Iran calls for reducing dependence on the USD
On August 21 (Tehéran time), according to TASS news agency, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called on countries to abandon dependence on the USD in trade and increase the use of the domestic currency in payments.
The era of US global hegemony has ended, but we have not fully utilized this and continue to use outdated methods in trade," Mr. Ghalibaf said.
Speaking at an economic forum in Baghdad, Mr. Ghalibaf said that the use of USD in trade is an outdated payment method, and also noted that the geopolitical role of the Middle East continues to be of particular significance.
According to Mr. Ghalibaf, this corridor passes through countries that Iran calls "resistance axes", and is an important factor in the geopolitical structure as well as the strength and independence of the region.
IEA warns of energy crisis around the Strait of Hormuz
The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Mr. Fatih Birol, said that the situation around the Strait of Hormuz is becoming a major energy crisis. He likened the impact of this crisis to a "broken vase", saying that even if the shipping route is reopened, the international energy market will hardly return to its previous state.
According to Mr. Birol, the amount of oil and gas interrupted due to transportation through the Strait of Hormuz decreased sharply after the US-Iran conflict broke out at the end of February 2026. The volume of transportation through this maritime route previously was about 25 million barrels of oil per day, but now it has decreased to about 15 million barrels, at times fluctuating from 12-17 million barrels/day.
Mr. Birol said that 3 geopolitical factors will continue to shape the energy market in the coming time, including the conflict in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East and around Iran, and competition for artificial intelligence and technology between the US and China.
10 African countries increase border control over Ebola
10 countries in East, Central and South Africa have strengthened health control at borders in the face of the risk of Ebola spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to TASS citing Tanzania's The Citizen newspaper.
The program lasts 6 months, focusing on 33 border gates and 16 key trade and transport corridors in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Angola, Malawi and Mozambique.
Countries will assess border control capacity, organize exercises, develop response plans and apply unified screening procedures. Digital epidemiological surveillance, movement control, hygiene and testing capacity are also strengthened.
According to data as of August 19, the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 5,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,500 deaths.
