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Iran

August 1, 2026

Tehran 6:52 pm

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Palestinian Hamas militants arrive to secure the area as Egyptian workers accompanied by members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), search for the last two remaining bodies of hostages -an Israeli soldier and a Thai national- from under the rubble of the Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern of Gaza Strip on Dec. 1, 2025.

Analysis

How Hamas disarmament deal may test Iran's regional strategy

A possible Hamas decision to disarm would represent more than a Gaza development, testing Iran's decades-old strategy of projecting power through regional allies.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Mourners carry one of the bodies of members of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) who were killed earlier in Diyala in central Iraq by US-Saudi strikes, during the funeral in Baghdad on July 29, 2026. The US-Saudi strikes killed at least 20 militants, including Iranians, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi. The US and Saudi Arabia said the strikes were in response to attacks on US forces and Saudi oil facilities. (Photo by murtadha ridha / AFP via Getty Images) /

Analysis

Renewed Iraq attacks test Zaidi’s push to disarm Iran-backed militias

An attempt by Iraqi government forces to seize weapons belonging to an Iranian-backed faction encountered resistance, raising questions about Prime Minister Ali Zaidi’s pledge to disarm militias by Sept. 30.

Mustafa Salim

By Mustafa Salim

US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2026. President Trump is traveling to Camp David in Maryland to hold a cabinet meeting and later to Bedminster, New Jersey to spend the weekend at his golf club. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

No Iran commitment, no Trump endorsement: Netanyahu leaves US empty-handed

The Israeli prime minister described Tuesday's meeting with US President Donald Trump was the "best ever," but diplomatic sources say he left the Washington with little tangibles.

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

Latest News

Iran’s new calculus: Strike first, talk later

A woman stands next to Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24, 2026.

China cuts deal with Houthis, adjusts for long US war with Iran

This aerial photo shows a tanker unloading imported crude oil at a terminal port in Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong province on June 25, 2026. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images) / China OUT

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

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.

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

An Iranian Kurdish peshmerga member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) sprays red paint on holes in a wall made by shrapnel from a rocket attack days earlier.

Iranian commander warns Iraqi Kurdish government about harboring opposition

The IRGC's rare warning has fueled fears about civilian casualties in the Kurdish villages stretching on the Iran-Iraq border.

Zahra Nemati of Team Iran celebrates her gold medal in the Women's Individual Recurve gold final on day 9 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field, Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 2, 2021.

Iranians set records at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

Iran is currently leading Middle Eastern states in medals won at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

An exterior view of the building of US Department of the Treasury is seen on March 27, 2020 in Washington, DC.

US sanctions four Iranians over plot to kidnap New York activist

The newly designated Iranian intelligence operatives were charged in July with conspiring to kidnap a New York-based activist and journalist.

A man walks past some of the thousands of photos of people killed in Iran during the 1988 massacre of political prisoners.

Iranian man 'lashed to death' over alcohol possession

While the family released videos of the victim's body with lash marks, authorities claim his death was caused by deteriorating health.

This courtroom sketch shows Iranian defendant Hamid Noury (2ndL) sitting in the District Court of Stockholm with his defense attorney Daniel Marcus (3rdL) on the opening of his trial for "war crimes and murder" on Aug. 10, 2021.

Iran opens 'drug-trafficking' trial of two Swedish nationals

The drug-smuggling trial comes as Sweden prosecutes a former Iranian official linked to the mass killing of dissidents in 1988.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi speaks before parliament in the capital, Tehran, on Aug. 25, 2021.

The Takeaway: Iranian foreign policy under Raisi takes shape

Also: Shapiro appointment welcomed in Israel; Gantz meeting doesn’t help Abbas’ popularity; "Saudization" of labor gets slow start; Turkey’s targeted killings in Syria; Sextortion in Egypt; More … in about 1,300 words.

An Iranian health worker inoculates a young man against the coronavirus, at a vaccination centre set up inside the Iran Mall in the capital Tehran, on Aug. 14, 2021.

With new Iranian president comes new promises of vaccines

The new administration has made a number of promises on vaccines.

A picture obtained by AFP from the Iranian news agency Tasnim on January 31, 2021, shows Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (2nd-R) meeting with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (2nd-L) of the Taliban in Tehran.

Iran-Afghan trade has murky future under Taliban

While the chaos that followed the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan will present challenges to trade, resulting geopolitical shifts could provide some opportunities for Tehran.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian attends an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on June 16, 2015, in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Iran warns US against wasting time in nuclear talks

Iran's hard-line foreign minister said Tehran will only pursue talks that bear tangible outcomes.

(L to R) French President Emmanuel Macron, Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrive for a group picture after the meeting in Baghdad on August 28, 2021. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran, Saudi Arabia set to resume new round of talks in Iraq

Iranian officials say talks with Riyadh counterparts will resume in Baghdad soon.

Then-Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi stands next to the new Iranian made drone "Epic" during a ceremony in Tehran on May 9, 2013.

Iran’s new interior minister seeks to empower provinces

More provincial discretion can help address problems, says Iran’s new interior minister.

Iran's Amir Khosravani competes in the men's long jump (T12) final during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Aug. 30, 2021.

Iran strikes gold at Paralympics

Iranian athletes are currently atop the Middle East in medals won at the international sporting competition for disabled athletes, and one could soon make history in women's archery.