Bloomberg Editor - covering Middle East and North Africa politics and economics. Also johnhbowker on Letterboxd if you like films. Previously in Johannesburg, Moscow https://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3mtsvhuer522yIran's oil shipments to Asia have all but dried up, mostly due to the success of the US naval blockade. Washington is set to announce further economic measures later on Monday. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-24/iran-oil-cargoes-dry-up-even-before-us-acts-on-tehran-threats24 Aug 2026 08:34 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtsvhuer522yhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3mg3q2r7pzc23Good stuff here on what may happen in Iran following Khamenei's death. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-01/iran-switches-to-survival-mode-after-killing-of-khamenei02 Mar 2026 16:59 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3q2r7pzc23https://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3mbyxn2krys2thttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-08/saudi-arabia-moves-to-rein-in-uae-after-yemen-exposes-rivalry?sref=shdJICDy09 Jan 2026 16:55 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbyxn2krys2thttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3mbyxlo5sd22thttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-09/iran-threatens-protesters-with-death-penalty-as-crackdown-grows?srnd=homepage-uk&sref=shdJICDy09 Jan 2026 16:55 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbyxlo5sd22thttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3luz4ezsyp22ihttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-27/iran-forcing-out-afghans-en-masse-after-israel-spying-claims?sref=shdJICDy28 Jul 2025 07:53 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3luz4ezsyp22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3loierjg4j22lLatest on Israel's campaign in Gaza, including details on the aid blockade and Trump's first public comments in weeks. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-05/israel-vows-to-step-up-gaza-fighting-ahead-of-trump-s-gulf-trip?sref=shdJICDy06 May 2025 07:37 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3loierjg4j22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lnxl6hqnbk2fLatest on Putin's demands for a Ukraine agreement -- top scoop by my colleagues: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-29/war-in-ukraine-latest-putin-insists-on-territory-seizure-in-blow-to-trump?sref=shdJICDy29 Apr 2025 15:16 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnxl6hqnbk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lnwvtqmzw22uIran is offering investment opportunities to Trump as part of ongoing nuclear talks. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-28/iran-dangles-trillion-dollar-incentive-for-trump-in-deal-talks?sref=shdJICDy29 Apr 2025 08:54 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnwvtqmzw22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3ll4thbfwxc22Excellent standback on what's happening in Turkey, should you need to catch up: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-24/turkey-erdogan-bets-nato-allies-will-turn-a-blind-eye-to-turmoil?sref=shdJICDy24 Mar 2025 13:12 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3ll4thbfwxc22https://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lk47yd6hhk2zImportant scoop on the chances of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-11/western-officials-say-putin-knows-his-ukraine-terms-won-t-be-met?sref=shdJICDy11 Mar 2025 13:58 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk47yd6hhk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3ljnb7wlebs26Our mapping analysis of what Gaza looks like now - with about 40% of buildings standing. People are returning north with a fragile ceasefire holding, setting up camps of tents among the ruins. I worked out how to gift this! - Thanks @carlacanivete.bsky.social https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-gaza-damage-assessment/?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc0MTE4NzM5MiwiZXhwIjoxNzQxNzkyMTkyLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTU05MR1hEV0xVNjgwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwRjk4NzY3Nzc3Rjk0NDM1QTVBOThEQTA0QzJDN0E0MCJ9.Xs4VAezOu0MUgz1JIq-dUSFHSmkqYOUrtNOdh5d-wgw05 Mar 2025 15:10 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljnb7wlebs26https://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3liwoytaais27Explainer here on the future of Gaza. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-24/gaza-s-future-why-trump-s-us-takeover-arab-plan-both-face-challenges24 Feb 2025 15:46 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3liwoytaais27https://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3li5jbeydv22dA look at Saudi Arabia's role as the lynchpin of two major crises - Ukraine and Gaza. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-14/saudi-prince-mbs-steps-in-as-power-broker-in-trump-s-new-world-order?sref=shdJICDy14 Feb 2025 15:27 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3li5jbeydv22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3li4sau7wsc2jA report on the Trump-Putin call from the Russian side. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-13/putin-scored-a-win-with-trump-now-he-may-want-more-on-ukraine?sref=shdJICDy14 Feb 2025 08:35 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3li4sau7wsc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lhjdhddrxk23A report from Gaza, where hundreds of thousands are returning to destroyed homes and missing relatives. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/trump-call-for-gazans-to-depart-echoes-in-their-destroyed-homes?sref=shdJICDy06 Feb 2025 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhjdhddrxk23https://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lhiztemkpc2sSaudi Arabia will be critical in what happens next with the US, Israel and Gaza. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-05/saudi-crown-prince-mbs-torn-between-trump-and-his-people-on-possible-israel-deal?embedded-checkout=true06 Feb 2025 11:57 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhiztemkpc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lhh4s6vsqs2tA complex story. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-05/trump-idea-for-us-takeover-of-gaza-stokes-middle-east-divisions?sref=shdJICDy05 Feb 2025 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhh4s6vsqs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lhegc45q6c2jUseful -- and enjoyable -- piece now how Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum took on Trump, and why Trudeau finds it harder. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-04/mexico-s-sheinbaum-sets-tone-on-trump-tariff-negotations?sref=shdJICDy04 Feb 2025 15:57 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhegc45q6c2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lhdv3yu5u22jStory ahead of what could be a crucial meeting between Netanyahu and Trump at the White House today. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-04/netanyahu-readies-trump-white-house-meeting-with-gaza-ceasefire-at-crucial-stage?sref=shdJICDy04 Feb 2025 10:49 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhdv3yu5u22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnhbowker.bsky.social/post/3lh2kktmbok2xGreat reporting this from Jim as ever. The Prince Charles Cinema simply must be saved. [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Jan 2025 17:47 +0000at://did:plc:6r6ez6fdfdatjivdxtnxwam2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lh2kktmbok2x