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October 7, 2026

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the Pnyx hill, where ancient Athenians held democratic assemblies, with the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis seen in the background, in Athens on October 7, 2026. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Explainer

Rubio says Iran ‘lost’ Hormuz. Has it?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran has “lost complete control” of the waterway, pointing to the recovery in Gulf oil exports in September.

Vance

US enrichment stance unclear as Vance urges 'meaningful' Iran cuts

It's unclear whether Vice President Vance was signaling a retreat from earlier demands of zero enrichment in a final deal or describing preliminary steps Iran would need to take to end the war.

smoke rising after a strike on the Iranian capital of Tehran

Satellite images could indicate return to activity at Iranian compound: Report

The images show renewed vehicle and earth-moving activity at an Iranian compound that Israel struck in March.

Latest News

Analysis

Iran’s execution drive intensifies as war provides cover for repression

People gather during protest on Jan. 8, 2026 in Tehran

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Hormuz tanker attacks mount, putting oil flows at risk

Vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran

Iran’s economy deteriorates, oil minister resigns, workers protest: What to know

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad looks on during the 27th Gas Exporting Countries Forum ministerial meeting, Doha, Qatar, Oct. 23, 2025.

Analysis

Why Trump-Xi summit did not move the China needle away from Iran

US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office

Yun Sun

In Washington, DC, reporting on China-Middle East ties

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

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to film or take pictures in Tehran.

Supporters of the Iranian opposition movement wear green during the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri in the holy city of Qom December 21, 2009. Big crowds of mourners chanted anti-government slogans during the funeral of Iran's leading dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, in the holy city of Qom on Monday, websites reported. REUTERS/v

Deadlock continues over fate of Iran's Green Movement leaders

The three Iranian opposition leaders detained during the 2009 election protests are still languishing under house arrest as Reformists and hard-liners argue endlessly.

Hard-liner accuses Rouhani of blocking Telegram

A hard-line politician in Iran has accused President Hassan Rouhani of ordering the ban on a popular social media app in the wake of the nationwide protests in early 2018.

Azzam al-Ahmad (L), head of the Fatah group, and Mousa Abu Marzook (C), a senior member of Hamas, speak after a news conference in Cairo April 27, 2011. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group has inked a deal with bitter rival Hamas to end their long-running feud and form an interim government ahead of elections this year, officials said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) - GM1E74S0BG101

Fatah slams Iran for funding Gaza Strip while skirting PA

Relations between the Palestinian Authority and Iran have taken another bad turn, with a top Fatah official accusing Iran of worsening the Palestinian division by financially “adopting” families of Gazans killed or wounded in the Great Return protests.

Palestinian militants of the Islamist movement Hamas' military wing Al-Qassam Brigades, attend the funeral of seven Palestinians, killed during an Israeli special forces operation in the Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2018, in Khan Younis. - A clash that erupted during an Israeli special forces operation in the Gaza Strip and killed eight people threatened on Monday to derail efforts to restore calm to the Palestinian enclave after months of unrest. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo credit should read

Will Iran ask Hamas to ignite Gaza front in support of Hezbollah?

The recent Israeli operation to expose Hezbollah’s tunnels on the Lebanese border raised questions about Iran-backed Hamas’ exposure should Tehran request it to open a second front against Israel in the event of an Israeli-Hezbollah confrontation.

Iran, Russia-led bloc move toward free trade

The Iranian government is widening channels of trade with Eurasia and India in an effort to dodge the impacts of reimposed US sanctions.

A money changer holds U.S. dollar banknotes as he counts other currency banknotes at Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran October 14, 2017. Nazanin Tabatabaee Yazdi/TIMA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC1B64997900

Iran judiciary upholds another death sentence for economic corruption

Iran’s judiciary has sentenced dozens of individuals to prison for cases related to the fluctuation in the currency market earlier in the year.

Israeli soldiers stand guard at a check-point on a raod leading to the border line between Israel and Lebanon, on the Israeli side of the border December 9, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC11450F0E90

The unlikely war between Iran, Hezbollah and Israel

Despite increasingly tough rhetoric and the launch of an operation along the border with Lebanon, Israel is unlikely to enter all-out war against Iran and its regional allies.

Syrians wave Iranian, Russian and Syrian flags during a protest against U.S.-led air strikes in Damascus,Syria April 14,2018.REUTERS/ Omar Sanadiki TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1815671B90

Does the US want a war with Iran over Syria?

Despite Trump’s initial caution about an indefinite military commitment, the risks of the United States getting drawn into the Syria conflict are growing.

People in the old city of Damascus, Syria, September 17, 2018. Picture taken September 17, 2018. REUTERS/Marko Djurica - RC1F0309D400

US sees renewed leverage over Assad in Syria

The Donald Trump administration is confident that its pressure is eroding the Syrian regime and its allies.

Iranians fill up their cars with fuel at a petrol station in Tehran, Iran, January 25, 2016. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/TIMA ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - GF20000106419

Why the Rouhani administration must eliminate energy subsidies

Despite pressure from lawmakers and the general public, the Rouhani administration must proceed with fuel-subsidy reform in order to relieve itself of avoidable financial burdens.

Why is Israel forging secret ties with Sudan?

Hamas condemns the current normalization of ties between several Arab countries and Israel, at a time the Israeli media is talking about efforts to stop arms reaching the Gaza Strip through Libya and Sudan.

United Arab Emirates

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) speaks to the media after a closed briefing for senators about the latest developments related to the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts - RC1218182BD0

Senate puzzles out how to punish Saudi Arabia ahead of unprecedented vote

An overwhelming majority of senators want to punish Riyadh for murdering Jamal Khashoggi and because of the Yemen war. The question is how.