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

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Politics & Security

U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement on American nuclear innovation in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

US halts strikes on Iran, sees opening for talks: What to know

A four-day lull in Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the strait of Hormuz was seen as an opportunity to resume diplomatic talks and dial down the war, Al-Monitor’s source said.

Jared Szuba

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

Muntions near a B1 Bomber are seen at RAF Fairford on July 24, 2026, in Fairford, England.

Analysis

What Iran's warning to Britain reveals about broader escalation strategy

Iran's latest warning to Britain reflects more than wartime rhetoric, exposing how Tehran is widening its deterrence as the conflict increasingly draws in US allies.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Ozgur Ozel

Analysis

What challenges await Erdogan’s new rival and Turkey’s new opposition party?

Ousted main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel's bid to challenge Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan depends on surviving a widening legal crackdown and reconciling deep ideological, nationalist and Kurdish divisions within his own coalition.

Halil Karaveli

By Halil Karaveli

US President Donald Trump (L) and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia pause for photographs along the West Wing Colonnade at the White House on Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington.

Analysis

Saudi nuclear deal adds new wrinkle if Iran talks resume

Should the United States and Iran return to the negotiating table, the newly reached US-Saudi nuclear deal could give Tehran fresh leverage.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Latest News

Iran signs 25 deals at SCO meeting: What to know

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Ahead of Trump meeting, Netanyahu lays groundwork for Israel to rejoin Iran war

GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP via Getty Images

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

Kuwait hands citizen life sentence for spying for Iran, Hezbollah: What to know

YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Jordan intercepts 7 missiles, 6 drones as Iran warns civilians near US bases

Iranians ride their motorcycles past a deactivated Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile in front of a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran's Bahrestan Square on September 27, 2025, as part of an exhibit to mark the "Sacred Defense Week" commemorating the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via 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

The Hellenic Navy Roussen or Super Vita class Fast Missile Patrol Boat P 71 HS Ritsos patrols off the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo (Megisti), in the Dodecanese, the furthest south eastern Greek Island, two kilometers from the Turkish mainland on Aug. 28, 2020.

Row over militarization of Greek islands peaks with Turkish warning

Mevlut Cavusoglu has stepped up rhetoric over Aegean islands that Ankara says should be free of Greek arms.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu addresses a press conference with the NATO Secretary General after their meeting at The Foreign Ministry in Istanbul on Nov. 3, 2022.

Turkey asks Finland to resume defense sales amid NATO talks

Speaking ahead of the Finnish defense chief's visit to Turkey, the top Turkish diplomat has complained that his country is still under de facto defense sales restrictions from Finland.

Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gives a speech in the central holy shrine city of Najaf, Iraq, Aug. 30, 2022.

Iraq's Sadr takes aim at LGBTQ community

Leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr made the headlines again in Iraq by announcing his opposition to homosexuality, several months into his withdrawal from the political process.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Liberal Israelis say Netanyahu's coalition deals break democratic norms

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has a solid majority in the Knesset, but his opponents feel his policies will violate democratic norms.

Incoming Syrian refugees who were suddenly deported from Turkey await to register with officials.

Half a million Syrians return from Turkey, but were they forced?

Some 560,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to their country as part of deportation projects, many fleeing the harassment they were facing in the country.

China's President Xi Jinping attends the 29th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok on Nov. 19, 2022.

China’s Xi heads to Saudi Arabia, adding strain to US ties

Xi's visit to Saudi, the first in six years, will include two summits with Arab and GCC leaders and could see an agreement on nuclear technology

Staff members sit under a portrait of the Islamic Republic's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

How Iran squandered social capital

While the Islamic Republic of Iran in its early days focused on lifting its people out of poverty and improving access to services, the current regime has failed to maintain this social capital.

BIM discount stores

Senior Turkish retail executive forced out after criticizing government economic policy

The chief operator of Turkey’s largest discount chain resigned from a retail association post after threats from Erdogan's ally Nationalist Movement Party.

Israeli settlers walk with batons and axes.

Israeli security agencies concerned over rise in settler violence in West Bank

The number of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians is on the rise, and the severity of the attacks is also increasing.

Herzog

Israel’s president in UAE after historic visit to Bahrain

Israel's President Isaac Herzog is in Bahrain, the next stop on his historic tour.

Sudan

Sudan's transition deal seen as significant, but doubts remain

Protesters and some observers are skeptical the agreement will end the political crisis in the east African country, but the United States and Gulf states have praised the deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, Sept. 15, 2020.

Netanyahu to visit UAE

Already before assembling his government, Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu prepares his first visit abroad — to Abu Dhabi.