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July 30, 2026

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In this handout photo provided by the US Navy, Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 3, 2026 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Breaking | Last Updated: July 29, 2026, 9:13 pm

US carries out strikes in southern Iran after IRGC attack on Jordan airbase

The US says the strikes were retaliation for an attempted IRGC ballistic missile attack on a US airbase in Jordan as Iranian state media report explosions in the country's south.

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on July 24, 2026, in New York.

Oil jumps 8% as US-Iran war pressures Saudi Arabia, explosions hit Egypt

The price of benchmark Brent crude climbed past $90 per barrel on Wednesday after a renewed round of US-Iran hostilities shattered a days-long lull in fighting and the Houthis targeted Saudi oil exports.

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Saudi Arabia to announce Red Sea coalition to counter Houthi threats

Houthi soldiers stand guard on a missile carrier during an official military parade marking the ninth anniversary of the Houthi takeover of the capital, Sanaa, on Sept. 21, 2023.

Amberin Zaman

Jared Szuba

By Amberin Zaman , Jared Szuba

Analysis

Katz riles Iran, US as Netanyahu-Trump meeting raises questions

Win McNamee/Getty Images

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

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

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.

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

Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Washington, Feb. 8, 2022.

Analysis

US top Middle East commander tests new model of deterring Iran

As the Pentagon shifts focus to China and Russia, CENTCOM’s chief is banking on experimentation with unmanned surveillance and artificial intelligence to offset a smaller US footprint in the Middle East.

Jared Szuba

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

An Iranian carries the portraits of slain Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (L) during a ceremony in the capital Tehran, on January 3, 2023, to commemorate the third anniversary of their killing by a US drone strike in the Iraqi capital. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran pursues 94 US citizens over Soleimani killing

Tehran has announced it is pursuing dozens of people it accuses of involvement in the 2020 assassination of its Quds Force leader.

DEBBIE HILL/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Will Biden, Netanyahu find common ground on Iran in 2023?

EU Foreign Policy Chief meanwhile says ‘no alternative’ to JCPOA to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Iran market

Iran central bank governor resigns amid currency crisis

The Islamic Repubic named a new governor for its central bank and arrested currency brokers, as the rial nosedived to the lowest rates ever recorded.

Demonstrators, some hold banners with the image of Mahsa Amini, march by the federal chancellery in solidarity with protesters in Iran on October 15, 2022 in Berlin, Germany.(Photo by Omer Messinger/Getty Images)

2022 in review: Iran's Khamenei faces unprecedented challenge with protests, economic woes

Iran is limping into 2023 with a youth uprising that has taught existential fear to its once omnipotent theocracy.

Ali Daei takes to the stage during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw.

Iran forces plane carrying soccer legend's family to land

To many Iranians, the move revealed the lengths authorities were willing to go to in their crackdown on critics.

A protester holds a banner with the image of Mahsa Amini as demonstrators gather in front of the Brandenburg Gate to march in solidarity with protesters in Iran on October 15, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Omer Messinger/Getty Images)

2022 in review: Iran's protests threw another wrench into JCPOA revival

US President Joe Biden ended 2022 without a restored Iranian nuclear agreement, and experts say the chances of a revived pact look even dimmer in the coming year.

ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images

Iran says nuclear deal still 'on the table'

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the nuclear deal could still be restored.

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C) raises his hands toward cheering supporters while standing next to Venezuela's Foreign Minister Elias Jaua (R) as he enters the funeral for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Military Academy on March 8, 2013 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

What's behind Ahmadinejad's awkward silence on Iran's protests?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s silence since the beginning of the protests in Iran on Sept. 16 is curious and exposes his possible intentions to remain an establishment loyalist rather than falling out of grace with the ruling clerics.

Sunset shot showing a row of electricity pylons in the desert, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Getty Images)

Analysis

2022 in review: Saudi-China, Qatar-Germany deals cap Middle East's energy developments

Hydrogen power, oil price fluctuations and electric vehicles could feature prominently in the region in 2023.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives from US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (L) a US national flag.

Iran says patience running thin with Zelenskyy's accusations over Ukraine war

Iran and Ukraine appeared to be entering a new phase in their war of words, triggered by evidence of Tehran's shipment of deadly combat drones to Moscow.

Esmail Qaani

Iran's Quds Force leader criticizes women without hijabs

Speaking about the protests in Iran for the first time, Esmail Qaani said that 'honorable women' wear headscarves.