Interview UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable' Abdulla Balalaa, UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, spoke to Al-Monitor about the situation in the Gulf along with the UAE's focus on promoting privatization in the water sector and the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Analysis What is Iran really willing to concede on its nuclear program? Iran’s current posture accepts short-term, reversible constraints while rejecting long-term limits on enrichment. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
'The reach is global': Pentagon vows pursuit of ships tied to Iran trade A top admiral said the US Navy will pursue any vessels "providing material support to Iran" anywhere in the world. United States
Sharaa distances Syria from Iran war, says Israel talks ongoing: What to know Negotiations with Israel "have not reached a dead end, but they are progressing with great difficulty” Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Syria
Analysis How long can Iran's economy weather US naval blockade? By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Israel's defense chief: Iran has enough uranium for five nuclear bombs On an official visit in Greece, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warns against Iran’s continued efforts to advance its nuclear program. Israel
Prisoners’ families appeal to Biden as Iran tensions heat up Their families’ pleas come as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high over Tehran’s rapidly accelerating nuclear program, its violent protest crackdown and supply of armed drones to Russia. Iran
Iran's SAIPA signs $497 million car deal with Russia, Belarus Iranian carmaker SAIPA will export vehicles to Belarus and Russia following a similar agreement with Venezuela. Iran
Iran's IRGC seizes second oil tanker in Gulf waters in six days, says US Navy The incident happened off UAE coast of Fujairah and involved a Panama-flagged Niovi vessel. Iran
Iran-India meeting in Tehran focuses on de-dollarization, averting sanctions Iran urged India to launch a rial-rupee mechanism in bilateral trade, as the Islamic Republic pursues the "look to the East" policy as a strategy to mitigate the onerous impacts of US sanctions on its oil-dependent economy. Iran
Iran steps up hijab crackdown on women, shuttering businesses In Iran's capital Tehran, some 150 such shops have been forced to close by authorities in the past two weeks alone. Iran
Iran IRGC unit hit with US sanctions for hostage-taking The sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization come as several Americans remained unlawfully jailed in the country. Iran
Iran FM in Lebanon, urges vote on president without 'foreign interference' Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Lebanese officials as the country faces a deepening political and economic crisis. Lebanon
Iran's IRGC seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman Open-source reports indicated the Advantage Sweet was bound for Houston, Texas, when the United States said it was seized by Iran's IRGC navy on Thursday afternoon. Iran
Iranian senior cleric Soleimani killed in attack The shooting occurred as anti-clerical sentiments are high in Iran amid the popular protests, but the motive behind the attack is not yet known. Iran
In Iran, hardliners successfully orchestrate takeover of state TV Iran's state TV has been taken over by hard-line figures who use it to transmit ideological and hard-line views targeting the Reformists and opposition, including in entertainment shows. Iran
Iran hard-liners lash out at shah Pahlavi's son over Israel visit Reza Pahlavi's trip to Israel and his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be part of his campaign to garner support for regime change in Iran, as the opposition camps were scrambling for unity. Iran
