Iraqi Shiites Mark Muharram in Baghdad With Chest-Beating Rituals on June 25

Q: Amid a landmark peace deal, why did the US just impose new sanctions on Iran?

The new sanctions were imposed because Washington says Iran was still trying to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage even as the peace memorandum was being signed. The Trump administration targeted Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the body it says was attempting to control shipping through the strait and potentially charge vessels large transit fees. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described that as an effort to “extort global maritime trade,” arguing it showed Iran was still seeking revenue for its military, proxy networks and nuclear-related activities. That matters because the new U.S.-Iran memorandum is only an initial framework, not a final settlement. It includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and providing safe passage for commercial shipping without charge for 60 days. From Washington’s perspective, any Iranian move to impose tolls or tighten control over transit directly contradicts the deal’s core purpose. The sanctions also reflect a broader U.S. strategy of keeping economic pressure in place while testing whether Iran will actually comply. American officials have made clear that major sanctions relief, asset releases and reconstruction support are conditional on Iranian follow-through, especially on shipping access and nuclear commitments. So the apparent contradiction is deliberate: the U.S. is pursuing de-escalation, but it is also using sanctions to enforce the terms it says Iran must honor immediately.

3 articles · Updated · Bluefield Daily Telegraph · Jun 25

Baghdad processions on June 25 showed Iraqi Shiite worshippers beating their chests in mourning for Imam Hussein during Muharram observances.
The ritual is a public sign of grief for Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, whose death at Karbala in A.D. 680 is central to Shiite remembrance.
Ashoura commemorations tied to that martyrdom are being marked by Shiite Muslims worldwide, with Hussein’s sacrifice still framed as a symbol of resistance to oppression.

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph1d ago

Iraqi Shiite Muslims Grieve Imam Hussein During Muharram Procession in Baghdad

The New Arab1d ago

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Ashoura 2026 Amid Fragile Lebanon Ceasefire: Humanitarian Toll, Geopolitical Stakes, and the Evolving Identity of Resistance

Overview

Ashoura 2026 is being commemorated across the Middle East and beyond, as communities gather for processions and acts of remembrance despite ongoing regional instability and a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. People prepare and distribute special foods to the poor, symbolizing compassion, and organize blood donation drives to honor the sacrifice of Imam Hussein. These observances, especially in places like Pakistan, offer courage to innocent victims amid violence. The current environment highlights both the enduring humanitarian values of Ashoura and the challenges faced by communities navigating religious duties during uncertain and tense times.

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