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October 21, 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

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) arrives at 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) - RTX13CKO

P5+1 consider strategy for meeting new Iran team in NY

New Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif is expected to meet with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in New York this week to discuss the next round of P5+1 Iran nuclear negotiations.

President Barack Obama is briefed by Puneet Talwar, Senior Director for Iraq, Iran and the Gulf States, in the Oval Office, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promo

US Iran team shuffles as nuclear talks set to resume

President Obama has nominated senior White House Iran Adviser Puneet Talwar, a member of US delegation to the P5+1 Iran nuclear talks, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs; Rob Malley, a former Clinton administration NSC Middle East adviser, is expected to succeed Talwar.

Turkey's Twitter "spies"

The political war between the Erdogan government and the Gülen Movement has a propaganda aspect, with each side seeing the other as the proxy of a detested enemy.

Qasem Soleimani says disarming Gaza resistance is wrong

The head of Iran's Quds Force has officially stated that Iran will continue to support those who fight Israel.

In letter, Obama told Iran's Rouhani he sees way to resolve nuclear issue

In an interview with NBC's Ann Curry, Iranaian president Hassan Rouhani said he has "full authority to make a nuclear deal with the west" and that the letter he received form President Obama had a "constructive tone".

Iran's Rouhani urges West to 'seize' moment for diplomacy

In a Washington Post op-ed newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged world leaders to "seize" the opportunity to work with the more moderate Iranian President and focus on improving issues from Syria to concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton talks with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines at the 47th International Conference on Security Policy in the hotel 'Bayerischer Hof' in Munich, February 5, 2011. REUTERS/Jens Meyer/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - RTXXHKZ

Who would broker an Obama-Rouhani encounter in NY?

US Deputy National Security Adviser for strategic communications Ben Rhodes said there could be US-Iran "interaction at different levels" at the UN this week.

British Foreign Minister William Hague (L). gestures as he meets with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the beginning of their bilateral meeting at the United Nations in New York September 23, 2013. REUTERS/Jason DeCrow/Pool (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX13X4E

Kerry and new Iran FM Zarif to meet in NY

After meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif will join a P5+1 ministerial meeting where he will meet face to face with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani addresses the 68th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, September 24, 2013. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX13YBB

Why no Obama Rouhani meeting: White House offered, Iran declined

A meeting between US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is "too complicated for the Iranians to do at this point" according to senior administration officials.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (C) is approached by staff members after a news conference in New York September 27, 2013. New Iranian President Rouhani said on Friday he wanted talks with major powers on Iran's nuclear program to yield results in a short period of time and that the improved mood in U.S.-Iranian relations could lead to better ties. REUTERS/Adrees Latif (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTX142AH

Rouhani Says Nuclear Issue Can Be Resolved

In a discussion with, among others, Al-Monitor's Andrew Parisiliti, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the nuclear concerns can be resolved, maintaining that Iran has nothing to hide as all of its sites are under IAEA inspection.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) are seated during a meeting of the Foreign Ministers representing the permanent five member countries of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York September 26, 2013. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTX141CT

Iran's Zarif meets Kerry to 'jump start' nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry met privately for 30 minutes to discuss the nuclear negotiations in the highest level meeting between the two countries in decades.

U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during a phone call in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington September 27, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama and new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held the historic phone call on Friday, in the highest level conversation between the estranged nations in more than three decades. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Obama said both men had directed their teams to work expeditiously toward an agreement on Iran's nuclear

Obama calls Iran's Rouhani

US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had a 15 minute long phone conversation during which the two leaders discussed the nuclear negotiations in the highest level contact between the two countries since 1979.