World News | June 11, 2026 US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Trump Threatens Control of Iran's Oil Industry

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📰 US and Iran Trade Strikes for Second Day, Trump Threatens 'Total Control' of Iran's Oil

Military conflict between the United States and Iran escalated dramatically over the past 24 hours. President Donald Trump issued a statement Wednesday evening threatening to launch "major strikes" on Iran and asserting he would take "total control" of Iran's oil and gas industries. The US military carried out a second consecutive day of airstrikes against targets inside Iran, while Iran retaliated with missile strikes on American assets in Gulf Arab states and Jordan.

According to the Associated Press, ceasefire negotiations have again reached an impasse. Iran insists on maintaining its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz — the world's most critical oil transit route — while the US demands Iran immediately lift the blockade. Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump declared that Iran "will pay the price" and that the United States would not tolerate Tehran "dragging its feet" in negotiations.

Analysts warn that if the conflict expands further, global oil supplies could face severe disruption. Iran has fired missiles at targets in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, with those countries reporting varying degrees of facility damage. The UN Security Council has passed a resolution condemning Iran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf states.

— AP News

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📰 US Inflation Surges to Three-Year High Amid Energy Price Spike

Data released by the US Labor Department on Wednesday showed the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising at its fastest annual pace since April 2023. Inflation accelerated for a third consecutive month, driven primarily by surging energy prices. As the US-Iran conflict persists, the national average gasoline price has climbed to $4.15 per gallon, adding fresh burdens to already strained consumers.

In an unexpected response to the data, President Trump said "I love the inflation" and claimed prices would fall once the Iran war concludes. The remark drew widespread criticism from economists and opposition figures. Core inflation rose to 2.8% year-on-year — the highest level since September — and climbed 0.4% month-on-month, both exceeding market expectations.

Market analysts believe persistent inflation will intensify pressure on the Federal Reserve to maintain high interest rates. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets assign a 96% probability that the Fed will hold rates steady at the 3.5% to 3.75% range at its June meeting. Energy price uncertainty has become one of the greatest risk factors facing the US economy.

— Al Jazeera

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📰 WHO Raises Ebola Risk in DR Congo to 'Very High'

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an updated risk assessment on June 6, elevating the national risk level for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to "very high." The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), has spread to neighboring Uganda. The WHO assessed risk in Uganda and countries bordering affected areas as "high," while maintaining "low" risk for the rest of Africa and globally.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), five recovered patients have been discharged from hospitals in the DRC as of early June. However, the International Rescue Committee has warned that the true scale of the outbreak is "likely far worse" than official figures suggest. On June 1, a burial team in Bunia was assaulted by residents, injuring four people and highlighting the community resistance hampering containment efforts.

This marks the 15th Ebola outbreak in DRC's history. Unusually, this epidemic has generated controversy over a US plan to establish a 50-bed Ebola quarantine facility at a Kenyan air force base exclusively for American citizens exposed to the virus — a plan that has already sparked mass protests in Kenya.

— ECDC

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📰 IAEA Board Passes Resolution Demanding Full Iranian Nuclear Cooperation

The 35-nation Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a US-backed resolution on Wednesday demanding that Iran immediately declare its remaining enriched uranium stockpile and allow inspectors to verify it. The resolution stressed that providing information and access is "essential and urgent" to enable the IAEA to verify there is no "diversion of nuclear material."

Reuters quoted diplomatic sources saying the resolution was passed at a sensitive moment amid escalating US-Iran military conflict. The resolution leaves the door open for further action, stating the IAEA board "will stand ready to take further action," including submitting a formal non-compliance report to the UN Security Council. The UK government said in a statement that any sustainable diplomatic solution must rest on the foundation of verification and monitoring.

Iran has not yet formally responded to the resolution. However, analysts note that given the current US-Iran military standoff, Tehran is highly unlikely to make concessions on nuclear issues. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has repeatedly warned that Iran's uranium enrichment activities have reached the threshold of military-grade levels, and the international community's window of opportunity is rapidly narrowing.

— Reuters

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📰 Kenyan Protester Killed at Demonstration Against US Ebola Facility

The town of Nanyuki in Kenya's Laikipia County has seen days of mass protests against a US plan to establish an Ebola quarantine facility at a local air force base. According to Reuters, during protests on June 9, police fired tear gas to disperse crowds and one protester was killed in the clashes. Witnesses reported that police used live ammunition.

Demonstrators waving Kenyan flags, carrying placards, and holding a coffin with the word "Ebola" written on the side demanded that the government reverse its decision allowing the US to build a 50-bed isolation facility within a military base. The facility is intended exclusively for American citizens exposed to Ebola in the DRC. Protesters argue the arrangement violates Kenyan sovereignty and places local communities at public health risk.

BBC News reports that the arrested suspect is scheduled to appear in court on June 10, facing attempted murder charges. The Kenyan government has yet to issue a formal statement on the protester's death. Human rights organization Article 19 has called on the Kenyan government to protect freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest, while urging the United States to reconsider this widely controversial plan.

— BBC News

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📰 Amnesty International Accuses Israel of 'Ethnic Cleansing' in West Bank

Amnesty International released a major report on Wednesday accusing the Israeli government of carrying out a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The report documents in detail how Israeli authorities are accelerating annexation through a state-driven campaign targeting Palestinian Bedouin and herding communities in Area C of the occupied territory.

NPR reports that the campaign takes place in a context of apartheid and unlawful occupation, aimed at systematically displacing Palestinians to pave the way for further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territory. The report identifies tactics including home demolitions, water source cutoffs, and restrictions on freedom of movement to force local Palestinian communities from lands they have inhabited for generations.

The Israeli government has not yet issued a detailed response to the report but has consistently denied similar allegations in the past. Amnesty International called on the international community to take urgent action to halt Israel's annexation plans and demanded sanctions against Israeli officials suspected of war crimes. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it is carefully studying the report.

— NPR

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📰 EU Set to Unveil Plan to Lower Electricity Bills Amid Energy Crisis

The European Commission is poised to unveil a comprehensive plan this week aimed at reducing electricity bills for households and businesses. According to Euronews, the plan will partially address long-standing demands from European industry to lower electricity costs while accelerating the electrification of transport, heating, and industry — and removing fiscal incentives that currently encourage continued fossil fuel use.

European industry has been under immense pressure since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted gas markets and forced the continent to restructure its energy supplies. Despite successfully reorganizing supply chains, electricity prices remain far above pre-crisis levels. Germany's industrial power costs are especially acute — estimates suggest Brussels' newly approved broader industrial electricity subsidy scheme will add approximately €1 billion annually to Germany's budget.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that supporting end-use electrification is not only an opportunity to protect consumers from the long tail of the current energy crisis but also a way to make energy systems more resilient to future shocks. Analysts say the plan's core challenge lies in balancing lower electricity prices with emissions reduction targets.

— Euronews

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📰 Global Markets Fall as Oil Rallies on Iran Tensions

Global stock markets broadly declined Wednesday, hit by the twin blows of escalating US-Iran conflict and hotter-than-expected inflation data. Reuters reported that as Iran war uncertainty drove up oil prices, a selloff in equities deepened alongside a continued unwinding of the AI trade. Asian markets followed Wall Street lower on Thursday, with India's Sensex and Nifty indices both declining in early trading.

On crude oil, despite gains of roughly 2% over the past week, Brent crude has remained below $100 per barrel. CNBC quoted market strategists saying traders still see sufficient supply buffers in the market to prevent a full-blown supply shock. However, oil and gas industry executives have warned the White House that gasoline prices could spike if the Strait of Hormuz situation deteriorates further.

Analysts caution that investors are bracing for a "long grind," having previously hoped that US-Iran ceasefire negotiations would yield a near-term breakthrough. Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading, described the combination of Iran war uncertainty and high inflation as a "double whammy" that has sent shivers through trading floors.

— Reuters

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📰 Anti-Immigration Riots Erupt in Belfast After Stabbing Attack

Serious violent unrest broke out in the Northern Irish capital of Belfast starting Tuesday evening. The trigger was a knife attack allegedly committed by a 30-year-old Sudanese refugee against a local resident, with graphic video of the assault circulating widely on social media and prompting mass protests by far-right groups. According to The Guardian, demonstrations quickly escalated into violence — rioters set fire to vehicles and buildings and hurled rocks and petrol bombs at police.

Northern Ireland police deployed water cannons to disperse crowds gathered in central Belfast and reinforced their presence across the city. One suspect has been arrested and faces attempted murder charges. The disorder spread to Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland, as well as Southampton in England. Northern Ireland's justice minister criticized the riots as being "stoked by those who would struggle to find Belfast on a map."

UK Prime Minister Starmer described the stabbing as "sickening" and called for calm. However, the riots have once again exposed deep social divisions in the UK over immigration. Police say they will continue to deploy additional officers to prevent further escalation of violence.

— The Guardian

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📰 2026 World Cup Kicks Off Today as Mexico Face South Africa in Opener

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off on Thursday, with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match at Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium. This will be the Azteca's third time hosting World Cup matches, a historic record. The United States will face Paraguay on Friday, followed by group stage matches ramping up over the weekend.

However, the tournament has already been mired in controversy before a ball has been kicked. According to the BBC, protesters in Mexico City plan to use the World Cup platform to highlight their causes. FIFA President Gianni Infantino told reporters at the Azteca pre-tournament press conference to "chill, relax," in an attempt to downplay a series of controversies. President Trump has confirmed he will not attend the US team's opening match.

Yahoo Sports reports that squad selections and injury concerns have drawn significant attention. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez explained why Cristiano Ronaldo played more minutes than any other outfield player in the warm-up match against Nigeria. A supercomputer has tipped Spain as tournament favorites, but former stars are backing Argentina to defend their title.

— Yahoo Sports

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