Iran Deal

This handout photo made available by the Iranian Army Office on March 11, 2025 shows the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer Baotou (133) during joint military drills between Iran, Russia, and China in the Gulf of Oman.

Iran, Russia hold naval drills as Araghchi briefs Saudi FM on nuclear talks

There are increasing indications a US military strike could be on the horizon as momentum toward a new Iran nuclear deal stalls.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a visit to the Fort Bragg US Army base on Feb. 13, 2026 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Hopes for nuclear deal fade as US, Iran cling to red lines

President Trump is unlikely to approve a limited nuclear agreement that would invite comparisons to the 2015 deal he once scorned.

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

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

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Al-Monitor in an interview that the 2025 strike on Iranian nuclear sites was only a preview of what the US military is capable of.

A picture taken on November 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start works on a second reactor at the facility.

Russia doubles down on Iran nuclear cooperation as US talks inch forward

Moscow’s energy minister said Russia is currently building equipment for new units at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant.

Latest News

Analysis

Military posturing alongside fragile diplomacy: What’s next for US-Iran talks?

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (3rd L) and Switzerland's Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (2nd R) attend a bilateral meeting between Switzerland and Iran during a second round of US-Iranian talks with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear program, in Geneva on Feb. 17, 2026.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Russia, China, Iran to hold joint naval drills in Strait of Hormuz: What to know

A missile launches from IRIS Sabalan, an Alvand-class frigate of the Iranian Navy, during the Velayat 91 drill in the Gulf of Oman on January 1, 2013. The Velayat 91 drill is a sixday Iranian naval exercise held in late December 2012 and early January 2013 across the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, and the northern Indian Ocean to test naval readiness and secure strategic waterways. (Photo by Mohammadali Najib / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Iran FM says agreement on 'guiding principles' reached in talks with US

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivers a speech during a session of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, on the sideline of a second round of US-Iranian talks with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear program, in Geneva, on Feb. 17, 2026.

Iran’s IRGC begins naval drills in Strait of Hormuz on eve of US-Iran talks

Small boats loaded with merchandise sail past the St Kitt's and Nevis-flagged container ship Marsa Victory in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in the northern Musandam Peninsula, Oman, June 25, 2025.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) and Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi on a flight to Muscat, Oman, to participate in talks with the US over Tehran's nuclear program, Feb. 5, 2026.

Analysis

Inside Iran's negotiating team: Araghchi, Takht-Ravanchi pursue tactical engagement

As cautious diplomacy between Tehran and Washington inches forward following the first round in Oman, attention is turning to the men tasked with navigating one of the Middle East's most consequential negotiations.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.

Analysis

Netanyahu 'skeptical' as Trump doubles down on Iran diplomacy

President Trump says he’d prefer a deal but warns of "traumatic” consequences for Iran if diplomacy fails.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

A handout photo made available by Iran's Supreme National Security Council office shows Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani (C) arriving in Muscat, Oman, on Feb. 10, 2026.

Iran’s Larijani in Qatar, meets Hamas leadership: What to know

Qatar and Oman have played a vital role in mediating between Iran and the United States to avoid military confrontation that would spill over to the rest of the region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a press statement with his French counterpart in Ankara, on Jan. 27, 2026.

Fidan: Iran nuclear breakout could drag Turkey into regional arms race

The top Turkish diplomat said an Iranian nuclear breakout could push Ankara into a nuclear race but declined to say whether Turkey would pursue its own nuclear weapons.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump (R) as U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum (2L) and Kathryn Burgum (2R) look on in the Oval Office at the White House on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to coordinate a federal government response to drug addiction. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Analysis

Fearing Iran deal, Netanyahu races to US to sway Trump, sidestep Witkoff

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is flying to Washington to persuade President Donald Trump not to forget Iran's ballistic missile project and its proxies in the talks with Tehran.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

03/04/2021 Asalouyeh, Iran. A view of refinery No. 2 (Phases 2, 3) of the? South Pars Gas-Condensate field in Asalouyeh Seaport, north of the Persian? Gulf in Iran.The South Pars Gas-Condensate field, the world's largest natural gas field, is shared with Qatar (North Dome) (Photo by Saeid Arabzadeh / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by SAEID ARABZADEH/Middle East Images /AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

New nuclear deal is no silver bullet for Iran's untapped gas reserves

Iran has an estimated 32 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, but it has been unable to exploit them under the weight of international sanctions.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Iran’s Minister of Defense Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh arrives in Baku, Feb. 6, 2026.

After Israel's FM visit, Iran defense chief in Azerbaijan, meets Aliyev

Iran and Azerbaijan remain at odds over the latter’s close ties with Israel in defense and energy.

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Iranian FM says US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman 'a good start'

Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, said the two sides agreed to continue talks but would first consult with their capitals.

An Iranian man walks past an anti-US and anti-Israel banner hanging on a building in Palestine Square in Tehran on Jan. 27, 2026.

Analysis

From 'help is on the way' to nuclear talks, Iranians wary of Trump's shift

After Trump repeatedly pledged to hold Tehran accountable for its protest crackdown, many Iranians are still waiting for him to make good on his promises.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, attends a meeting with the diplomatic adviser to the French president, in the Iranian capital Tehran, on July 10, 2019.

Iran names Ali Shamkhani head of Defense Council: What to know

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime security official, recently dismissed the idea of sending enriched uranium abroad and expressed a degree of hope about the upcoming negotiations with the US.

(L-R) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Chinese Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi hold a press conference after their meeting in Beijing on March 14, 2025.

Iran dispatches senior official to China amid talks push with US

Ahead of his trip to Beijing, Kazem Gharibabadi met with the Russian ambassador to Iran on Tuesday.

Rubio

Rubio says talks with Iran should address missiles, proxies

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Al-Monitor the venue and format of the upcoming talks are “still being worked through.”