Jens Spahn, a senior politician from Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has warned that the ongoing war on Iran could trigger a new wave of migration toward Europe and called for early coordination with countries such as Turkey to prevent a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis, according to German media. Spahn, head of the CDU parliamentary group, said Europe must act preemptively to manage potential displacement caused by the conflict, which was sparked by US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28 and escalated with retaliatory Iranian strikes on US assets in Gulf countries. “There must not be a second 2015,” Spahn said in an interview with German broadcaster ntv on Monday evening, referring to the peak of Europe’s refugee crisis, when more than 1 million people, many fleeing the Syrian war, arrived in Europe. Spahn said developments involving Iran highlight the need for stricter migration policies not only in Germany but across the European Union, calling for agreements with so-called safe third countries to be put in place before a new influx begins. “We saw in Syria how quickly things can escalate,” he said. “That’s why we need to start talking to neighboring countries now.” Spahn specifically pointed to Turkey as a key partner, saying discussions with Ankara would be essential to ensure support in the region and contain potential migration flows closer to conflict zones. Turkey hosts between 2.9 million and 3.2 million registered Syrian refugees under temporary protection, making it the world’s largest refugee-hosting country. It has long played a central role in Europe’s migration strategy under a 2016 deal with the EU aimed at curbing irregular crossings into Greece. Spahn said preparations should not be delayed until people are already on the move, warning that failure to act early could once again overwhelm European asylum systems. His remarks come as tensions involving Iran raise concerns about broader regional instability and the potential displacement of civilians, particularly in neighboring countries. European leaders have increasingly emphasized cooperation with transit countries such as Turkey in managing migration, a policy that has prompted criticism from rights groups but remains central to EU efforts to prevent large-scale arrivals. Meanwhile, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said earlier this month that Turkey has drawn up contingency plans to contain a potential exodus from Iran before it reaches the Turkish frontier. Çiftçi said the Interior Ministry has prepared three scenarios, with the first plan aiming to manage any potential movement on the Iranian side of the border before it reaches Turkey. If the movement cannot be stopped, the second plan would focus on controlling it at the frontier through buffer zones along the border, he said. A third plan would allow entry into Turkey under controlled conditions as a last resort. Çiftçi said there was no unusual activity at border crossings and that recent entries and exits were in line with normal levels.
Jens Spahn, a senior politician from Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has warned that the ongoing war on Iran could trigger a new wave of migration toward Europe and called for early coordination with countries such as Turkey to prevent a repeat of the 2015 refugee cri…
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A tanker identified as the Kaifan was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman’s Limah in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a July 21 report from UK Maritime Trade Operations. No ships were observed transiting the strait that day. Attribution of the strike and links to prior incidents have not been confirmed by the vessel’s owner.
Goldman Sachs has projected Brent crude averaging $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter and $75 in the following year, conditional on reduced Middle East tensions, while noting upside risks from potential shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz or Red Sea.
Brent prices rose above $91 per barrel amid recent U.S.-Iran exchanges and Houthi threats to Saudi shipments before edging lower on Tuesday. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that mediators had proposed a 10-day ceasefire to preserve an interim agreement.
Opening summary: Iran claims attacks on strait of Hormuz ships amid fresh US strikes Welcome to our live coverage of the latest developments in the Middle East crisis. Iran attacked a tanker in the strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the ship, as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis announced they were imposing an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.
A Houthi official said the Bab al-Mandeb strait – at the southern end of the Red Sea, through which about 12% of the world’s trade usually passes – would be closed to the Saudis in response to the kingdom’s “unjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 years”.
Saudi Arabia said it would take “all necessary measures to protect its vessels in accordance with international law”. A 10 consecutive night of US airstrikes has not compelled Tehran to loosen its grip on the strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.
But even as Iran’s president said the country had returned “full-scale war”, the Iranian interior minister travelled to Pakistan – a key mediator in the conflict – for talks. In key developments: The latest US strikes came hours after Donald Trump said Iran would pay “many times over” for killing US soldiers after multiple service members were killed in action over the weekend.
A tanker came under attack early Tuesday in the Hormuz strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed the attack as well as two other attacks on ships in the waterway on Monday.
The US military’s Central Command said its latest airstrikes were to “degrade” Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the strait and included hitting military command centres and missile and drone launch sites. Iranian media reported strikes in parts of the country including Bandar Abbas, Tabriz and Bushehr, home to the country’s only operational civilian nuclear power.
Iran’s launched attacks in response against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, which all host US forces. Oil prices softened after hitting their highest levels in more than a month in the previous session. Brent crude futures eased 0.4% to $88.87 a barrel by 0052 GMT on Tuesday while US West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery was steady at $82.
47 a barrel. Democrats have seized on the deaths of three US troops killed in Iranian strikes to urge Trump to urgently reverse his resumption of the war with Iran amid widespread anxiety over climbing casualties. The Lebanese army began taking charge of security in three southern villages, the US said, as a deal to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah faced its first test on the ground.
US forces struck the tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman on June 10, killing three Indian crew members when munitions hit the engine room and adjacent areas. Maritime tracking data indicate the vessel had transported Iranian oil under US sanctions for several years and conducted offshore transfers prior to the strike.
The US military described the action as a precision operation, while reports note the ship was stationary at the time.