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October 20, 2026

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi upon his arrival in Tehran on Oct. 19, 2026.

Lavrov visits Tehran as Trump praises Russia's role on Iran: What to know

During a meeting with his Iranian counterpart earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed Moscow’s offer to mediate between Tehran and Washington.

shoppers walking through the Tajrish Bazaar, a traditional market in Tehran

Analysis

As Iran’s oil lifeline runs dry, can it outlast Trump's economic siege?

The country's last barrels of crude stockpiled beyond the reach of a US naval blockade fell to zero in October, raising the stakes for Tehran amid mounting economic distress.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (L) and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a press conference in Tehran on November 30, 2025.

Analysis

Turkey turns to Iran to contain Houthis as Saudi defense commitments grow

Ankara is trying to contain the fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis through Tehran’s help, but Iran may see an advantage in allowing the Houthis to maintain pressure on the kingdom.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

US President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse, New York, on Oct. 9, 2026.

Window for diplomacy with Iran may be closing as Trump again threatens Pickaxe Mountain

Israel still wary of Damascus, writes Ben Caspit from Israel; our correspondent in Tehran and Amberin Zaman explain how Iran and Turkey look to exploit Azerbaijan’s headscarf controversy; Qatar’s top diplomat offers energy assistance to Lebanon, Beatrice Farhat reports from Beirut.

Latest News

Analysis

How much oil can cushion another Middle East supply shock?

A vessel transits the Gulf of Oman

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Analysis

How hijab dispute is opening new front in Iran-Azerbaijan tensions

A woman walks past a wall painting in the colours of the Iranian flag in Tehran on February 25, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Trump rules out US troops in Iran, leaves Pickaxe Mountain strike on the table

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Oct. 7, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Female commander in Iran's Basij units assassinated: What to know

People attend the funeral ceremony of Mahan Setareh, a member of the paramilitary Basij force who was killed in the recent Israeli attacks on June 26, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. A cease-fire between Israel and Iran has brought an end to 12 days of daily aerial attacks that started with Israel's strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

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 Israeli soldier from the Golani brigade takes part in training near the city of Katzrin in the Golan Heights January 19, 2015. An Israeli helicopter strike in Syria killed a commander from Lebanon's Hezbollah and the son of the group's late military leader Imad Moughniyah, Hezbollah said, in a major blow that could lead to reprisal attacks.The strike hit a convoy carrying Jihad Moughniyah and commander Mohamad Issa, known as Abu Issa, in the province of Quneitra, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights,

Israel anticipates Hezbollah's reaction

Israeli security experts estimate that although Hezbollah is not interested in raising tensions with Israel, it will respond to the Jan. 18 attack on its convoy, either in the Golan Heights or against Israeli targets abroad.

Iranian-American Amir Mirza Hekmati, who has been sentenced to death by Iran's Revolutionary Court on the charge of spying for the CIA, stands in this undated still image taken from video in an undisclosed location made available to Reuters TV on January 9, 2012. Iran's Revolutionary Court has sentenced an Iranian-American man to death for spying for the CIA, the student news agency quoted a judiciary official as saying. Hekmati, a 28-year-old of Iranian descent born in the southwestern U.S. state of Arizo

Amid nuclear talks, Iran still trying to swap prisoners

US officials say there is no equivalence between Americans detained in Iran and Iranians jailed in the United States, and that the issue is separate from slow-moving nuclear talks.

The kiss that sent Saudi’s Iran ambassador home

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs has discussed in two recent interviews the major points of contention remaining between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

An Afghan man living Iran waits for his mobile phone's battery to be charged in Behesht Zahra cemetery, in south of Tehran April 1, 2008. On "Sizdah Bedar", the 13th day of the Iranian New Year, Afghans living Iran believe it is a bad omen to stay indoors, and most people spend the day amongst nature as well as visiting cemeteries to honour their deceased relatives. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN) - RTR1YZTS

Iranian civil society speaking up for Afghans' rights

Iranians are pressuring the government to help Afghan nationals with the problems they face, including discrimination and lack of access to schools.

Jihad Moughniyah (R), son of Lebanon's Hezbollah late military leader Imad Moughniyah, sits beside Hizbollah Deputy Secretary General Naeem Kassem during a ceremony marking his fathers 40th death in Beirut's suburbs in this March 24, 2008 file photo. An Israeli helicopter strike in Syria killed Moughniyah, sources close to Hezbollah said, in a major blow that could lead to reprisal attacks. The strike hit a convoy carrying Jihad Moughniyah and other Hezbollah members including commander Abu Issa, in the Sy

Hezbollah figure killed in Syria had ties to Soleimani

Jihad Mughniyah, a Hezbollah member among those killed the recent Israeli strike in Syria, had a close relationship with Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif before a meeting in Geneva January 14, 2015. Zarif said on Wednesday that his meeting with Kerry was important to see if progress could be made in narrowing differences on his country's disputed nuclear program. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (SWITZERLAND - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR4LDZW

Slow progress on Iran talks

In the Jan. 18 Iran nuclear talks, top officials expressed concern about making sufficient progress to meet the March 24 agreement deadline.

Congress takes first step on Iran sanctions

A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Jan. 19.

Behind the recent turmoil in Iran’s parliament

The turmoil in Iran's parliament stems from concern about the 2016 parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections.

US, Iran struggle to speed up nuclear deal

US and Iranian negotiators worked intensively all week on a document to try to speed up a nuclear accord, but are still finding difficulties.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif before a meeting in Geneva January 14, 2015. Zarif said on Wednesday that his meeting with Kerry was important to see if progress could be made in narrowing differences on his country's disputed nuclear program. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (SWITZERLAND - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR4LDWK

Obama vows to veto Iran sanctions as Zarif sees Kerry

Strong words from US President Obama in support of negotiations instead of sanctions accompanied the second meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Senator Robert Menendez(L),D-NJ, and Senator Lindsey Graham ,R-SC, walk on Capitol Hill January 6, 2015 in Washington, DC. The 114th Congress convened today with Republicans taking majority control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Congress to vote on toned-down Iran sanctions bill

Senate bill doesn’t mandate what a nuclear deal should look like, undercutting sanctions opponents.

Honoree actor George Clooney poses with the Cecille B. DeMille award backstage at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 11, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) (GOLDENGLOBES-BACKSTAGE) - RTR4KZXT

Iran paper under fire for Charlie Hebdo cover

An Iranian newspaper faces criticism for publishing a picture of actor George Clooney and a headline supporting French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.