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Iran

August 2, 2026

Tehran 1:33 pm

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An Egyptian man looks at the Qatari Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier "Duhail" as its passes through the Suez Canal near the Egyptian port city of Ismailia on April 1, 2008. The vessel has a capacity of 210,100 cu.m making it one of the largest LNG carriers constructed to date. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How strike on Damietta port exposes Egypt's energy infrastructure risks

The unclaimed attack on the port of Damietta could draw Egypt further into the US-Iran conflict as experts point to growing threats to critical infrastructure in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

Latest News

Analysis

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

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)

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

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

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 man watches candidate Ebrahim Raisi speaking during the first televised debate between presidential candidates, at a fresh produce shop in the capital, Tehran, on June 5, 2021.

Iranian media pushes for high election turnout

Despite a moderate candidate doing well, the election debates have failed to generate enthusiasm.

Ebrahim Raisi campaign poster in Tehran

Iran reconsidering list of disqualified presidential candidates

Iran's powerful Guardian Council said it would review the decision to bar certain candidates from running in this month's presidential election.

Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Javad Zarif (L) meets with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza (R) at the Casa Amarilla palace in Caracas, on Nov. 5, 2020.

Pentagon issues warning over Iran warship reportedly headed to Venezuela

The United States is threatening to "deter" Iran's apparent effort to deliver weapons to Venezuela.

VAHID AHMADI/TASNIM NEWS/AFP via Getty Images

Iran says refinery fire contained, rules out sabotage

Iranian officials rushed to reject speculation of sabotage behind a Tehran refinery blaze that followed a chain of incidents blamed on Israel.

refinery fire

Fire reported at Iranian oil refinery near Tehran

The fire at the Tondguyan refinery was reportedly caused by a leak at a liquid gas pipeline.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce on July 4, 2018, in Vienna, Austria.

Iran's Rouhani says problems with US ‘resolved’ in Vienna talks

President Hassan Rouhani said most issues with the United States have been resolved, but he hinted a deal may not happen until after his term ends.

Kharg

Iran navy's largest ship sinks after fire in Gulf of Oman

The Navy said the crew safely evacuated before the Kharg sank near the southern Iranian port city of Jask.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images

Prominent activist accuses Iran interrogators of sexual abuse

Narges Mohammadi, known for her long struggle for human rights in Iran, said prison authorities and interrogators regularly use sexual harassment and abuse as a tool to break dissident women in custody.

Iran's former parliament speaker Ali Larijani delivers a speech after registering his candidacy for Iran's presidential elections, at the Interior Ministry in capital Tehran, on May 15, 2021, ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for June.

Prominent disqualified candidates urge Iranians to still vote

Despite being disqualified to run by the country's Guardian Council, several major Reformist and centrist figures are still calling on citizens to go to the polls.

An Iranian medical staff works with samples at the Avicenna embryology and infertility centre in Tehran on June 29, 2016.

Iran to open fertility research center in Algeria

Iran and Algeria have improved relations in recent years, leading to concerns from Morocco and Iranian government critics.

Iran's former parliament speaker Ali Larijani delivers a speech after registering his candidacy for Iran's presidential elections, at the Interior Ministry in capital Tehran, on May 15, 2021, ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for June.

Tehran hard-liner council bans leading centrists from presidential race

Iran's Guardian Council disqualified all the major moderate contenders from the country's presidential election, paving the way for a one-sided race and an anticipated victory for hard-line judicial chief Ibrahim Raisi.

A woman walks past the sign of the International Atomic Energy Agency ahead of a press conference by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, about the agency monitoring of Iran's nuclear energy program on May 23, 2021, in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA has been in talks with Iran over extending the agency's monitoring program. Meanwhile, Iranian and international representatives have been in talks in recent weeks in Vienna over reviving the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal.

Iran, IAEA extend inspection agreement by one month

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency extend an understanding to keep the nuclear talks alive.