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Politics & Security

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US, Saudi Arabia set to sign nuclear agreement: What to know

The agreement would allow US companies to build uranium enrichment facilities in Saudi Arabia for its civilian nuclear program.

US President Donald Trump listens to a reporter's question as he holds a bilateral meeting with President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office of the White House on July 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Trump threatens Iran bridges, power plants over Hormuz attacks

The warning comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington remains open to negotiations with Tehran.

Commuters walk past a wall mural along the street in Tehran on July 21, 2026. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on July 21 they hit US military targets including air defence systems in Bahrain and Kuwait, state news agency IRNA reported. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images) /

Analysis

A 10-day Iran-US pause may reopen talks — but neither wants to blink

As the two sides continue to trade strikes, the 10-day window could test whether diplomacy can survive battlefield pressure while neither wants negotiations to be interpreted as their retreat.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Hegset

Iran war to cost US $37.5B by end of September, Hegseth tells Senate

Pentagon’s conservative estimate includes military pay and "operations and maintenance" costs, but does not factor in damage to military bases in the region.

Latest News

Interview

PJAK leader mocks Iran’s claim Turkey spiked US Kurdish-backed regime-change plan

A Kurdish fighter from the Iranian Kurdish armed faction Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) stands with his rifle at a site near the Iraqi border with Iran in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, on March 8, 2026.

Siamand Moeini

Siamand Moeini

PJAK Executive Council Member

Analysis

Israel draws line on Houthi attacks, hopes for Trump strike on Pickaxe Mountain

FILE PHOTO: A satellite view shows tunnel entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, of the Natanz nuclear facility, near Natanz, Iran, June 30, 2026. Vantor/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

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

Trump hosts Lebanon's Aoun, pledges 'concrete plans' toward Israeli withdrawal

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 21: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) greets President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun as he arrives at the White House on July 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. Aoun is visiting the White House on the final day of a four-day trip to Washington to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah as the Israeli military begins its first limited withdrawal from Lebanon following last month’s U.S.-brokered agreement. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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

Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Sudan: Ex-regime members flee prison as another truce is disrupted

Several cease-fires have failed to stop the bloodshed in Sudan, with both the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces accusing the other of violating the most recent truce.

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock listens to a statement during a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Iran, at the United Nations in Geneva on November 24, 2022. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP) (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD/AFP via Getty Images)

Germany scrambles to stop Iran from executing dual citizen

After a top Iranian court upheld the death sentence of dual citizen Jamshid Sharmahd, German Foreign Minister Annalean Baerbock says Berlin is making every possible effort to stop the execution.

Supporters wave Turkish national flags as they attend a rally of Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman and Presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in Canakkale, western Turkey, on April 11, 2023. - A sea of umbrellas and hoods at his feet, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the Turkish opposition candidate who will challenge Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the polls on 14 May, smilingly promises "the return of spring". (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Al-Monitor/Premise poll: Turkey’s election in dead heat, Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu tied at 45%

An exclusive poll across Turkey showed economy as top issue for voters, followed by corruption and refugees. But many young voters are still undecided in the final stretch of the race.

Saudi Arabia announced a major Captagon bust this week, with more than 12.7 million pills seized.

Saudi Arabia seizes 12.7 million Captagon pills in pomegranate bust

Four people were arrested in a major drug bust, according to the state-owned Saudi Press Agency, including two Egyptians, one Syrian and one Yemeni national.

Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani, January 21, 2020. (Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0)

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.

A Taliban fighter stands guard at the site of the August 26 twin suicide bombs, which killed scores of people including 13 US troops, at Kabul airport on August 27, 2021. (Photo by WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP) (Photo by WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Taliban kill Islamic State official behind Kabul airport bombing

The Biden administration has yet to reveal the identity of the alleged ISIS-K "mastermind" behind the August 2021 bombing at Abbey gate.

Jared Szuba

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

A flight specialist walks towards an MH-53E Sea Dragon on the deck of the Lewis B. Puller carrier during a joint demining drill between the US, British and French Navy in the Arabian Gulf on April 15, 2019. - The US, French and British navies have launched anti-mine exercises off Bahrain in support of the free movement of trade in Gulf waters, a military spokeswoman said Monday. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Second US warship arrives off Port Sudan as pressure builds to evacuate citizens

Despite similar efforts undertaken by allies, the Biden administration has yet to order the US military to help evacuate American civilians seeking to flee Sudan.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar is seen standing at the start of the North Atlantic Council meeting of defence ministers during the second and final day of the NATO defence ministers' meeting at the NATO headquarters on October 13, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. The North Atlantic Council (NAC) Defence Ministers are convening at the NATO headquarters in Brussels for a two-day summit as the war in Ukraine continues into its seventh month. (Photo by Omar Havana - Pool / Getty Images)

Turkey, Syria defense chiefs meet in Russia, discuss ‘normalization'

The Moscow meeting was described as “positive” by both sides since Syrian-Turkish rapprochement took off last year.

Belgian Manon Vandecasteele sits blindfolded in a cell during a protest action for her uncle Olivier Vandecasteele, who is imprisoned in Iran, on the Grand-Place in Tournai on April 22, 2023. - Belgium on April 18, 2023 said it had formally asked Iran to repatriate jailed aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele from Tehran, after a disputed prisoner exchange treaty entered into force. Iran arrested Vandecasteele, 42, in February 2022 and sentenced him to 40 years for spying, in a move condemned as "hostage diploma

Iran blacklists EU, UK officials as it ups armed support for Russia

Iran's tit-for-tat measure marked the latest episode in its tensions with Western adversaries and coincided with fresh allegations of its military assistance to Russia in the war against Ukraine.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey detains Kurdish figures ahead of vital polls

At least 126 politicians, journalists, lawyers and artists have been detained in an operation that observers call an intimidation tactic before the May 14 elections.

A picture taken on February 21, 2022 shows fishing boats off a beach on Yemen's Red Sea coast in the Khokha district of the war-ravaged country's western province of Hodeida. (Photo by Khaled Ziad / AFP) (Photo by KHALED ZIAD/AFP via Getty Images)

Yacht carrying Russians, Egyptians goes missing off Yemen coast

The yacht’s owner says the crew sent a distress call about a pirate attack.

DONT USE - Gulf Pulse

This picture taken on August 5, 2022 shows Israeli Iron Dome defence missile system battries, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, in the city of Ashdod in southern Israel. - Israel's army said its air strikes in Gaza today killed an estimated 15 enemy combatants, warning that the operation against the Islamic Jihad militant group was not over. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Multi-front war with Iran proxies irks Israel despite deterrence

Unlike the surprise multi-front attack against Israel in 1973, the threats Israel faces today are much more splintered, but no less deadly.

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