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Iran

March 22, 2026

Tehran 1:29 am

14°C

Traffic rolls along a main throughfare under a banner with images of past and present leaders that reads in Farsi, "Domino fall", as daily life returns to the streets following nationwide protests, in the Iranian capital Tehran on January 19, 2026. Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into protests widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years. Limited internet access briefly returned in Iran before dropping again, a monitor said January

Analysis

Iran’s longest-ever internet blackout leaves 99% offline: What to know

Facing a historic internet blackout, Iranians are locked in a struggle with authorities to find loopholes to get around this communications crackdown, leading to "shutdowns within a shutdown."

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrive for a documents signing ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Unclear chains of command in Iran complicate Russia’s diplomatic play

Multiple power centers in Tehran and the rising influence of the IRGC could complicate Moscow’s ties with Iran and its hopes of playing a mediating role in the conflict.

Anton Mardasov

By Anton Mardasov

Saeed Jalili, the radical presidential candidate of Iran, among supporters at Shahada airport on July 2, 2024.

Analysis

Meet the hard-liner who could replace Larijani as Iran’s wartime security chief

As Iran weighs a successor to its slain security chief, Ali Larijani, the choice may determine whether the Islamic Republic deepens confrontation or preserves its narrowing pathways to easing tensions.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Soldiers board a US Marines CH-53 Super Stallion during an airfield seizure exercise as part of the US-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercise at San Vicente Airport in Palawan on May 1, 2024.

How deployment of 4,000+ US Marines could change war in Iran

Two flotillas bearing thousands of US Marines will give Trump more options to open the Strait of Hormuz, but deploying them to the Gulf will necessitate expanding a war that's already widely unpopular at home.

Latest News

Iran’s Hormuz choke hold leaves West divided as energy markets reel

Indian vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat state on March 17, 2026 after Iran allowed it to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy corridor that remains disrupted by the Middle East war.

Why a Kharg Island blockade could be Iran’s greatest economic threat

A picture taken on March 12, 2017, shows an Iranian tanker docking at the platform of the oil facility in the Khark Island, on the shore of the Gulf.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera commentators go dark on social media: What to know

This picture taken on August 11, 2025, shows the headquarters of the Qatari state-funded news television network Al Jazeera in the capital Doha. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Narrow opening: Can Lebanon’s push for talks shift Israel’s war calculus?

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) wearing sunglasses shakes hands with Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam prior to their meeting at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on January 23, 2026. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP via Getty Images)

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

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

United States Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) chairs his first Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington January 21, 2015. Top U.S. Treasury and State Department officials said on Wednesday that, despite reports, Russia had not entered into oil-for-goods deals with Iran in violation of international sanctions. REUTERS/Gary Cameron (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - GM1EB1M02QO01

Can Congress avoid blowing up the Iran deal?

If President Donald Trump doesn’t certify Iranian compliance with the 2015 agreement later this month, the US Senate only needs a bare majority to reinstate deal-breaking sanctions.

Iranian media takes interest in Catalan independence

Iranian media has given widely positive coverage of the Catalan independence referendum, contrasting its critical coverage of last week's Iraqi Kurdistan vote.

‘The last Iranian Americans’

The Trump administration’s "Travel Ban 3.0" runs the risk of turning current Iranian Americans into the last of their kind.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive for a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, September 28, 2017. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC1FB3502600

Putin boxed in by Iran, Turkey on Iraqi Kurdish referendum

The Russian president could find himself at odds with Iran if he misplays a weak hand.

Turkey, Iran, Iraq in shaky alignment against Iraqi Kurdistan

Turkey, Iran and Iraq have closed ranks over the independence vote in Iraqi Kurdistan, but how long can their partnership survive?

Culture Alert: October dominated by film festivals in Middle East

A number of film festivals, from short films to documentaries, take place in Beirut, Tehran, Haifa and Istanbul throughout October — where many of the regional countries’ nominees for Oscars will be screened.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas arrive for a meeting in Moscow, Russia, December 23, 2015. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov - GF10000274576

Kurdish referendum a double-edged sword for Russia

Although Russia says it respects Iraqi Kurds' desire for self-determination, their independence is probably not in Russia's best interest.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevedo talks to the audience during the International Poultry and Pork show in Sao Paulo, Brazil August 29, 2017. REUTERS/Nacho Doce - RC1D9C8ECA60

Iran abandons hope for WTO accession

Although many thought Iran might finally be able to join the World Trade Organization following the nuclear deal, the Islamic Repubic appears to have lost hope of becoming part of the influential body.

Thousands turn out in Iran for burial of soldier beheaded by IS

An Iranian soldier who was killed in Syria in August received a large public funeral in Iran.

Palestinians react to opening of first US military base in Israel

The Sept. 18 announcement of the establishment of the first permanent US-Israeli military base in the Negev desert, in southern Israel, is evidence of the strategic military cooperation between the Americans and Israelis.

Iran’s judiciary files lawsuit against Telegram founder

Iran’s judiciary has filed a lawsuit against the Russian founder of the most popular messaging app in Iran.

Iranian media say Barzani fixer for West, Israel

Iranian officials accuse the West and Israel of being behind the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iraqi-Kurdistan