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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

Turkey’s exports decrease amid regional tension

Turkey has suffered unexpected declines in its exports to Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Ukraine and Russia, though Turkish exports to Russia may have more potential following its recent foodstuff import boycott of the United States and European Union.

Hezbollah supporters wave Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian and Hezbollah flags as they listen to their leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addressing his supporters during a rally to mark "Quds (Jerusalem) Day" in Beirut's southern suburbs July 25, 2014. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST RELIGION) - RTR4056R

Gaza war brings Hamas, Hezbollah closer

The war on Gaza offers an opportunity to renegotiate the strategic relationship between Hamas and Hezbollah, whose relationship has been severed over the past three years, providing major obstacles can be overcome.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton addresses the media in Moscow, June 19, 2012. Iran and world powers failed to resolve differences over Tehran's nuclear programme on Tuesday and agreed to a technical follow-up meeting in Istanbul on July 3, Ashton said. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR33VN2

Ashton congratulates Iran's Rouhani, urges renewed nuclear talks

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton sent a letter to new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulating him and expressing an eagerness to pursue a deal on Iran's nuclear program.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton arrives at NATO headquarters after meeting Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci (not pictured) and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic (not pictured) in Brussels April 19, 2013. Serbia and its former province of Kosovo struck an historic accord on Friday to settle relations, potentially setting Belgrade on the path to membership of the European Union in a major milestone in the region's recovery from the collapse of Yugoslavia. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir (BEL

Top Iran, EU diplomats agree to meet to plan new nuclear talks

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and new Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif have agreed to meet, fueling speculation that Iran's nuclear negotiating file might be put under the control of newly elected President Hassan Rouhani.

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
A man looks at newspapers at a news stand in Tehran March 4, 2012. Hardliners allied with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei maintained their lead in the country's parliamentary vote, with partial results on Sunday showing supporters of the president trailing behind. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR2YTIX

Rouhani announces new guild for Iran journalists

Iran's president has announced plans to open a new guild for journalists, sidestepping the issue of the closure of the previous professional association.

The headquarters of the Washington Post newspaper is seen in downtown Washington, DC, August 7, 2013. The building, estimated to be worth around 80 million USD, has been up for sale prior to the newspaper's sale to Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos earlier this week. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Detained Post journalist accused of spying in Iran media

Conservative Iranian media organizations have accused jailed Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian of spying, a crime punishable by death.

TEHRAN, IRAN - JUNE 04: An Iranian police helicopter passes above portraits of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) and the former Ayatollah Khomeini outside Khomeini's shrine on the 25th anniversary of his death on June 4, 2014 on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran. Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, is still revered by many Iranians, and his portrait hangs throughout the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Ayatollah Khamenei, Assad spoke of reforms

Iran's former ambassador to Syria conceded in an interview that the Syrian government made mistakes in the first stages of the Syrian protests and revealed that Iran's supreme leader wrote a letter to Syria's president urging reforms.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani addresses the audience during a meeting in Ankara June 10, 2014. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3T16B

Rouhani slams Israel for 'genocide' in Gaza

At a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Israel's policy is simply to eradicate the Palestinians.

Iranian men pose in a shop selling jeans in Tajrish Bazaar in Tehran on October 7, 2013. A campaign launched by young Iranians on internet networking sites Facebook and Twitter were mocking Israeli President Benjamin Netayahu following his comments during an interview diffused on October 5, in which he implied there is a supposed ban on wearing jeans and listening to Western music in the Islamic Republic. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

Botox on the rise among Iranian men

Iran’s Ministry of Health has announced that over the past year there has been a 20% increase in rejuvenation procedures received by Iranian men.

Iran's Rouhani wishes Jews blessed Rosh Hashanah

In a shift in tone from previous Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, newly elected President Hassan Rouhani wished the Jewish people a happy Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif smiles during a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari (not in picture) at the Baghdad International Airport September 8, 2013. Zarif visited Iraq on Sunday to discuss what he called the "dangerous situation" in Syria and the wider region. REUTERS/ Saad Shalash (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX13CKS

Iran's Rosh Hashana Twitter diplomacy stirs amazement, disbelief

Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif tweeted Rosh Hashanah greetings in an unexpected change in tone from Tehran.

World Jewish body cautiously welcomes Iran outreach, but says words not enough

The World Jewish Congress praised Hassan Rouhani's words of tolerance on the Jewish New Year, but noted that words must be followed by "concrete actions."