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Iran

March 20, 2026

Tehran 12:10 pm

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Excess gas is burned at the oil refinery in Israel's northern city of Haifa late on March 19, 2026.

Analysis

Iran expands energy targets beyond Gulf as Red Sea and East Med come into play

In retaliation for strikes on its energy sector, Tehran's campaign against regional oil and gas infrastructure has intensified and broadened to include Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port and an Israeli refinery in Haifa.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

US President Donald Trump steps of Marine One as he returns to the White House on March 18, 2026, in Washington, DC.

Analysis

In Hormuz standoff, Trump struggles to rally allies

President Donald Trump again urged US allies to “step up," while insisting their help isn't needed unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Rabbi Daniel Walker and King Charles III view floral tributes during a visit to Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Oct. 20, 2025, in Manchester, England.

UK, Netherlands probe Iran links to plots targeting Jewish sites: What to know

British authorities said two men had spied on the Jewish community in London for Iran, and synagogues were recently targeted in Belgium and the Netherlands.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives to attend an event in the East Room of the White House, Washington, DC, March 5, 2026.

US weighs easing Iran oil sanctions amid Hormuz crisis: What to know

A possible move by the Treasury would reduce pressure on Iranian crude as Washington seeks to offset supply losses tied to Iran's virtual closure of the strait.

Latest News

Turkey, Qatar pledge to deepen defense ties, blame Israel for Iran war

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (2L) arrive to address a joint press conference in Doha on March 19, 2026. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How Iran's strike on Qatar gas field could impact LNG market for years

A picture of Qatar Energy's operating facilities on March 3, 2026 in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

After 35% surge, how far could Gulf disruptions push European gas?

In this aerial view, Storage tanks at Grain LNG importation terminal, operated by National Grid Plc sit near the River Medway in the Thames Estuary on March 12, 2026, in Isle of Grain, England.

US tells citizens to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran strikes energy sites: What to know

Lorries roll along the highway between Riyadh and al-Ahsa, some 200 kilometers east of the Saudi capital, on March 15, 2026. The war sparked by US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 has sparked chaos on global markets, and sent the price of oil soaring after the Islamic republic imposed control by force over the crucial artery. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP via Getty Images) /

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

Is Hamas setting up military force in Golan Heights?

Israel has accused Hamas of working on setting up a military force in the Syrian Golan Heights at the request of Iran.

Culture Alert: Art speaks to power in February

February exhibitions in the Middle East offer satirical and fantastic looks at politics and society, clearly demonstrating that the fighting spirit in the arts is far from being defeated by the powers that be.

Iranian soldiers march during the annual military parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak of its devastating 1980-1988 war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq, on September 22,2017 in Tehran.
President Hassan Rouhani vowed that Iran would boost its ballistic missile capabilities despite criticism from the United States and also France. / AFP PHOTO / str (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Will Iran’s military really divest from business holdings?

Despite its complex challenges, the Iranian military’s planned divestment from the economy holds the potential for more transparency and accountability.

The case for net neutrality in Iran

The further undermining of net neutrality in Iran draws mixed responses among Iranians.

Iran hopeful about Europe remaining in nuclear deal

Iran’s deputy foreign minister has expressed satisfaction with Europe's resistance to US pressures to kill the nuclear deal.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani arrives for a news conference in Tehran, Iran, May 22, 2017. TIMA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RC1CFEB6D770

Iran’s parliament rejects Rouhani’s anti-subsidy budget

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s budget proposal, which sought subsidy reforms, was rejected by Iran’s parliament.

Iranian students run for cover from tear gas at the University of Tehran during a demonstration driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran on December 30, 2017.
Students protested in a third day of demonstrations, videos on social media showed, but were outnumbered by counter-demonstrators. / AFP PHOTO / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Iran’s regional allies keep close eye on protest aftermath

While Iran’s regional allies have assured their supporters that the recent protests in the country are not a threat, the reality is that groups such as Hezbollah are highly vulnerable to any change in Iranian foreign policy.

Rouhani under fire over criticism of Shiite imams

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s apparent insistence that everyone can be criticized, including Shiite saints deemed infallible, riles the clergy.

Iran’s Interior Ministry outlines 3 reasons for recent protests

Iran’s Interior Ministry has issued a report on both the makeup of the Iran protests and reasons for them.

Icelandic musician discovers fan base in unlikely place

Young Iranians welcome the rare opportunity to see a popular international musician perform live in their country.

A Turkish military tank is seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC17EC8A27B0

GCC's silence on Turkey’s Afrin adventure is telling

The Sunni Gulf states have failed to make a unified statement on Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Syria, a sign of their competing interests.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump makes a statement on the administration's strategy for dealing with Iran, in the Diplomatic Reception Room in the White House, October 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Trump stated that the Iran nuclear deal is not in the best interests for the security of the United States, but stopped short of withdrawing from the 2015 agreement. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

US, Europe huddle on Iran after Trump ultimatum

The United States and major European powers are holding working group consultations to explore cooperation on Iran, but the Europeans say they will not renegotiate the nuclear deal.