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October 20, 2026

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Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrive to hold a press conference after a meeting in Tehran on October 19, 2026. The Russian foreign minister arrived in Iran on October 19, in his first visit since the outbreak of the Middle East war as Moscow seeks to play a mediating role. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How Lavrov's Tehran visit tests limits of Russia's influence over Iran

As Tehran looks for an off-ramp from renewed conflict, Moscow is positioning itself as a diplomatic partner while pushing Iran to deliver on long-delayed economic deals.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Ships are anchored off the coast of Khasab in Oman's Musandam Governorate, near the Strait of Hormuz, on Oct. 2, 2026.

IRGC claims it downed US drone, set two tankers ablaze near Hormuz

Iran has stepped up attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.

Safin HAMID / AFP via Getty Images

Iran says deal reached with Iraq to expel Kurdish separatists: What to know

Iran said an agreement was reached with Iraq to expel or hand over members of Kurdish separatist groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan.

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.

Latest News

Analysis

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

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

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

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

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

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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

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

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

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

Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam (L) shakes hands with former Lebanese prime minister Saad al-Hariri upon his arrival at the government's headquarters in Beirut August 8, 2014. Hariri arrived back in Lebanon on Friday for the first time in three years, a visit seen as reasserting his leadership over the Sunni community after a deadly incursion by Islamist militants in the northeast. REUTERS/Georges Farah (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR41O2O

Could Maliki's departure spur Lebanon’s presidential election?

Many Lebanese are looking for signs that the departure of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Iraq will lead to progress in Lebanon's presidential race, but diplomatic sources are quick to downplay any such hopes.

Iran's atomic chief wants detonator issue closed

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran complained that the number of questions regarding Iran's nuclear program were increasing, despite Iran's cooperation and previous understandings.

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) speaks during a meeting with members of his cabinet at the White House in Washington November 28, 2012. Obama said on Wednesday he hopes he can reach agreement with the U.S. Congress before Christmas to avoid the looming "fiscal cliff" and shrink the budget deficit, and urged supporters to pressure lawmakers via Twitter and other social media.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTR3AZPA

Some urge US to pursue bigger nuclear deal with Iran

Former US government officials including former White House and State Department Iran official Dennis Ross have said the US should pursue a comprehensive deal which may recognize Iran's right to enrichment but at the same time be acceptable to the United States.

$Iraqi newly elected parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi (C) stands between his deputies Haidar Al Abadi (L) and Aram Sheikh Mohamad (R) in Baghdad on July 15, 2014. Iraq's fractious parliament elected a speaker after two failed sittings, with al-Juburi winning comfortably according to a tally announced live on state television. The much-delayed election kickstarts a political process which should also see lawmakers agree on a federal president, who then designates the largest bloc, the candidate of which has$

How Haider al-Abadi became Iraq's next prime minister

Iranian officials helped lay the groundwork for the appointment of Iraq's new prime minister-designate.

Iran, US try volleyball diplomacy

Iran’s national volleyball team gets a warm reception in “Tehrangeles” in another first for US-Iran relations.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh talks to journalists as he arrives at his hotel ahead of an OPEC meeting in Vienna December 3, 2013. Iran will take six months after sanctions are lifted to return to full oil output capacity of 4 million barrels per day, Zanganeh said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader (AUSTRIA - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTX1626B

Iran’s oil minister accuses former officials of $2.7 billion oil fraud

Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh has claimed that former ministers under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration cooperated with billionaire Babak Zanjani to steal $2.7 billion in government money.

Iran's representatives led by their top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili (back 4th L) take part in talks on Iran's nuclear programme in the Kazakh city of Almaty on February 27, 2013. World powers and Iran were due to respond today to offers presented by both sides in a final day of talks aimed at breaking a decade of deadlock over Tehran's nuclear drive.AFP PHOTO / POOL / ILYAS OMAROV (Photo credit should read ILYAS OMAROV/AFP/Getty Images)

P5+1 hopes new Iran nuclear team responds to Almaty offer

Political directors will meet in Brussels on July 16 in anticipation of resuming nuclear talks upon the election of new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. These leaders hope the new Iran nuclear team will respond substantively to a confidence building proposal presented to Iran in Almaty, Kazakhstan in February.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (not seen) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2013 in New York City. While their have been talks of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United states restarting, Rouhani turned down an opportunity to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama earlier in the week. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

US sees opportunity in Iran election for progress in nuclear talks

The US hopes that progress in addressing international concerns over Iran's nuclear program will take place under the newly elected more moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouahni who has taken a "positive tone."

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton holds a news conference after an European Union emergency foreign ministers meeting to discuss the crisis in Mali January 17, 2013. European Union states agreed on Thursday to send hundreds of military personnel to train Mali government forces in fighting Islamist rebels, whose campaign to impose Islamic law across north Africa is causing growing unease in Western capitals. REUTERS/Yves Herman (BELGIUM - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT) - RTR3CKC1

EU's Ashton hopes Iran nuclear talks resume soon

After meeting with political directors from the P5+1 countries, lead international negotiator, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, expressed an eagerness to resume nuclear talks with Iran after the election of the Islamic Republic's Hassan Rouhani to be President.

Iran's supreme leader rules out broader engagement with US

Iran's supreme leader supports the continuation of the nuclear talks but has criticized bilateral talks between Iranian and US officials.

A general view of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington February 28, 2013. Positions hardened on Wednesday between U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican congressional leaders over the budget crisis even as they arranged to hold last-ditch talks to prevent harsh automatic spending cuts beginning this week. Looking resigned to the $85 billion in "sequestration" cuts starting on Friday, government agencies began reducing costs and spelling out to employees how furloughs will work. REUTERS/Jason Reed

131 House members sign letter supporting US diplomacy with Iran (Updated)

17 House Republicans and 114 House democrats signed a letter to President Obama urging him to commit to diplomacy following the election of new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani arrives at Pudong International Airport, ahead of the fourth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit in Shanghai May 20, 2014. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3Q000

Rouhani says 'to hell' with nuclear critics

President Hassan Rouhani has lashed out at critics of the nuclear negotiations, calling them "timid and cowardly."