump to help ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as foreign ministers from the European Union gathered in Brussels to discuss skyrocketing oil prices during the US-Israeli war on Iran. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday said Berlin had no intention of joining military operations during the conflict. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “We expect from the US and Israel to inform us, to include us into what they’re doing there and to tell us if these goals are achieved,” he told reporters before the meeting in Brussels. “Once we have a clear picture of that, we believe we need to move into the next phase, namely, defining a security architecture for this entire region, together with the neighbouring states,” he said. Wadephul added that NATO had not made any decision on assuming responsibilities in the Strait of Hormuz after Trump on Sunday called for a naval coalition to deploy warships to secure the key Gulf waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments transit. The strait has essentially been shuttered as a result of the war, which has seen the US and Israel launch deadly attacks across Iran since February 28. Iran has retaliated by firing missiles and drones across the wider Middle East, roiling global energy markets. Trump’s call for countries to secure the waterway has been met with pushback from several European countries despite the soaring oil and gas prices. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said on Monday that Greece would not engage in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy was not involved in any naval missions that could be extended to the area. Advertisement Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, however, that Europe should keep an open mind on helping to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait even if the continent did not support the US-Israeli decision to go to war with Iran. “We must face the world as it is, not as we want it to be,” Rasmussen said, adding that the EU must decide on a plan “with a view towards de-escalation”. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom said it was working on a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation in the Middle East but doing so would not be easy. EU feels Trump’s pressure EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before the meeting in Brussels that the bloc’s leaders would focus on how the EU could contribute to reopening the waterway. “We first need to discuss what the member states are willing to do in the Strait of Hormuz,” she said. “Of course, the needs to open the Strait of Hormuz are there right now.” Kallas said the strait’s closure, which has sent oil prices to more than $100 a barrel, was benefitting Russia’s war on Ukraine, which is largely funded by Moscow’s energy revenues. Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen said what was clear is that European leaders are “increasingly feeling the pressure from Trump to help him reopen the Strait of Hormuz”. “There is very little appetite [on the part of EU leaders] for joining the war, especially because they feel left out of the loop,” Vaessen said. “They will be discussing a way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but that doesn’t necessarily mean sending warships.” In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said NATO faced a “very bad” future if his proposal for a military operation in the strait received no response or a negative one. France has suggested the EU could expand its Aspides mission, a small naval mission established in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea. It currently has an Italian and a Greek ship under its direct command and may also call upon a French ship and another Italian vessel for support. But Germany has been among the EU members to express scepticism of the idea. “What does … Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful US Navy cannot do?” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in Berlin. “This is not our war. We have not started it.” Asked about Trump’s comments on the future of NATO, Pistorius said he did not anticipate the alliance to fall apart over the issue. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Qatar Airways announces ‘limited’ flights to and from Doha
Airline says limited number of flights will operate as of March 18 between Qatari capital and dozens of destinations. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 2 mins info Published On 16 Mar 202616 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Qatar Airways has announced a limited flight schedule to and from the Qatari capital, Doha, as the US-Israeli war on Iran roils air travel in the region. The airline said on Monday that it would operate a limited number of flights from Wednesday to March 28. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The flights will operate to and from dozens of cities in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Asia Pacific. “With Qatar Airways scheduled flight operations still temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace, we want you to know that we are doing our utmost to support you with your journey, and to reunite you with your family and loved ones,” the airline said. “Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full reopening of Qatari airspace.” Air travel in several countries in the Middle East has been disrupted since the US and Israel launched a military assault on Iran on February 28. The US-Israeli attacks have prompted retaliatory Iranian missile and drone strikes across the region, including in several Gulf countries that serve as major air travel hubs. A flydubai plane prepares to land during a fire near Dubai International Airport in the UAE [File: AFP] Continued airspace restrictions have left many travellers stuck in the region with no means of getting home as the war continues. The United Arab Emirates, which has been the hardest hit by Iranian attacks, said on Monday that flights were gradually resuming at Dubai International Airport after a “drone-related incident” that sparked a fuel tank fire nearby. Advertisement In a statement, the airport said flights to and from Dubai were gradually resuming to “selected destinations”. Authorities also said they had contained the fire and no injuries were reported. Adblock test (Why?)
Iran officials tout ‘Trump-burning’ celebration amid battle of narratives
Tehran, Iran – Iranian authorities are organising street-level events across the country over the coming days to maintain security control and send more messages of defiance to the leaders of the United States and Israel in the third week of their war. Wednesday is the last day in the Iranian calendar, and Iranians have for thousands of years marked it with Chaharshanbe Suri, a festival of fire and celebration to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and welcome Nowruz, or the Persian New Year. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The general prosecutor’s office in Tehran sent text messages to people on Monday to say they are prohibited from using fireworks and explosives or from lighting fires during celebrations, as is the custom, since they may be “misused by spying or rioting elements of the enemy”. But state television urged Iranians to mark this year’s festivities by making and setting ablaze effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We must turn Chaharshanbe Suri into a devil-burning ceremony. Using whatever we can, from pieces of cloth to cardboard, let’s make figures of Trump and Netanyahu and burn them in the squares and streets,” state television said. It said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will continue to create a “regional Chaharshanbe Suri” by firing ballistic missiles and drones at other countries as the US and Israel bomb Tehran and cities across Iran. The IRGC released footage of a Sejjil long-range ballistic missile being fired for the first time during this war on Sunday, and reported more attacks on Monday while vowing to “pursue and kill” Netanyahu. The missile has a range longer than 2,000km (1,240 miles). Advertisement Tehran has ruled out any negotiations with Washington, and says it expects reparations and a guarantee against future attacks if the war is to stop. A giant mural unveiled at Valiasr Square in downtown Tehran this week showed Iranian ballistic missiles, accompanied by the text, “Until the world finds rest”. The streets of Tehran show a fraction of their usual hustle and bustle, but some businesses remain open for limited hours during the day, and the atmosphere turns more security-focused when night falls. There are numerous patrols by the paramilitary Basij forces of the IRGC, and pro-establishment supporters heed calls from authorities to congregate in mosques and at main city squares and streets to shout “Allah akbar” and “Death to America”. Multiple residents of the capital who spoke with Al Jazeera said pro-state groups have been organising nightly motorcades moving through various neighbourhoods, during which people wave their mobile phone lights and chant religious slogans using loudspeakers. “You are certain to face multiple checkpoints and roadblocks and have your belongings searched if you go out at night. You’ll see some during the day, too,” said a resident, who asked not to be named due to security concerns. “The checkpoints are often manned by several cars and sometimes heavy vehicles with mounted machine guns, and you see masked men with assault rifles. Some of them look to be very young,” he said. The Israeli army has started using its heavy surveillance and attack drones like Hermes and Heron variants to monitor and then launch munitions towards a number of major checkpoints in Tehran over recent days. Multiple Basij local commanders have since been killed, prompting state forces to stay on the move or set up checkpoints in tunnels and under bridges. The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency on late Saturday released footage showing pro-establishment people queuing up at night to sign up for checkpoint or patrol duty for the Basij force. State media have also been widely circulating images of young women, dressed entirely in black chadors and veils and wearing black masks, wielding assault rifles and waving flags. Mohammad Zahraei, a senior Basij commander, confirmed on Sunday that the force is recruiting as much as possible, and said it will continue to operate as part of the security apparatus during the war. In a message last week, hardline parliament chief and former top IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said state supporters must only keep in mind one thing: “Street, street, street”. Advertisement Iranian authorities have issued threats of using lethal force against any public anti-establishment sentiment or street protests, saying arrested dissidents will face severe punishments, including execution and confiscation of assets. “Now the vile enemy, frustrated by not achieving field combat goals, is once again seeking to instill fear and chaos in the streets; but a blow even stronger than January 8 awaits the ‘neo-Daeshis’,” the intelligence directorate of the IRGC said in a statement last week. This was in reference to thousands being killed during nationwide protests in January, mostly on the nights of January 8 and 9, which the government blamed entirely on “terrorists” and “rioters” armed and funded by the US and Israel. The United Nations and international human rights organisations accuse Iranian state forces of being behind the killings. They have also called for the release of tens of thousands arrested during and in the aftermath of the protests. Iranian authorities continue to announce arrests linked with the ongoing war, noting this week that dozens were arrested for sending videos of impact points and checkpoints to “terrorist” media outlets outside of the country using tools to circumvent internet filtering. The internet remains entirely shut down more than two weeks since the start of the war, while signal-jammed satellite television networks offer the only alternative to state media outlets, which mostly focus on statements from local officials and successful IRGC attacks across the region. According to NetBlocks and other global monitors, a state-run internet provider in Iran that offered limited services to whitelisted individuals and entities was also largely taken down on Sunday afternoon, but no reason was provided. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump calls for naval coalition to open Strait of Hormuz: Can it work?
United States President Donald Trump has called for a naval coalition to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of world oil shipments transit, as oil markets reel from supply disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran. What is essentially the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran in response to the attacks by the US and Israel has sent oil prices soaring to more than $100 per barrel. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to keep the maritime artery closed while another top official in Tehran warned that oil prices could shoot up beyond $200 per barrel. Trump said he hoped a naval coalition could secure the vital waterway, which connects the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Iran has struck more than a dozen ships trying to sail through the narrow waterway since the hostilities started two weeks ago. But will Trump’s solution work? A tanker sits at anchor in Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman, as oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have plummeted [File: Benoit Tessier/Reuters] What has Trump said? The US president has been facing domestic pressure over starting the war alongside Israel with no endgame or off-ramps in sight. “On the strait of Hormuz, they had NO PLAN,” US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy wrote in a post on X. “I can’t go into more detail about how Iran gums up the Strait, but suffice it [to] say, right now, they don’t know how to get it safely back open.” After threatening to bomb Iran more, Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send warships to secure the strait. Advertisement Trump claimed “100% of Iran’s military capability” had already been destroyed but added that Tehran could still “send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this waterway”. “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. “In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!” Not long after, Trump returned to the keyboard, extending the invitation to all “the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait” to send warships, adding that the US would provide “a lot” of support to those who participated. Israeli soldiers walk by a billboard commissioned by the evangelical Christian group Friends of Zion during the US-Israel war on Iran in Tel Aviv, Israel [File: Nir Elias/Reuters] What has Iran said? Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, said in a statement that claims by the US about destroying Iran’s navy or providing safe escort for oil tankers were false. “The Strait of Hormuz has not been militarily blocked and is merely under control,” he said in a statement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later doubled down on this, saying the strait remained open to international shipping except for vessels belonging to the US and its allies. “The Strait of Hormuz is open. It is only closed to the tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass,” Araghchi said. Khamenei – son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the US-Israeli strikes – suggested in his first statement since taking power that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to provide leverage for Iran during the conflict. F-18 combat aircraft are parked on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz during a 2019 deployment [File: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters] What are the challenges in the Strait of Hormuz? The strait, which is just 21 nautical miles (39km) wide at its narrowest point, is the only maritime passage into the Arabian Gulf (known as the Persian Gulf in Iran). Shipping lanes in the waterway are even narrower and more vulnerable to attacks. Advertisement It separates Iran on one side from Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the other. In brief, there is no way in or out by sea when the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Alexandru Hudisteanu, a maritime security expert who served 13 years in the Romanian navy, told Al Jazeera that in the type of coalition that Trump is hinting at, “interoperability is the biggest hurdle.” “That’s the ability of cruises to work together or with different units and different doctrine when basic communication would be an issue,” he said. Then, there is the geography of the Strait of Hormuz: “a very unforgiving environment to sail with this type of wartime threats”, Hudisteanu said. “Especially difficult under missile threats and these asymmetric potential mines or unmanned systems that could damage or destroy ships.” Providing escorts to ships would be a costly option, and it would pose risks to participating foreign warships from possible Iranian attacks, which would likely further drag more countries into the ongoing war. From Iran’s point of view, “the fact that the shoreline is so close and the actual maritime passage is highly congested and confined is an advantage by default,” Hudisteanu added. Geographically, Iran keeps it as a gauntlet, with no way out for the ships unless Tehran allows it. Another major challenge for any naval coalition trying to secure the passage would be the timeline of any operation. ”The security of the strait could be achieved. It’s just a matter of how much time you need and how many assets you need,” the analyst said. Rushing through it “could have negative