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Iran

July 29, 2026

Tehran 4:43 pm

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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

A commercial vessel passes through an international shipping lane off Yemen's Hanish Island in the Red Sea on July 27, 2026.

Explainer

Tankers keep sailing Red Sea despite Houthi threats as Saudi oil lifeline faces strains

Roughly a dozen oil tankers were sailing in the vicinity of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as of Tuesday evening, following an uptick in traffic the day before as shippers bet on new US-Iran diplomacy.

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

Trump says Iran seeks talks after strikes halted

US President Donald Trump takes questions from the media during a bilateral meeting with President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office of the White House on July 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Iran summons French ambassador after detaining 2 diplomats: What to know

Iranian security forces stand guard in front of the French Embassy in Tehran in this undated image.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

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

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Benjamin Houghton

In Durham, reporting on China in the Middle East

Rahim Rahimov

In Baku, reporting on Middle East-Caucasus ties

Mehrnaz Samimi

In Washington, DC, reporting on Iranian culture

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L), Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (C) and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (R) in Beijing on April 6, 2023. - SPA

Iran media hails thaw with Saudi Arabia as top diplomats meet in China

Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers met in Beijing on Thursday as China's role expands in the Middle East.

Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers in China

Iran, Saudi Arabia FMs meet in China, agree to expand ties

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have agreed to reinstate diplomatic offices and resume flights between the two countries.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd-L) meets with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2nd-R) at Great Hall of the People on March 17, 2017 in Beijing, China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, King Salman Bin Abdul-Aaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pay a state visit to China from March 15 to 18, 2017. (Photo by Lintao Zhang - Pool/Getty Images)

China's emergence as Saudi-Iran broker signals multipolar diplomacy in Middle East

As China hosts on Thursday the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers in Beijing, the Gulf states have an opportunity to capitalize on its growing role.

Pedestrians walk past a political mural at Palestine Square in the Iranian capital Tehran on September 7, 2019. - Iran said Saturday it has fired up advanced centrifuges to boost its enriched uranium stockpiles, in the latest scaling back of commitments under a crumbling 2015 nuclear deal. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran rules out interim nuclear deal

Iranian official dismisses talk of a "less for less" deal as "the outcome of some think tank brainstorming."

Saudi-Iran-China

China to host Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers as detente moves forward

The Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers are meeting in Beijing on Thursday to advance the deal announced last month to restore ties between the two countries.

Ali Shamkhani with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed

Iran appoints first ambassador to UAE in 8 years as Gulf thaw continues

Reza Ameri previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Algeria, Sudan and Eritrea.

Mourners attend the funeral procession for two of Iran's revolutionary guard forces killed by Israel in Syria, held in Tehran on April 4, 2023. - The two Iranian fighters, identified as Milad Heidari and Meghdad Mahghani, were killed on March 31, 2023 when Israel launched several missiles from the occupied Golan Heights against pro-regime positions near Damascus. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran vows revenge against Israel after deadly Syria strikes

As tensions escalated, Iran's promise of vengeance was also coupled with a pledge to further bolster Syria's defenses against Israel.

A F-15 fighter jet takes part in an aerial display during the graduation ceremony of Israeli air force pilots at the Hatzerim base in the Negev desert, on June 23, 2022.

Fourth suspected Israeli strike on Syria in five days kills two

Two Iranian officers were killed by Israeli missiles late last week.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel's shadow war with Iran escalates in Syria with attacks, drone interception

Israel has reportedly carried out seven raids over the past month and nine since the beginning of the year inside Syria. Israel on Sunday intercepted a drone coming from Syria.

Lilach Shoval

By Lilach Shoval

Israeli soldiers take part in a military exercise near the town of Katzrin, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on the border with Syria, on September 21, 2022. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel downs flying object from Syria as Iran vows revenge

Israel has struck Syria three times in the past four days, killing officers in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Yemen shipping

US seeks to keep seized Iranian weapons bound for Yemen

The weapons seized in December by US Central Command include more than one million rounds of ammunition and thousands of proximity fuses for rocket-propelled grenades.

Azerbaijani embassy opens

Iran lashes out as Azerbaijan opens embassy in Israel

Israel’s security and political relations with Azerbaijan are strengthening, much to the Islamic Republic’s chagrin.