live U.S.-Iran standoff continues as Hormuz shipping and diplomacy remain uncertain
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Arab Fund have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalize a strategic partnership focused on advancing sustainable infrastructure in shared priority regions.
The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain, and was officiated by AIIB President Jin Liqun and Arab Fund Chairman and Director General Bader M. Alsaad.
"Our partnership with the Arab Fund represents a significant milestone in our shared commitment to sustainable development. By combining AIIB's infrastructure expertise with the Arab Fund's deep regional knowledge, we can deliver transformative projects that address the most pressing connectivity and climate challenges," said President Jin in the joint statement.
The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration between AIIB and the Arab Fund across sovereign and non-sovereign co-financing, joint project preparation, and strategic priorities including climate resilience, cross-border connectivity, and digital infrastructure, and sustainable urban development.
"This significant partnership with AIIB will enable us to achieve our mission of financing sustainable development across the Arab region, aligning directly with the SDGs. Through this collaboration we will mobilize vital resources and strengthen our support for strategic infra-related initiatives, ultimately contributing to a more prosperous and sustainable future,” added Bader M. Alsaad, Chairman and Director General of the Arab Fund.
This partnership underscores both institutions’ commitment to deepening collaboration with regional development partners and advancing innovative, demand-driven approaches to financing sustainable infrastructure for the future.
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
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