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Politics & Security

People from Tehran province gather in support and allegiance to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, while holding Iranian flags and images of both the new and former leaders of Iran, on June 12, 2026, at Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran.

Analysis

Deal with US tests Iran's post-Khamenei power balance

It would be a mistake to treat the hard-liners who oppose the deal as fringe.

Jamshid Jamshidi

By Jamshid Jamshidi

This photograph shows a Turkish national flag at the Razi-Kapikoy border crossing with Iran next to a black flag on the Iranian side, following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in eastern Turkey on March 2, 2026.

Analysis

Turkey eyes gains from US-Iran deal as Ankara balances Tehran, Washington

Turkey sees the US-Iran memorandum as a chance to reduce regional spillover risks, revive trade with Tehran and gain diplomatic breathing room.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot gives a press conference in Tel Aviv, on December 4, 2018.

Can political novice Eisenkot defeat Netanyahu in upcoming elections?

The former military chief of staff is emerging as the prime minister's strongest rival in upcoming elections, overtaking former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in recent polls.

An Iranian woman walks past a mural depicting late Iranian supreme leaders Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (L) and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (R) in Tehran on June 18, 2026.

Analysis

How Lebanon, Hormuz and nuclear tensions are testing fragile US-Iran deal

The heated debate in Tehran revolves around whether the agreement can absorb external shocks without collapsing into renewed confrontation — or whether it is structurally closer to a managed pause in a continuing cycle of escalation.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Latest News

Analysis

How Netanyahu used Lebanon strikes to push back on Trump’s Iran deal

US President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 29, 2025.

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

Who is Lebanon’s Suleiman Frangieh, sanctioned by US for Hezbollah ties?

Marada Movement leader Suleiman Frangieh (L) meets with Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi (C) and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea (R), Bkerke, north of Beirut, Nov. 14, 2018.

Analysis

Fears in Lebanon that US-Iran deal boosts Hezbollah without restraining Israel

Lebanese soldiers man a check point beside a Hezbollah flag at the entrance to Nabatieh on June 15, 2026.

Beatrice Farhat

By Beatrice Farhat

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

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

Gaza

The Palestine Briefing: The forgotten Gazans

In our weekly Palestine Briefing newsletter, Daoud Kuttab rounds up the biggest stories from the region.

Lebanon bank

Lebanese army conducts bank heist training

The exercise follows several armed bank holdups in Lebanon by customers who are unable to access their savings. One Lebanese organization criticized the army for holding the training.

Ahmad lies in his hospital bed on his sixth day of treatment at Halba's government hospital in Akkar.

Lebanon begins vaccination campaign as cholera cases soar

The crisis-hit country’s collapsing water and sewage infrastructure has opened a breeding ground for waterborne illness.

COP27

Green hydrogen plant launches in Egypt during COP27's second day

More side deals to reduce climate change are set to be announced during the COP27 summit in Egypt.

A man in Tehran on Oct. 30, 2022, holds a copy of the Hammihan newspaper, featuring on its cover a headline mentioning the statement by the Tehran journalists' association.

Iran charges journalists amid mounting protest toll

While the death toll from nearly two months of consistent protests continued to rise, the government was pushing to contain the unrest with severe judicial measures.

al-Hol

Iraq suspends repatriations from Syria's notorious Islamic State camp al-Hol

Iraq’s new government is rethinking how to deal with the thousands of Iraqis stuck for years in northeastern Syria's al-Hol camp.

Activists play football during a symbolic action by LGBT+ associations in front of the FIFA museum in Zurich on Nov. 8, 2022.

Qatar World Cup ambassador says homosexuality is 'haram'

Qatar’s human rights record is under scrutiny in the lead-up to the World Cup, particularly regarding the treatment of LGBTQ people and laborers.

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

What Netanyahu’s return means for Israel-Turkey ties

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a congratulatory message to incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling that nascent cooperation between the two countries would profit the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (L).

Erdogan unswayed by Swedish PM's charm offensive

The Swedish prime minister met the Turkish president in Ankara amid the ongoing NATO dispute over Sweden and Finland's accession to the alliance.

C0P27

Israel, Jordan, UAE press ahead on deal for water, solar energy

Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have inked a memorandum of understanding to speed progress on a deal to exchange solar energy for desalinated water.

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meets with Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben-Gvir at his office, Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2022.

Netanyahu’s far-right partners in Israel worry US

With far-right politicians expected to become senior ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government, Israel’s relations with the United States could take a serious hit.

A stun grenade goes off near Palestinian demonstrators during clashes with Israeli forces during a protest against the establishment of Israeli outposts, in Beit Dajan, east of Nablus, West Bank, Nov. 4, 2022.

Prominent Lion’s Den fighters turn themselves in to Palestinian Authority

More fighters from the Lion’s Den group in Nablus turned themselves in to the Palestinian Authority, as the Israeli army continues its operations to eliminate the group.