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European Companies Continue to Withdraw from Iran

Daimler AG sign is pictured at the IAA truck show in Hanover, Germany. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
Daimler AG sign is pictured at the IAA truck show in Hanover, Germany. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
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European Companies Continue to Withdraw from Iran

Daimler AG sign is pictured at the IAA truck show in Hanover, Germany. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
Daimler AG sign is pictured at the IAA truck show in Hanover, Germany. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Major companies have continued to withdraw from Iran despite the European Union’s announcement that the blocking statute entered into force on August 7, to protect EU companies doing legitimate business with Iran from the impact of US extra-territorial sanctions.

Germany's multinational automotive corporation, Daimler AG, said on Tuesday that it had suspended all activities in Iran in connection to the reimposition of US sanctions that target companies doing business with Iran.

"We have ceased our already restricted activities in Iran in accordance with the applicable sanctions", Daimler said in a statement.

“We will continue to closely monitor the political developments, especially in connection with the future of the nuclear agreement," it added.

Daimler's move put a sudden end to its plans to expand its activities Iran, where it had signed a cooperation agreement with two local companies to assemble Mercedes Benz trucks.

The company added that the Iranian economy and the country's automobile market were developing much weaker than expected, and Daimler AG had not managed to resume the sale of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks in Iran.

Daimler had signed letters of intent with joint venture partners in Iran in January 2016 as part of the German truck maker’s re-entry into the Iranian market after economic sanctions were lifted under the 2015 international agreement that sought to limit the country's nuclear program.

Daimler confirmed in its statement that it has not yet started manufacturing or selling its trucks in Iran, nor is it selling any of its vehicles in the Iranian market.

The company’s withdrawal came few days after CEO Henrik Henriksson said Scania had canceled all orders that it could not deliver by mid August as anything after would have been hit by the new sanctions.

Scania was one of the first truck companies to return to Iran after the EU lifted sanctions in early 2016.

US President Donald Trump's May withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal led Washington to reimpose sanctions on Iran on Tuesday. The second tranche kicks in on November 5.

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Hazardous Materials Incident Prompts Pentagon Lockdown

FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, US, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, US, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
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Hazardous Materials Incident Prompts Pentagon Lockdown

FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, US, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, US, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

A hazardous materials incident put the Pentagon on lockdown on Thursday as fire officials investigated the air quality issue, defense and fire officials said.

"The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants. Those systems have detected an air quality issue ⁠necessitating precautionary measures ⁠until we determine its significance," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in an email.

"The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area. Response teams are ⁠in place and ready to support building occupants."

The building was under lockdown, with people evacuated from several floors, CNN reported, citing unidentified sources. Floors two through five in corridors four through seven have been locked down, CNN said, citing two sources.

Another source reported seeing emergency responders were wearing full gas ⁠masks ⁠and chemical protection suits, CNN said.

A message sent by the Pentagon’s security team said additional testing was needed to determine the source of the problem, according to CNN.

The five-sided Pentagon building, hit during the Sept. 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks is one of the world's largest office buildings.

World

China Sanctions Philippine Defense Chief for 'Irresponsible Remarks'

Philippines' Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr speaks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia
Philippines' Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr speaks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia
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China Sanctions Philippine Defense Chief for 'Irresponsible Remarks'

Philippines' Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr speaks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia
Philippines' Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr speaks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia

China announced on Thursday sanctions against the Philippines' defence minister over "irresponsible remarks", escalating tensions between Beijing and Manila as they grapple with maritime disputes.

Gilberto Teodoro and his spouse and child will be banned from entering China's mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, an unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson said in an online statement.

It added that "organizations and individuals in China" will not be allowed to "engage in any transaction, cooperation or other activities with him and his spouse and child".

Teodoro's rhetoric "undermines China's legitimate interests and sabotages China-Philippines relations", the statement said, without specifying which remarks it was referring to.

The two countries have in recent years often dealt with flare-ups in ongoing confrontations in the disputed South China Sea.

Beijing claims the strategic waterway nearly in its entirety, despite an international ruling that said its assertions are baseless.

China regularly deploys navy and coast guard vessels to bar the Philippines from important reefs and islands in the area.

At a summit in Singapore last month, Teodoro criticised Beijing's activities in the disputed waters, saying Manila "will not sacrifice our territorial integrity and sovereignty".

Asked last week about Teodoro's remarks at the summit, Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that he "is known to vilify China".

"All he cares is selfish personal gains to the point that he would perform political theatrics even when people's well-being is at stake," Mao said.

World

UK Defense Minister John Healey Announces Shock Resignation

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey walks outside 10 Downing Street, on the day of a cabinet meeting, in London, Britain, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey walks outside 10 Downing Street, on the day of a cabinet meeting, in London, Britain, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
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UK Defense Minister John Healey Announces Shock Resignation

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey walks outside 10 Downing Street, on the day of a cabinet meeting, in London, Britain, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey walks outside 10 Downing Street, on the day of a cabinet meeting, in London, Britain, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

British Defense Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday, in a shock move which he blamed on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry failing to commit sufficient resources to defense investment.

His announcement is a fresh blow to Starmer and comes at a politically charged moment for the embattled Labor leader, a week before a by-election which could prompt a bid to topple and replace him.

Healey's sudden departure comes after months of delays to a long-awaited Defense Investment Plan (DIP) for funding over the next decade, which he has said would fall far short of what had been requested.

Starmer has pledged to raise defense spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product from next year, increasing to three percent in the next parliament.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged NATO countries to spend more and become less reliant on Washington for security.

"You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats," Healey wrote in a resignation letter to Starmer posted on his X account.

"After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our Forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation."

Starmer is facing political peril in next Thursday's contest when Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is standing for the Makerfield parliamentary seat and has said that he would participate in any Labour leadership race, although none has yet been triggered.

Healey has been previously talked about as another potential contender, but there has been no suggestion his resignation is linked to the leadership speculation.

British media has for weeks been reporting on behind-the-scenes battles within the government over the DIP settlement.

Starmer's centre-left government, elected in July 2024 following 14 years of Conservative rule, has kickstarted its pledge to ramp up defense spending, with priority given to NATO commitments.

But the publication of its defense investment plan to plug a longer-term shortfall in investment was first expected back in late 2025 and has been pushed back -- to the frustration of industry and others.

It was expected to be announced next week, according to reports earlier Thursday.

In his letter, Healey said he was first given full sight of the DIP on Monday, revealing that it "falls well short of what is required for defense and the country at this dangerous time".

"Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe."