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Politics & Security

Deputy chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Sultan Ali al-Aradah

Interview

Resumption in Yemen's oil exports 'possible' with security measures: VP

Deputy chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Sultan Ali al-Aradah expressed confidence in US President Donald Trump's approach to the Houthis and Iran, though a military campaign against the group may face limitations.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at a Council of Ministers meeting in Baghdad, July 25, 2026.

Zaidi cancels Riyadh trip after US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq

The move comes after Riyadh joined Washington in targeting Iraqi militias, dealing a setback to Baghdad's efforts to strengthen ties with Gulf Arab states.

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.

Latest News

Analysis

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

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) /

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Explainer

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

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

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

Israel PM office

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

An undated image of the FSO Safer.

Analysis

World looks away as oil disaster looms off Yemen’s coast

Time is running out to prevent what Yemen envoy Tim Lenderking warns will be a "massive oil spill the likes of which the world has not seen."

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

This photo shows the inside of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Feb. 7, 2019.

Europe’s top court reprimands Turkey for jailing philanthropist

Today’s decision by Europe's top rights court on Osman Kavala, who has kept behind bars for four and a half years in pre-detention and sentenced to life, inches Turkey closer to suspension of its voting rights or even membership in the Council of Europe.

Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Freij arrives for a photo at the president's residence during a ceremony for the new coalition government, Jerusalem, June 14, 2021.

Arab representation vanishes from Israeli parties

The announcement of Minister of Regional Cooperation Issawi Freij that he will not run on the Meretz party list in the upcoming election could be a devastating blow to Arab representation in Jewish/Arab mixed parties.

RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images

Energy company touts oil-for-food scheme as Syrian aid route tightens

With Syria's sole remaining route for cross-border aid in peril, a London-based oil company is lobbying for an initiative that would see the proceeds of Syrian oil being used for aid, with the money going to the UN rather than Damascus.

Israel's former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Cabinet Secretary Shalom Shlomo attend the first Cabinet meeting days after lawmakers dissolved parliament, Jerusalem, July 3, 2022.

Israeli leaders ask Palestinian president for 'calm' ahead of Biden visit

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapids says he would not rule out a meeting with Palestnian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abdollahian

Why IRGC issue won’t go away

Even if the US terrorist designation is not lifted, and there is agreement on the JCPOA, the IRGC will still be the power broker of Iranian domestic politics.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) meets Josep Borell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (R), as Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora (C) looks on, at the foreign ministry headquarters in Iran's capital Tehran on June 25, 2022.

Analysis

Ahead of Biden Mideast trip, Iran nuclear deal looms large

US president to blend diplomacy and deterrence in approach to Iran, region.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli banking reforms to facilitate fintech growth

Israeli banking authorities are advance reforms to open Israel’s credit market and render it much more competitive.

Head of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh (R).

Palestinian rivals Abbas, Haniyeh shake hands in Algeria

Algeria's president managed to bring together Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh for the first time in 6 years, but divisions between the two rival factions they represent may be too deep at this point.

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Russia vetoes UN measure renewing aid to northwest Syria

"People will die because of this vote," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said of the Security Council's failure to reauthorize the cross-border mechanism.

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid makes campaign calculations as Biden's visit to Israel approaches

Just four months ahead of general elections in Israel, US President Joe Biden's visit is sure to have an affect on Prime Minister Yair Lapid's campaign.

Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images

British navy reveals Iranian missiles seized in Gulf of Oman

The United States and United Kingdom touted a small win for regional security cooperation ahead of President Joe Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia next week.