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September 18, 2026

Tehran 2:45 pm

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A pedestrian passes by the Treasury Building in Washington, DC on Jan. 18, 2023.

US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments

The US government says the exchange was used to channel payments from an Iranian maritime-insurance scheme to the regime.

AFP via Getty Images

China presses Iran, US to reopen Hormuz as disruptions threaten oil supply

Conflicts in the region are disrupting two key routes for oil bound for China, with Iranian crude affected by the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi shipments facing growing risks in the Red Sea.

Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities, brandish their weapons during a rally to recruit more fighters, in Sanaa on September 10, 2026. The country relapsed into war in July after years of calm, drawn into the regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran that began at the end of February. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP via Getty Images)

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Lacking deterrence, Israel’s security establishment opposes attacks on Houthis

Senior Israeli intelligence sources told Al-Monitor that Israel seeks to avoid involvement in the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, despite concerns that Yemen could further unravel and that Iran is backing the group.

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

Latest News

Analysis

How far will Iran push Houthis against Saudi Arabia amid raging conflict?

Houthi fighters marching

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Why Saudi Arabia's balancing act with US, Iran, Houthis risks collapse

Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities shout slogans during a rally to recruit more fighters, in Sanaa, Yemen, on Sept. 10, 2026.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Exclusive

Houthi top diplomat says no intention to shut down Red Sea shipping, group open to talks

Houthi

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

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

Can 'de-dollarization' break Iran’s economic isolation?

While there are many risks involved with currency swaps, such endeavors do present an opportunity for Iran to enhance the stability of its economy.

Netanyahu's growling at Iran in Syria could put Israelis at risk

Instead of playing with fire in Syria's skies and flexing his muscles at Iran on social media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be seeking a quiet agreement on the disengagement of Iranian and Israeli forces.

Why Israel needs new regional alliances

Facing US intention to withdraw from Syria, Israel must establish new regional alliances.

U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he boards Air Force One upon departure from West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., on his way back to Washington April 22, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC112A919C40

Trump has threatened to blow up the Iran deal — here are his options

While the US president vows that he’s done waiving sanctions, the amount of damage he intends to do — from letting Tehran’s trade partners off the hook to reinstating UN sanctions — remains an open question.

Notorious Iranian prosecutor to begin serving prison sentence

Iranian prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi has been apprehended and will began serving a two-year sentence over the 2009 death of a protester in prison.

Hezbollah and Syrian flags are seen fluttering in Fleita, Syria August 2, 2017. REUTERS/ Omar Sanadiki - RC15E3E7FA20

Confrontation looms as Iran-Israel tension high in Syria

While far from a new phenomenon, Iran and Israel are at a heightened risk of conflict in their confrontation in Syria.

Israeli soldiers stand next to mobile artillery units near the border with Syria in the Golan Heights January 27, 2015. At least two rockets from Syria hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday and Israel returned fire, the military said, nine days after an Israeli air strike in Syria killed an Iranian general and several Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (MILITARY POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - GM1EB1S00W201

Is Israel-Iran clash imminent?

A consensus has emerged among Israel’s political and security establishments that a military clash with Iran is likely.

A demonstrator runs during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest where Palestinians demand the right to return to their homeland, at the Israel-Gaza border in the southern Gaza Strip, April 20, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1B7BFE3220

How long can Saudi Arabia ignore Gaza protests?

Saudi king clarifies approach to Jerusalem, but Arab League statement silent on the Gaza Strip; Will Macron and Merkel use North Korea as blueprint for US approach to JCPOA?

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attends a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia January 10, 2018. REUTERS/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool? - UP1EE1A1NCZOZ

Iran FM: Trump administration 'never in' nuclear deal

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke about Tehran’s potential response as the United States weighs pulling out of the nuclear deal.

Why Iran moved to unify dual exchange rates

Iran’s government was left with no choice but to resort to unifying the official and open market currency exchange rates to tame the rial's slide during a currency crisis, which has spurred some positive efforts.

Iranian workers offload waste plastic, collected from Tehran, from a pick-up truck in the southern outskirts of the Iranian capital on February 25, 2012. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Iran's 2011 Growth Domestic Product (GDP) was 480 billion dollars at the official exchange rate, around 2.5 percent higher than the previous year. AFP PHOTO/BEHROUZ MEHRI (Photo credit should read BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)

How an anti-waste challenge went viral in Iran

A campaign to get ordinary people involved in devising solutions to Iran's growing waste problem has gone viral.

Scientist's departure from Iran blow to Rouhani policies

The departure of Iranian scientist Kaveh Madani has served as a reminder that certain organizations in Iran will continue to counter Rouhani’s policies of reversing Iran’s brain drain.