Iran’s IRGC begins naval drills in Strait of Hormuz on eve of US-Iran talks The drills come as a second US carrier is heading to the region amid US President Trump’s threats to use military force if Tehran does not agree to restrictions on its nuclear program during indirect negotiations mediated by Oman. Iran
Analysis How Iran harnesses digital repression, China tech ties to quash dissent Though Iran’s street protests have largely subsided, the struggle has shifted to the digital front, where a complex infrastructure of servers, satellites and centralized controls is being used to stifle dissent. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
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. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Iran fires TV director over 'Death to Khamenei' blunder: What to know Iranian authorities have stepped up their crackdown on journalists who covered the recent anti-regime protests. Iran
Analysis Moving Iran talks from Turkey to Oman deepens Ankara’s PKK concerns By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis From 'help is on the way' to nuclear talks, Iranians wary of Trump's shift By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Rouhani faces winter of Iran's discontent Iran’s hard-liners have already secured a takeover of the parliament in elections this month; Trump says any negotiations are totally up to Iran. United States
Europe worries as Trump seems to lose interest in new Iran deal Europeans with embassies on the ground disagree with the belief by Donald Trump administration officials that the Iranian regime is on the brink of collapse, and that the administration can wait for Iran to surrender to a long US wish list. United States
Qaim residents fearful following conflict between US, Iran-backed militias Recent US attacks on positions along the Syrian border held by Iran-linked armed groups — some of whom are on the Iraqi government payroll — have led to insecurity among local residents, who had been seeing improvements in their lives. Iraq
The Reformist push for Rouhani's resignation Iran's Reformists have proposed that President Hassan Rouhani step down, but, surprisingly, hard-liners have opposed the idea. Iran
Iran's top cultural event jeopardized by artist boycotts Following a series of announced boycotts, including by the Iranian director Massoud Kimiai, this year's Fajr International Film Festival announced the cancellation of its opening ceremony in a gesture of solidarity with the families of the people killed when Iran-fired missiles struck a Ukrainian airliner. Iran
Protests break out in Iran after admission of accidental plane downing Protests erupted in Iran after the government admitted, after three days of denial, that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane; some of the demonstrations arose out of vigils for the victims. United States
Iranian city hit by flood mismanagement, mystery deaths A renewed debate on crisis mismanagement is gripping Iran after four patients died at a hospital's Intensive Care Unit due to a power blackout caused by lightning and heavy downpours. Iran
Intel: How Iranian influence operations are receiving new scrutiny in Washington The Senate is poised to follow the House lead in passing legislation to create a center to monitor Iranian, Russian, Chinese and North Korean efforts to sway US public opinion. Congress
Hard-line paper asks for answers on those killed in Iran protests The silence of Iranian officials regarding the number of those killed in the November protests has concerned even hard-line media. Iran
Is Iran's long-serving speaker retiring from politics? Iran's parliament speaker said he is not running in February's parliamentary elections and also does not plan to run for president in 2021; these statements brought jubilation to the camp of his hard-line rivals and triggered debate as to what his next steps might be. Iran
Trump condemns Iran protest crackdown, stays mum on Oman, French mediation efforts President Donald Trump, responding to a reporter’s question in London, said the United States does not support the protesters in Iran before he later clarified his answer and castigated the Iranian government. Saudi Arabia
How Iran's hard-liners tried to ride wave of protests Iran's hard-liners say they had nothing to do with the fuel price hike that has prompted Iranian protests. Iran
