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The Soyuz MS-15 rocket carrying three crew members of the International Space Station (ISS) blasts off to the ISS from the launch pad of the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 25, 2019.

Russia to launch 3 Iranian satellites into orbit this month: What to know

The upcoming launch will be the second time Russia’s Soyuz rockets have carried Iranian-made satellites into space.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on September 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump has signaled that the U.S. might lift a ban on F-35 sales to Turkey during Erdogan's first visit to the White House since 2019. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Turkey, US push toward $100B trade goal as Bolat heads to Washington

Bilateral trade between the United States and Turkey reached almost $43 billion in 2024, according to the US trade representative.

rabbi

Culture

In first, Syria approves restoration of Jewish property, synagogues

The new organization is the latest sign of Damascus’ outreach to Syria's dwindled Jewish community.

Syrian Kurds, fleeing from north of Aleppo, arrive in Tabqa, on the western outskirts of Raqa, on Dec. 4, 2024.

Feature

Kurds from Syria's Afrin languish in camps as Sharaa, SDF remain unreconciled

One year after Assad’s fall, displaced Kurds from Afrin remain in camps such as Azadi, facing harsh conditions, property disputes and an uncertain future amid stalled talks with Damascus and ongoing Turkish-backed faction activity.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Analysis

Five ways Turkey could get back into US F-35 fighter jet program

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter takes off during an air show at the Teknofest festival at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Sept. 17, 2019.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

UAE, Russia host first joint business forum despite Ukraine war sanctions

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan walk at the Kremlin following their talks in Moscow on August 7, 2025. (Photo by Gavriil Grigorov / POOL / AFP) (Photo by GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

Lebanon's FM snubs Iran, turns down invitation to visit Tehran: What to know

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji visits the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, on October 24, 2025, touring border villages and the Blue Line aboard a UNIFIL helicopter as part of efforts to assess the security situation along the frontier. (Photo by Courtney Bonneau / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by COURTNEY BONNEAU/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Three IRGC members killed near Iran-Pakistan border: What to know

A motorcyclist rides past a banner with the portraits of (L-R) Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, welcoming Iran's president during his state visit in Islamabad on August 2, 2025. (Photo by Farooq NAEEM / AFP) (Photo by FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP via Getty Images)

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U.S. forces abseil onto an oil tanker during a raid described by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as its seizure by the United States off the coast of Venezuela, December 10, 2025, in a still image from video. U.S. Attorney General/Handout via REUTERS

Exclusive-US preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuela's coast after first ship taken, sources say

Reuters

AFP journalist Dylan Collins speaks about his experience of being wounded during an Israeli attack on a group of reporters in southern Lebanon on October 13, 2023

US lawmakers press Israel to probe strike on reporters in Lebanon

Agence France-Presse

Storm Byron's heavy winter rains swept across Gaza, flooding tents and makeshift shelters

Winter storm brings fresh hardship to displaced Gazans

Agence France-Presse

Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos speaks to media after a meeting with Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca, Cyprus June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

Turning screws on Russia should not impact legitimate maritime sector, say Cyprus and Malta

Reuters

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Adam Lucente, Elizabeth Hagedorn and Beatrice Farhat

The Al-Monitor Brief

As Muslim Brotherhood responds to Trump, what would terror designation mean for Lebanon, Israel and the Middle East?

Adam Lucente interviews Beatrice Farhat, Elizabeth Hagedorn and Rina Bassist

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What’s next for Israel and Lebanon after Hezbollah commander killed?

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Yazidis shunned Iraq’s corrupt practices and scored a historic win in parliamentary elections

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ALM Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

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Interview

وزیر امور خارجه می‌گوید ایران پیام‌های پشتیبان آمریکا را درباره خطر جنگ منطقه‌ای گسترده‌تر ارسال کرد

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian listens to a question during a press conference with his Saudi counterpart (not pictured) in Tehran, on June 17, 2023.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Foreign Minister of Iran

Interview

رئیس سابق اطلاعات اسرائیل: بایدن به نتانیاهو بی اعتماد است و تشدید تنش در ایران بعید است

Amos Yadlin

Amos Yadlin

Former Head of Israeli Military Intelligence

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, Manama, Bahrain, Dec. 5, 2020.

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

ایران از پیشروی ترکیه برای کردها و افزایش نقش در سوریه و عراق ابراز نگرانی کرد

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) meets with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) in Tehran, on July 19, 2022.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Analysis

IPO های خاورمیانه در سال 2024 می درخشند اما با چالش های جدیدی روبرو هستند

A man watches stock movements on a display at the Dubai Financial Market stock exchange in the Gulf emirate on April 12, 2022.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

ترامپ بر آتش بس روسیه و اوکراین پس از سقوط اسد تاکید می کند

This combination of pictures created on Feb. 21, 2020 shows US President Donald Trump delivering remarks at a Keep America Great rally in Phoenix, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2020. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony in Jerusalem on Jan. 23, 2020 commemorating the people of Leningrad during the Second World War Nazi siege on the city.

Andrew Parasiliti

By Andrew Parasiliti

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Analysis

بحران هسته ای ایران: چین و روسیه طرفدار گفتگو هستند، اما آیا آنها به دنبال راه حل هستند؟

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) welcomes Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov (L), and Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazeem Gharibabadi, before a meeting regarding the Iranian nuclear issue on March 14, 2025.

Amberin Zaman, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Danny Makki, Joyce Karam in a virtual discussion on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Washington

Syria's Sharaa in Washington

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1:00:44

Joe Snell

Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

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Amberin Zaman in Damascus

Amberin Zaman Reports from Damascus

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Elizabeth Hagedorn at UNGA in New York

Elizabeth Hagedorn Reporting from UNGA in New York

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آمبرین زمان

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

اندرو پاراسیلیتی

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

راشا ابو جلال

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

خبرنگار المنیتور در تهران

In Tehran, reporting on politics