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Politics & Security

President Donald Trump speaks before signing a proclamation in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 11, 2026.

Trump punts nuclear question with placeholder Iran deal

Key questions about Iran’s nuclear program remain unanswered by the interim agreement.

This photo illustration taken in Damascus on May 20, 2026, shows the X account of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on a smartphone displaying his tweet to President Donald Trump.

Syria reports sabotage of undersea internet cable between Tartous and Alexandria: What to know

The affected cable connects Syria to Egypt and is one of four cables that link to the coastal city of Tartous.

A general view shows the Awad oil field in the eastern Qamishli countryside in northeastern Syria, on February 9, 2026. (Photo by Amjad Kurdo / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Exclusive

US firm HKN Energy takes over 7 oil fields from Syria's Kurds

HKN Energy has begun operating seven oil fields under a 25-year agreement with Damascus, marking the first major production-sharing deal between Syria's new government and an international oil company.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, on May 22, 2026.

Turkey’s Fidan heads to Moscow as S-400 sanctions issue returns to fore

The visit comes weeks before Turkey hosts NATO leaders, on the sidelines of which Ankara hopes to reach a deal with Washington over CAATSA sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400s.

Latest News

Gulf cautiously welcomes US-Iran deal as Hezbollah congratulates Tehran

Veiled women in black Chadors wave Iran and Hezbollah flags during commemoration at the Iranian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 22, 2026.

Trump, Vance sign Iran-US framework

A police officer stands holding a flag in Valiasr Square beneath a mural of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on April 23, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

Analysis

'He knew it was over': Inside Netanyahu’s response to Trump’s Iran deal as Israel recalibrates

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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

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

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi watches combat drones alongside high-ranking officials and commanders during a military parade marking the country's annual army day in Tehran on April 18, 2023.

Iran flaunts military hardware on Army Day as it threatens Israel

At a moment of escalating war of words, Iran's president said Israel will face destruction should it strike his country, which the Jewish state has long considered as an existential threat.

A woman enjoys the sea as a Greek army rib returns from patrol on the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo.

Turkey, Greece row reignited over 'Turkaegean' trademark dispute

Turkey’s tourism campaign with the slogan “Turkaegean” reignites tensions in Athens, which considers it both cultural usurpation and a threat to Greek sovereignty in the Aegean.

The US Treasury Department building is seen in Washington, DC, January 19, 2023, following an announcement by the US Treasury that it had begun taking measures Thursday to prevent a default on government debt, as Congress heads towards a high-stakes clash between Democrats and Republicans over raising the borrowing limit. - The world's biggest economy could face severe disruption with Republicans threatening to refuse the usual annual rubber stamping of a rise in the legal borrowing limit, and this could pu

US imposes sanctions on Hezbollah-linked money laundering network

The new sanctions target individuals and companies across nine countries, including Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, tied to a Belgian-Lebanese art and diamond dealer.

Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar (R) meets Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad (L) during an official visit in Tunis, Tunisia on April 17, 2023 (Tunisian Foreign Ministry)

Syria FM visits Tunisia in latest Arab embrace of Assad

Mekdad's three-day visit to Tunis marks the first by a Syrian official since the North African country cut ties with the Syrian regime in February 2012 over its brutal crackdown against peaceful protests.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (R) meets with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Doha, Qatar, Dec. 5, 2022.

UAE, Qatar to reopen embassies within weeks

UAE-Qatar embassies are expected to reopen with new ambassadors in their posts within weeks or by mid-June latest, according to Reuters sources.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud attends a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow on March 9, 2023.

Saudi foreign minister arrives in Syria, meets Assad

The visit is Prince Faisal bin Farhan's first since the start of the civil war and follows the Syrian foreign minister's trip to Saudi Arabia last week.

Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers in China

Analysis

Saudi-Israeli normalization drifts further away as Riyadh courts Iran

The planned visit by a Hamas delegation to Riyadh reflects Saudi Arabia's new diplomatic priorities, which do not include normalization with Israel.

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

People run past a military vehicle amid clashes in the city, Khartoum, Sudan, April 15, 2023.

US convoy attacked as rival forces clash in Sudan

Following an attack on the EU ambassador in Khartoum and a US diplomatic convoy, the United States called on the parties to the current conflict to secure the safety of diplomatic personnel.

Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum on April 16, 2023.

Alarm in Washington as Sudan slips into chaos

More than 180 people are dead after three days of heavy fighting between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary force.

The Horn of Africa

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel meet with Reza Pahlavi, son of late Iranian Shah, Jerusalem, April 17 2023.

Son of Iran’s shah Pahlavi arrives in Israel on controversial visit

Reza and Yasmine Pahlavi arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday in a visit that could further fuel tension between Iran and Israel

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attends the opening ceremony of the Istanbul Financial Center, on April 17, 2023, in Istanbul.

Turkey's Erdogan opens half-empty financial hub in Istanbul ahead of polls

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denies the country is facing an economic crisis, while attacking the opposition for making backroom deals with money lenders.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a day ahead of his scheduled meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Palestinian President Abbas visits Saudi Arabia to ‘strengthen’ relations

Abbas’ visit follows reports in regional media that a Hamas delegation was going to visit the kingdom.