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Politics & Security

An EA-18G Growler assigned to Electric Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) while the ship is moored in Honolulu, Hawaii, during Exercise RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) 2026 on July 17, 2026.

US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-aligned militias in Iraq as IRGC targets US forces in Jordan

The IRGC’s attempt to redraw the status quo amid an uneasy stalemate comes as White House hedges its military options and Omani officials seek to bring the two enemies back to the negotiating table.

A man stands near a boat moored along a beach on the Caspian Sea coast in Sorkhrud in Iran's northern Mazandaran province on March 24, 2026, where many families have relocated due to the ongoing war with the US and Israel. Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on February 28, killing the Islamic republic's supreme leader and sparking a war that has since spread across the Middle East. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images) /

Analysis

Why Ukraine's strike on Iranian ship marks dangerous new phase in ties

Tehran has warned Kyiv of consequences, as pent-up tensions couple with what Iran believes is Ukrainian alignment with the US and Israel in the recent war.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets Iraq Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi upon his arrival in Ankara, July 28, 2026.

Explainer

Erdogan hosts Zaidi, touts ‘historic step’ in Turkey-Iraq energy ties

The Turkish president outlined Ankara’s priorities with the new Iraqi government during the Iraqi leader’s first visit to Turkey: security, energy cooperation and the Development Road.

Israel PM office

Netanyahu lauds 'excellent' Trump meeting as Israel pushes harder Iran line

Hours before the meeting, President Donald Trump signaled impatience with the Israeli leader.

Latest News

Khamenei says Hezbollah's agenda 'strategic mandate' for Iran

A giant billboard depicts late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (2nd L), and his son Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, with Arabic writing that reads: "Thank you Iran," in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, on June 15, 2026.

On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump

Trump Netanyahu

Zaidi to meet Erdogan as Turkey-Iraq ties take off, Kurds feel sidelined

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (not pictured) at the Pentagon on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.

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

Amir Levy/Getty Images)Images

Israeli ultranationalist soars in polls

Public opinion polls show significant support for the Religious Zionism party running together with the far-right Jewish Power.

China's President Xi Jinping (L), Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd L), Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro (C), India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd R) and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) attend a meeting with members of the Business Council and management of the New Development Bank during the BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 14, 2019.

Sisi advances Egypt's bid for BRICS membership

President of the BRICS International Forum Purnima Anand revealed Egypt's interest in joining the group along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and the position is to be discussed at the BRICS summit scheduled for next year in South Africa.

Iraq politics

Coordination Framework establishes committee to select next Iraqi prime minister

The Coordination Framework, which became the largest Shiite bloc in the parliament after the withdrawal of Sadrists, have set up a committee to nominate the prime minister as a part of forming the next government.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iranian women under pressure as Raisi stiffens hijab mandate

The Iranian government is cracking down on hijab violations in what many say is a bid to divert attention from the nation’s economic hardships.

Biden Saudi Arabia

Analysis

The important counternarrative on Biden’s Middle East trip

Symbolism matters, but progress matters more — and there was progress.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Grain deal

US commends Turkey, UN for Ukraine-Russia grain deal

The US welcomed the grain agreement signed in Istanbul but cautioned the devil is in the details.

Israeli soldiers close a gate near the Kibbutz of Shtula, near the border with Lebanon, July 3, 2022.

Israel assesses Nasrallah's next move amid escalation on northern border

Jerusalem is concerned that internal pressures in Lebanon on Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah could be translated into more violence against Israel.

Ukraine wheat

Ukraine, Russia agree to sign deal in Istanbul to end grain crisis

US cautiously welcomes potential breakthrough, thanks to Turkish mediation, to allow safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (C) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan returns empty-handed from talks with Putin, Raisi

Erdogan fails to enlist Russian and Iranian support for a fresh Turkish military operation in Syria, but he remains bent on maintaining the pressure.

President of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq Nechirvan Barzani (R) pays tribute in front of a casket.

Massacre of nine Iraqi tourists blamed on Turkey sparks protests, diplomatic fallout

Turkey's shelling of a tourist resort in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Dahuk region leaves Iraqis mourning and angry.

sketch of Iranian official Hamid Noury's trial in Sweden

Iran threatens Sweden as ex-official sentenced to life

A Swedish-Iranian row is deepening after a Swedish court sentenced an ex-Iranian official to life in prison and Tehran accused Stockholm of harboring "terrorist groups."

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli settlers, security forces clash over West Bank outposts

Despite their dismantling by Israeli security forces, hundreds of Jewish settlers are determined to stay at seven makeshift outposts across the West Bank.