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Iran

May 8, 2026

Tehran 5:42 am

23°C

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, the Iran-flagged tugboat Basim sails near a ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

What to know about Iran's 'Persian Gulf Strait Authority' to control Hormuz traffic

The establishment of an entity seeking to control maritime transportation in the Strait of Hormuz is the latest sign that Iran wants to formalize authority in the strategic waterway.

Popular Mobilization Forces

US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias

The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China in Beijing on May 6, 2026. Credit: Telegram

Analysis

China shores up Iran support as Trump seeks exit

China understands how badly Trump wants an exit from the conflict. But timing is critical: if no agreement is reached before Trump arrives in China on Thursday, Beijing would be better positioned to set the agenda.

Joyce Karam

An Iranian woman holds up an image of Iran's new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iran president says he held official meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei: What to know

The president’s announcement marks the first public confirmation of a meeting between a senior official and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the start of the war.

Latest News

Iran, China discuss Hormuz reopening amid potential US-Iran talks

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, talks to his Iranian Counterpart Abbas Araghchi, left, during the bilateral meeting in Beijing, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

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

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to film or take pictures in Tehran.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) speaks with Ali Akbar Velayati, senior advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Ahmadinejad's visit to Latin American countries January 14, 2012. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS)

Iran, Israel and Their Red Lines Over Syria

Meir Javedanfar writes that a transfer of Syria’s chemical-weapon stockpiles to Iran may be a better option that the weapons falling into the hands of groups linked to al-Qaeda.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu draws a red line on the graphic of a bomb used to represent Iran's nuclear program as he addresses the 67th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, September 27, 2012. The red line he drew represents a point where he believes, the international community should tell Iran that they will not be allowed to pass without intervention. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR38I7P

Israel Must Invest to Deter Iran

Alon Ben David writes that investing in preparing a military option against a potential Iranian nuclear weapon is not an "adventurous fantasy."

A general view of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, is seen during a session boycotted by the opposition parties in Jerusalem June 17, 2009. Israel's parliament is expected to give its initial approval to the 2009 and 2010 state budgets later on Wednesday. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTR24QNR

Israel Defense Budget Can Be Cut

Idan Grinbaum calls for a serious public debate and major cuts in the Israel defense budget.

Former state representatives of the U.S. and Germany address a news conference in Berlin, February 3, 2010. Pictured are L-R: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, Germany's former President Richard von Weizsaecker, Germany's former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Germany's former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS)

Shultz Opposes Containment, Backs Diplomacy With Iran

Venerable US statesman and former secretary of state George Shultz has modest goals for Egypt and Syria, but urges a combination of bilateral diplomacy and more robust action short of war to deal with Iran.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem January 27, 2013. REUTERS/Ariel Schalit/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3D101

Israel's Prime Minister Has Several Fronts to Worry About

Warnings that Syria's chemical weapons may fall into the wrong hands are raising concerns in Israel of a regional conflict, writes Ben Caspit.

Iran Cracks Down on Journalists Ahead of Elections

Omid Memarian talks to reporters in Iran who escaped arrest about the most aggressive raid on independent media since 2009, and about attempts to sever contact with the outside world.

Seized highly corrosion-resistant valves are seen inside a warehouse in an unknown location in this handout picture provided by the Spanish police January 11, 2013. Spanish police arrested two men and seized the contents of a truck bound for Iran loaded with materials destined for use in the Islamic state's nuclear programme, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.The European Union has banned the sale of such material to Iran, which denies Western accusations it is seeking to develop a capability to make nuc

Iran's Window for Nuclear Diplomacy Closing

The Iranian elite is already absorbed in pre-presidential election politicking and is in no hurry to resume nuclear talks as long as the offer on the table does not include significant sanctions relief, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (L), Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr (C) and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi attend a news conference after a meeting regarding the Syrian crisis, in Cairo September 17, 2012. Saudi Arabia stayed away from a meeting on the Syria crisis convened by regional powers on Monday, setting back a forum grouping Iran - President Bashar al-Assad's main Middle East ally - and his leading opponents in the region. The "contact group" of Egypt, Iran, Turkey a

How Iran Lost Turkey’s Islamists

Mustafa Akyol explains the deterioration in Turkish-Iranian relations in the past three years, mostly as a result of differences over Syria.

Former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R) takes the podium after U.S. President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Hagel to be his new Secretary of Defense, at the White House in Washington January 7, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY)

Setting the Record Straight On Hagel, Iran Sanctions

Chuck Hagel’s record on Iran sanctions shows a clear understanding of the threat from Iran.

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 woman uses an iMac computer in a shop at a mobile and computer shopping complex in northern Tehran January 18, 2011. Although there were no queues outside Tehran's computer stores when Apple's iPad hit the market last year, the latest must-have gadget has quietly appeared in shops, despite tightened economic sanctions. On a recent cold winter's evening, th

Year-Old Virtual US Embassy in Iran Tallies Its Hits and Misses

A virtual US embassy provides Iranians with news and services, but is no substitute for the real thing, reports Barbara Slavin.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) leaves the Likud-Yisrael Beitenu headquarters in Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Elections Unlikely to Change Israel’s Iran Strategy

The results of the recent Israeli elections are unlikely to bring much change to Israel’s Iran strategy, writes Meir Javedanfar.

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.

An exchange currency dealer sits at his shop as he waits for customer in Tehran's business district October 24, 2011. Iranian media reported last week that monetary authorities had reversed a six-month-old decision to cut interest on bank deposits, aiming to mop up excess cash in the economy and halt a dangerous rise of inflation. The news made sense to econom

Is Iranian Hyperinflation a Mirage?

Djavad Salehi-Isfahani suggests that the conventional wisdom of so-called Iranian hyperinflation caused by crippling Western sanctions deserves a closer look, as there is lack of connection between devaluation, printing of money and inflation in Iran. Guessing wrong on the impact of sanctions can be costly for US policy.