• A US military strike on Iran does not appear imminent, and US President Donald Trump could have delayed plans for one for now. According to The New York Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked President Trump to postpone any potential American military action against Iran, and senior officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt have also urged the administration to stand down, warning that a strike could spark a wider regional conflict. This came as Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Al Busaidi, held phone calls on Thursday with his Qatari, Iraqi, Saudi and Egyptian counterparts, discussing recent regional developments and ways to reduce and contain tensions, Oman News Agency reported. However, uncertainty persists, with observers warning that the situation could change at any moment, given the US President’s unpredictable approach.
  • The US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz has warned that, for Washington, all options are on the table to “stop the slaughter” in Iran. “The regime is solely … responsible for the economic misery of the Iranian people and the repression of their freedom," Mr Waltz told Security Council members at an emergency meeting to address Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters. "They will be held accountable," he said. Separately, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said the Trump administration prefers a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing tensions with Iran. Speaking at the Israeli-American Council conference in Florida, Mr Witkoff said, “I hope there’s a diplomatic resolution. I really do.”
  • US officials and Middle Eastern partners told the White House the regime was unlikely to fall after a massive bombing campaign and that such a strike could spark wider conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported. They also said the US would need additional assets in the region to carry out an attack and to protect American forces and allies, including Israel, in the event of Iranian retaliation.
  • The US has announced a series of sanctions on Iran in response to its crackdown on protests throughout the country. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions were focused on "key Iranian leaders" involved in the suppression.
  • President Trump has announced the formation of the Gaza Board of Peace and issued a new warning to Hamas that it must quickly disarm. The board, part of Mr Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza following two years of war between Hamas and Israel, will oversee reconstruction in the Palestinian enclave.
  • Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has accepted ​the resignation of Prime Minister ​Salem bin Breik and ‌appointed Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsen Zindani as ​the country's new prime minister, the state news agency Saba reported. Mr Bin Breik formally ‌submitted his resignation, which was approved by ‍the council, before ‍Mr Zindani was named to form the next ⁠cabinet, Saba said.
  • Yemen’s PLC has dismissed Faraj Al Bahsani, a member of the council, over his role in an internal power struggle that escalated into open fighting last month. Mr Al Bahsani is also part of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which advocates for secession in southern Yemen. Fighters loyal to the STC moved into oil-rich territory in the south last month, seizing control of Hadhramaut and Mahra provinces. But pro-government forces won back the territory with the help of a Saudi Arabia-led coalition. In the aftermath, STC leader Aidarous Al Zubaidi was accused of high treason and removed from his PLC seat. On Thursday, PLC chief Rashad Al Alimi announced that Mr Al Bahsani had likewise been dismissed from his position.
  • Iraq says it is seeking clarity from US authorities after two diplomats were declared unwelcome. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that it is in contact with Washington on the reasons behind the move. It denied suggestions that the measures “constitute expulsion in the legal and diplomatic sense”.
  • The nationwide shutdown of the internet by authorities in Iran has now lasted a full week, Netblocks said in a social media post.
  • Oversupply dynamics in the global crude market are expected to cushion any major shock to oil prices if President Trump chooses to take military action against Iran.
  • Palestinians in Gaza say they are clinging to hope of better days but "cannot withstand another failure", after the US announced phase two of Mr Trump's peace plan was under way.
  • The new head of the UN refugee agency Barham Salih has urged leaders to “really act” to end the war in Sudan that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, after visiting Sudanese refugees who have fled into neighbouring Chad.

More goings-on

  • Saudi Arabia boosted its holdings of US Treasuries in November, helping offset a decline from China, as the total amount of foreign holdings rose to a record for the month. Riyadh's stockpile of holdings rose to $148.8 billion in November, an increase of $14.4 billion from the previous month, according to Treasury Department data.
  • Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate and activist who was detained for taking part in pro-Palestine protests, suffered a legal blow on Thursday that puts him at risk of being rearrested.
  • US Senator Lindsey Graham said he’s going to Israel to meet Benjamin Netanyahu. “Standing together and following through on our commitments only makes us stronger,” he said in a post on X.
  • Five Palestine Action activists to plead in case of damaging two planes at RAF Brize Norton

This newsletter was compiled by Vanessa Ghanem, Arab affairs editor.

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