Politics & Security - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

A billboard with the image of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wraps the front of a building in Tehran on May 5, 2026.

Analysis

Iran's Gulf gambit: Attacking the UAE to shift US calculations

Tehran is escalating pressure on the United Arab Emirates through strikes and rhetoric, signaling a strategy to widen the conflict and indirectly force Washington to ease its blockade on Iranian ports.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Parker Song / Getty Images

Iran’s Araghchi heads to China as US presses Beijing over Hormuz: What to know

The visit comes ahead of President Donald Trump's long-awaited trip to Beijing next week.

A picture taken near Kars on Feb. 28, 2024 shows the ruins of a bridge over Arpacay river, the natural border between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey, Armenia agree to restore medieval bridge in normalization push

Ankara is pursuing normalization with Armenia ahead of June parliamentary elections in a thaw also positioned to advance its broader Middle Corridor ambitions.

Latest News

EU says energy costs tied to Hormuz crisis have surged past $35B

Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP via Getty Images)

Ethiopia rejects Sudan's strike claims, accuses Khartoum of backing Tigray rebels

The charred remains of a tank from clashes between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) lie on a road near Gereb Agew, Southern Tigray, on March 3, 2026.

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

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

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

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

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

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

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Protesters gather to demand a Gaza hostages deal on Sept. 1, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

With Netanyahu standing firm, US to present new Gaza cease-fire proposal

The cease-fire negotiations gained renewed urgency following Hamas’ killing of six hostages, including an American citizen who was expected to be released in the cease-fire deal’s first stage.

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Russia ups mediation efforts between Turkey, Syria as Assad drags feet

While Turkey is embracing Russia's role in attempting to mediate between Ankara and Damascus, the Syrian government wants a timetable for Turkey withdrawing its troops from the country.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A group of protesters hold placards reading "Yankee go Home - No way to USA," in Istanbul, on April 14, 2021.

Turkish ultranationalists arrested after accosting US Marines in Izmir

A mob of provocateurs of the Turkish Youth Union assaulted two US Marines while they visited the port city, shouting "Yankee go home" and thrusting a bag over the head of one of the Marines.

This pool image distributed by Sputnik agency on September 4, 2023, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin seeing off his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their talks in Sochi. (Photo by Sergei KARPUKHIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI KARPUKHIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey, NATO member, in process of joining BRICS

Turkey’s bid to join the bloc is welcome news to both Russia and China.

Protesters attend a rally on the second day of demonstrations demanding a Gaza deal on September 2, 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel. After the bodies of six Israeli kidnap victims were recovered from tunnels beneath Gaza at the weekend, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum supported protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv demanding that Netanyahu justies the delay in signing the ceasefire deal due to the addition of new conditions. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Analysis

With defiant statement, has Israel's Netanyahu sealed Gaza hostages' fate?

Like hundreds of thousands of Israelis, the Biden administration is getting desperate to convince Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a deal with Hamas.

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

JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon arrests ex-Central Bank chief Riad Salameh on embezzlement charges

The former governor was placed under arrest after lengthy interrogation over his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of more than $40 million.

Benjamin Netanyahu Congress

Netanyahu calls UK decision to halt arms export licenses to Israel 'shameful'

After the announcement by the British government of suspending 30 arms export licenses to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses London of bolstering Hamas.

Turkish police special forces take position near the police headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, April 1, 2015.

Turkey arrests alleged Mossad operative running money network

Turkey has detained an individual accused of funding the Israeli intelligence service Mossad’s activities in Syria.

Pro-Israel demonstrators stage a counterprotest around an Oxfam installation.

UK halts 30 arms export licenses to Israel, citing Gaza concerns

After reviewing all the licenses issued or extended in recent months for arms exports to Israel, the British government decided to suspend 30 of them.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist , Jack Dutton

US President Joe Biden steps off Marine One in Washington, on Sept. 2, 2024.

Biden takes jab at Netanyahu over handling of hostage deal talks

US President Joe Biden believes Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a hostage deal, amid growing frustration inside Israel following the recovery of six hostages killed inside Gaza.

Passengers wait for flights at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv during a nationwide strike, Sept. 2, 2024.

General strike in Israel as thousands protest for Gaza hostage deal

Labor unions across Israel announced a general strike Monday, to enable their people to demonstrate against the government, in calls to conclude a deal to bring back the hostages.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi (R), shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, before a family photo for the attendees of a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on November 20, 2023.

How significant is PIF's $50B China investment for Saudi ties?

Though Riyadh continues its efforts toward economic integration with Beijing, it still seeks to balance relations with both Beijing and Washington.