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

Iran cover image

Iran

May 3, 2026

Tehran 11:12 pm

24°C

Crops of wheat and barley in Terbol village on May 10, 2022, in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.

Analysis

MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers

Home to many of the world's largest wheat importers, the Middle East and North Africa face acute food security risks as the US-Israel-Iran war disrupts global fertilizer flows and pushes up prices.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Soldiers from Iran's land, navy, air force and special forces parade on the occasion of National Army Day in Tehran, capital of Iran on April 18, 2025, in Tehran, Iran.

Analysis

How Iran is rebuilding its bruised military as ceasefire masks recalibration

Iran is using the fragile truce to recover by blending redeployment and reverse engineering into broader preparedness for renewed conflict.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies during a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on April 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.

US sanctions Iran’s shadow banking channels moving oil proceeds from China

The latest sanctions come as the Trump administration weighs Iran's latest proposal to end the war.

Ibrahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Without exit strategy, Israel faces emboldened Hezbollah, limited options on Iran

While President Donald Trump remains undecided on striking Iran again, the Israeli military is sinking deeper into its Lebanon quagmire with a reinforced Hezbollah.

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

Latest News

Trump faces three paths ahead in Iran war as Hormuz standoff intensifies

This photo obtained by AFP from the Iranian news agency Tasnim shows an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boat allegedly taking part in an operation to seize ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, on April 21, 2026.

In defiant message, Iran’s Khamenei threatens US but appeals to Gulf

AFP via Getty Images

US blockade tests Iran's limits, but will global pain force Trump’s hand?

QESHM ISLAND, IRAN - APRIL 28: Boats navigate the sea on April 28, 2026 on Qeshm Island, Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's latest proposal for ending its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz calls on the United States to end its naval blockade of Iran's ports, and sets aside questions about what to do with Iran's nuclear program. The United States has not formally responded to the latest proposal, which was delivered by Iran's foreign minister to Pakistan two days ago. (Photo by Asghar Besharati/Getty Images

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

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

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Benjamin Houghton

In Durham, reporting on China in the Middle East

Rahim Rahimov

In Baku, reporting on Middle East-Caucasus ties

Mehrnaz Samimi

In Washington, DC, reporting on Iranian culture

Iran mosque

Members of Iran’s parliament seek prosecution of Rouhani

Conservative members of Iran’s parliament are seeking a legal case against former President Hassan Rouhani over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis listens during a hearing with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

US says Iran-sponsored hackers targeting health, transportation sectors

US authorities and their British and Australian counterparts warned the hackers had exploited flaws in Microsoft Exchange and Fortinet “to target a broad range of victims" across critical US sectors.

FARS NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images

Oil pipeline reportedly explodes in Iran's Khuzestan region

Tasnim news agency reported the blast "caused small tremors" but no casualties.

JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images

Iran increases enriched uranium, prevents inspector access, says IAEA

Confidential International Atomic Energy Agency reports have revealed Iran is still restricting inspectors' access to Karaj, where The Wall Street Journal reports the production of advanced centrifuges has resumed.

Iran parliament

Iran parliament rejects Raisi's pick for education minister

Despite its close alliance with the hard-line president, the parliament seemed to have bowed to public arguments that the nominee was unfit for the key post.

Director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi.

Iran says IAEA director to visit soon

Iran has presented its case ahead of the nuclear talks.

Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps march during the annual military parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the Iraq-Iran War, Tehran, Iran, Sept. 22, 2018.

IRGC Syria commander removed 'upon request from Assad'

The future of Iran’s presence in Syria seems to be dividing the Syrian leadership.

The Iranian national flag is seen outside the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters during the agency's Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on March 1, 2021.

Iran negotiator says goal in Vienna is to undo 'illegal sanctions'

Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran on the latter’s nuclear program will resume on Nov. 29 after a five-month pause.

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian held in Iran since 2016.

UK urges Iranian deputy FM on jailed British nationals

The meeting between British officials and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani came nearly three weeks after Richard Ratcliffe launched a hunger strike to protest his wife's detention.

In this picture taken on Oct. 19, 2021, Afghans who were forcibly deported back from Iran to Afghanistan wait in a refugee office at the border between Afghanistan and Iran.

Iran deports thousands of Afghan refugees, UN agency says

In the last week of October, Iran sent back more than 28,000 Afghans who fled across the border.

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian held in Iran since 2016.

Iranian diplomat visits UK amid growing pressure over jailed activist

The Iranian negotiator's meetings were expected to be overshadowed by UK demands for the release of British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, whose husband is on a hunger strike outside the UK Foreign Office headquarters in London.

Afghans Iran

Up to 5,000 Afghans fleeing to Iran daily, aid group says

The Norwegian Refugee Council said some 300,000 Afghans have crossed into Iran since the Taliban's takeover in August.