As we see yet another plan to end the Iran war, we are reminded that, in these negotiations, history doesn’t rhyme but it does repeat. There’s an American deal on the table to end the Iran war, and President Donald Trump said he’s ready to wait “a couple of days” for an Iranian response. Gulf leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE reportedly urged Trump to delay planned strikes to give diplomacy more time. MBN’s Iran Briefing has more on this developing story.
The guns may be silent, but the Iran war is far from over. As Gulf states quietly look to Beijing and Washington for an exit, fears are growing over Iran’s shadow war abroad — small attacks linked to Iran in the United States and Europe. Retaliatory? Coincidence? MBN’s Abubakar Siddique looks into it. Plus, a new war front may be emerging beneath the Gulf itself: the undersea internet cables carrying nearly all global data traffic. This week, we look at the fragile ceasefire, Iran’s global reach, and the hidden infrastructure now at risk.
Welcome again to the MBN Friday Briefing, the weekly roundup of our best reporting on stories shaping developments in the Middle East and Washington.
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This Week on MBN
War Paused, not Ended
While there’s a pause in the Iran war, the underlying confrontation remains unresolved, says veteran U.S. ambassadors Ryan Crocker and Susan Ziadeh to Joe Kawly in The Diplomat. The only realistic path forward is a limited deal centered on restoring free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. naval blockade, says Croker. The Gulf capitals are quietly hoping China can inject “realism” into the crisis, says Ziadeh, while continuing discreet engagement with Tehran because “this is the neighborhood.”
Watch the full episode here
Iran’s Shadow War Abroad
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iraqi militia commander now in FBI custody, has been charged with planning attacks on Jewish sites in the United States. Photo: U.S. Department of Justice
Fears of a massive Iranian terror campaign in the West have not fully materialized, MBN’s Abubakar Siddique explains, but security officials remain deeply concerned. Western intelligence agencies are investigating a string of attacks and plots linked to Tehran, highlighting growing fears over Iranian sleeper cells. This comes after U.S. authorities charged Iraqi militia commander Mohammad Baqer al-Saadi with plotting attacks on Jewish targets.
Read the article here
Iran Threatens Gulf Internet Cables
Iran-linked media have framed the Strait of Hormuz not only as an oil chokepoint, but also as a hidden highway for global data, cloud services, and financial traffic. Iran has floated the idea of slapping fees on submarine internet cables running through the Strait of Hormuz, which could become part of its coercive strategy, reports MBN’s Sakina Abdallah. The threat matters because subsea cables carry roughly 99% of international internet traffic and support financial transactions, government communications, and cloud computing.
Read the article here
Riyadh’s Gamble with Political Islam
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pursuing a risky contradiction: crushing political Islam at home while relying on Islamist-linked forces in Yemen to help curb UAE-backed armed factions and in Sudan to help the Sudanese army fight the Rapid Support Forces. What began as tactical wartime coordination, says MBN’s Magazine contributor Abdulaziz Al-Khamis, now risks evolving into long-term strategic dependence on ideological movements that Saudi Arabia officially treats as existential threats.
Read the article here
Lebanon Eyes Hezbollah Finances
Lebanon is preparing to target institutions tied to Hezbollah’s financial network, as the U.S. – mediated talks with Israel expand beyond the ceasefire. There’s legislation proposed that would prevent these financial institutions from taking deposits or issuing loans without prior approval by Lebanon’s central bank. Lebanese officials see the financial crackdown as part of broader efforts to strengthen the state’s authority and reassure Washington and Israel that Beirut is willing to curb Hezbollah’s influence, says MBN’s Asrar Chbaro.
Read the article here
Inside Hezbollah’s Hidden Tunnel
Israeli forces uncovered a 25-meter-deep Hezbollah tunnel complex beneath a children’s clothing store in the town of El Khiam near the Israeli border. The underground site allegedly functioned as a command and operations center for Hezbollah’s elite force, complete with sleeping quarters, weapons storage, generators, and communication systems. MBN’s correspondent Yehia Qasim toured the underground complex alongside an Israeli military officer.
Watch the video here
Closer: Locked and Loaded
We’re locked and loaded. We don’t want to go down that pathway, but the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to.
–U.S. Vice President JD Vance, May 19, 29026
