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Politics & Security

US President Donald Trump watches the start of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.

Breaking | Last Updated: June 11, 2026, 1:58 pm

Trump calls off Iran strikes, says deal is close

There was no immediate comment from Iran.

President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Air Force One prior to departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York, on June 9, 2026.

Trump weighs releasing billions to Iran after blasting past payments

As mediators scramble to broker a peace deal, a key hurdle remains the release of Iranian assets frozen under US sanctions.

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam (R) shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan before their meeting in Beirut on Jan. 23, 2025.

Saudi Arabia lifts 5-year ban on Lebanon imports: What to know

Saudi Arabia had been a main donor for Lebanon before ties strained during Hezbollah’s rising influence in the country.

Latest News

Trump vows continued ‘very hard’ strikes on Iran as negotiators leave Qatar

Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Trump launches new airstrikes on Iran as deal stalls

In this US Navy released handout, an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, prepares to take off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 1, 2026 at Sea.

Russia in talks on 'reformatting' its military sites in Syria: What to know

AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Macron meets Tom Barrack as France seeks larger role in Lebanon

France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech after receiving the Pic du Midi nomination file for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List from officials of the Occitanie region at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Thomas Padilla / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during the UN General Assembly, New York, Sept. 27, 2018.

Analysis

Why Biden’s invitation to Netanyahu is not an Israeli achievement

President Joe Biden might opt to meet Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not at the White House but on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

The UN-chartered vessel MV Valsamitis is loaded to deliver 25,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat to Kenya and 5,000 tonnes to Ethiopia, at the port of Chornomorsk, east of Odessa on the Black Sea coast, Feb. 18, 2023.

Turkey, Russia discuss Ukraine grain export deal after Moscow halts pact

The conversation between the top Russian and Turkish diplomats comes as Ankara is amping up its efforts to salvage the deal critical for global food markets.

A young man looks at the Bayraktar TB2 drone, manufactured by Turkey's Baykar, as it is presented during the opening of the Teknofest Azerbaijan aerospace and technology festival at Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan, May 27, 2022.

Saudi Arabia signs major deal with Turkey to acquire Baykar drones

Riyadh has long been interested in Baykar drones and the possibility of producing the weapons in Saudi Arabia.

An aerial view shows a Moroccan flag measuring 60,000 square metres (645,835 square foot) and weighing 20 tonnes in the town of Dakhla, on May 8, 2010. The flag is an attempt to beat the record for the World's largest flag, a record which is currently held by Israel. AFP PHOTO/AIDA (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel-Morocco security ties set to deepen after Western Sahara recognition

The last two years have seen a quantum leap in the security and strategic cooperation between Israel and Morocco.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

In this handout image released by the South Korean Defense Ministry, a South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet takes off from the runway during the "Vigilant Storm" U.S.-South Korea joint aerial drill at Gunsan Air Base on Oct. 31, 2022 in Gunsan, South Korea.

US sends F-35s, Navy destroyer to Middle East amid aggressive moves by Russia, Iran

The Pentagon is bolstering its defenses in the region as Congress presses the Biden administration to crack down on Iran's oil and gas exports.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Kenyan Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua.

On Kenya visit, Cohen meets leader of African country with no ties to Israel

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen flew to Kenya for a short visit to expand the circle of peace, curb Iranian influence in the continent and promote Jerusalem’s bid to be accepted as an observer in the African Union organization.

Israeli and Moroccan flags are pictured during an official ceremony in Israel's Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv, on September 13, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: July 17, 2023, 2:32 pm

Israel recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara

The move follows the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

A picture taken on June 1, 2017, shows a general scene of a high-rise residential building toppling over as it leans on another tall building in a central neighborhood in Alexandria, Egypt.

Egypt building collapse leaves 9 dead, fourth in a month

The collapse of a building in Cairo on Monday is brings number of fatalities from these incidents in Egypt to 25 in the last four weeks.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa (C), the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Meet Jerusalem Patriarch championing Christians rights and soon to be Cardinal

Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the soon-to-be-nominated cardinal, has been spearheading the Vatican's battle against violence in Jerusalem in favor of inter-cultural/inter-religious dialogue for more than 20 years.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during their meeting ahead of the NATO Summit on July 11, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The summit is bringing together NATO members and partner countries heads of state from July 11-12 to chart the alliance's future, with Sweden's application for membership and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine as major topics on the summit agenda. (Photo by Filip Singer - Pool/Getty Images)

Inside Turkey's three dimensions for changing tune on Sweden's NATO bid

Turkey’s surprise decision on the Swedish NATO bid seems to be underpinned by considerations on defense and economic areas.

This handout photograph released by the Indian Ministry of Defense shows India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Kazakhstan Defense Minister Col. Gen. Ruslan Zhaxylykov (C) and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu (R) attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in New Delhi, India, April 28, 2023.

Can Iran balance dependence on China with economic openness on India?

The International North-South Transport Corridor project has become a matter of urgency for Russia, India and Iran, as it would help Moscow and Tehran develop new markets and evade sanctions.

Twitter or Threads? Egypt's activists join but not sold on Meta's idea yet

Activists weigh concerns about misogyny and chaos on the pre-existing platform vs. censorship and data collection on Meta's new offering.