AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

'No fear': Pope Leo pushes against Trump attacks as he lands in Algeria

President Donald Trump has escalated against the first American pontiff over his criticism of the Israel-US war in Iran.

Iran

As US blockades Hormuz, China urges restraint, rejects call to ditch Iran oil

Beijing and Ankara called for calm as the US began its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as regional diplomacy over the fragile ceasefire intensifies.

Iran

Oil back above $100 as US moves to blockade Strait of Hormuz

Soaring energy prices can be expected to remain volatile while the US begins its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran

Analysis

US blockade on Iran’s oil begins amid unclear enforcement, energy shock fears

The move threatens to cut off roughly 2 million barrels per day of Iranian crude exports, but key questions remain as the operation begins.

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

FILE PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives from the Blue Room to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Trump says US to start blockading the Strait of Hormuz immediately

Reuters

Latest News

Analysis

In talks with Lebanon, Israel seeking guarantees to contain Hezbollah

NABATIEH, LEBANON - APRIL 08: Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in the city center on April 08, 2026 in Nabatieh, Lebanon. Israel has stepped-up its attacks on Lebanon following President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, conditional on shipping being allowed to resume through the Strait of Hormuz. Israel says it will observe the ceasefire with Iran but insists Lebanon was not included in the deal, and has since launched the "largest coordinated strik

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

UK and France to co-host talks this week on possible defensive naval mission for Hormuz

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson/Pool/File Photo

Analysis

Inside Turkey’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) walks with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on June 1, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Trump says US forces are 'clearing' Strait of Hormuz

FILE PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Get unlimited access for as little as $2/week.

The most authoritative roundup for Middle East news everyday on site, app and your inbox.

See Offers

Subscriber-Only Benefits

Our Independent Journalism | No agendas. No influences. Just factual stories.
The Daily Briefing | Intelligent, concise insights—delivered daily.
Unlimited Access | Reporting & analysis—without paywalls.

Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem gives a televised speech from an unknown location in this still image obtained from a video released December 5, 2025. Al Manar TV/REUTERS TV/via REUTERS

Hezbollah chief urges Lebanese government to cancel Washington talks with Israel

Reuters

Protracted Hormuz crisis could trigger agrifood catastrophe, UN food agency says

Reuters

A post on U.S. President Donald Trump's Truth Social account depicts an AI-generated image of himself apparently as Jesus posted on April 12, 2026. @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social/Handout via REUTERS THIS AI-GENERATED IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENT

Trump posts AI image of himself as Jesus-like figure, drawing outrage

Reuters

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, March 31, 2026. Press Information Department (PID)/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

China calls US-Iran ceasefire 'very fragile', urges unified opposition to escalation

Reuters

Featured Newsletters

Editor's choice

Three stories hand-picked by our editorial team.

Expert insight on the Middle East—delivered regularly

Read By

See all newsletters

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Ukraine is becoming the Gulf's new shield against Iran, says Yevgeniya Gaber

Yevgeniya Gaber joins Amberin Zaman

9 April, 4:24 PM ET

16:32

Adam Lucente, Jared Szuba and Beatrice Farhat

The AL-MONITOR Brief

Israel and Lebanon to hold talks after US-Iran ceasefire: What’s next?

Beatrice Farhat, Jared Szuba, Rina Bassist joins Adam Lucente

9 April, 5:27 PM ET

17:42

The AL-MONITOR Brief

What alternatives to Hormuz do Gulf energy producers have?

Samuel Wendel joins Adam Lucente

6 April, 8:39 PM ET

11:24

Interviews

Exclusive conversations with AL-MONITOR.

See All

Interview

Yadlin: Israel's war goal to weaken Iran, not immediate regime change

Retired Israeli general and executive director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies Amos Yadlin attends a session at the Manama Dialogue security conference in the Bahraini capital, on Dec. 5, 2020.

Interview

Huckabee confirms US-Israel alignment on Iran, says Hamas will disarm 'sooner or later'

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, US President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to Israel, testifies during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, March 25, 2025.

Interview

AI, cybersecurity high on Mideast priorities amid global tech rivalry: Tech Mahindra

A man and woman walk along a promenade overlooking the Burj al-Arab and Dubai skyline on January 4, 2025. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Interview

Ex-Israeli security official: Netanyahu pushed US, Israel into Iran war without imminent threat

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Egypt eyes energy breakthroughs as Iran war deepens gas crunch

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Inside Turkey’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

In talks with Lebanon, Israel seeking guarantees to contain Hezbollah

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

US blockade on Iran’s oil begins amid unclear enforcement, energy shock fears

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Joyce Karam, Randa Slim, Hamidreza Azizi, Hasan Alhasan

Iran War at One Month: Outlook and Implications

Play Video

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sits across from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy capitalizes on Iran war to ink security deal with Saudi Arabia

Play Video

Joe Snell appears on a street wearing a black jacket; in the frame next to it, a woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a black blazer appears on a laptop screen from a Zoom meeting.

French ISIS Member Convicted of Genocide Against Yazidis

Play Video

Ezgi Akin at Turkey's Kapikoy border crossing

AL-MONITOR's Ezgi Akin at Turkey-Iran Border Crossing

Play Video

AL-MONITOR Live Journalism

Convening global leaders in business, policy and media.

See All

Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts food security forum with Dr. Conrad Rein

On October 16, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, alongside representatives from multilateral development banks and the private sector for a discussion on food security in the Middle East and Africa.

Washington, DC

October 16, 2025 11:00 EDT

Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya

On Sept. 21, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, for a discussion on digital inclusion and economic empowerment in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

New York, NY

September 21, 2025 17:00 EDT

Past

Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at AL-Monitor Global Institute

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

On May 22, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC to discuss the future of power and energy in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Washington, DC

May 22, 2025 10:30 EDT

Our Journalists

See All

Latest News

Get unlimited access for as little as $2/week.

Subscriber-Only Benefits

Featured Newsletters

Select your cities and get the latest in the arts, music and entertainment.

Editor's choice

Expert insight on the Middle East—delivered regularly

Read By

Audio

Interviews

The City Pulse Newsletters

Analysis

Videos

AL-MONITOR Live Journalism

Our Journalists