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Politics & Security

A man stands near a boat moored along a beach on the Caspian Sea coast in Sorkhrud in Iran's northern Mazandaran province on March 24, 2026, where many families have relocated due to the ongoing war with the US and Israel. Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on February 28, killing the Islamic republic's supreme leader and sparking a war that has since spread across the Middle East. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images) /

Analysis

Why Ukraine's strike on Iranian ship marks dangerous new phase in ties

Tehran has warned Kyiv of consequences, as pent-up tensions couple with what Iran believes is Ukrainian alignment with the US and Israel in the recent war.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets Iraq Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi upon his arrival in Ankara, July 28, 2026.

Explainer

Erdogan hosts Zaidi, touts ‘historic step’ in Turkey-Iraq energy ties

The Turkish president outlined Ankara’s priorities with the new Iraqi government during the Iraqi leader’s first visit to Turkey: security, energy cooperation and the Development Road.

Israel PM office

Netanyahu lauds 'excellent' Trump meeting as Israel pushes harder Iran line

Hours before the meeting, President Donald Trump signaled impatience with the Israeli leader.

Latest News

Khamenei says Hezbollah's agenda 'strategic mandate' for Iran

A giant billboard depicts late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (2nd L), and his son Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, with Arabic writing that reads: "Thank you Iran," in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, on June 15, 2026.

On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump

Trump Netanyahu

Zaidi to meet Erdogan as Turkey-Iraq ties take off, Kurds feel sidelined

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (not pictured) at the Pentagon on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.

Trump says Iran seeks talks after strikes halted

US President Donald Trump takes questions from the media during a bilateral meeting with President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office of the White House on July 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.

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

Defense Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh (L) called on Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz (R).

With new pact, Israel and India boost defense ties, eye $905M aircraft deal: What to know

The new defense pact and potential defense deal come as Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visits Delhi this week.

Ghazal Hashmi walks in the annual Norfolk State University Homecoming Parade, on Oct. 25, 2025.

Ghazala Hashmi makes history as first Muslim US woman elected statewide

Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi made US history Tuesday, winning the lieutenant governor’s race and becoming the first Muslim-American woman elected to statewide office.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, largely stayed out of the spotlight during the campaign but her Syrian heritage has shaped her views and upbringing.

New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, center, celebrates with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), left, and US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), right.

Zohran Mamdani elected as New York’s first Muslim mayor

Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and state lawmaker, made history Tuesday as New York City’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa waits to meet with France's president, Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 24, 2025.

Exclusive

US pushes UN vote to revoke Sharaa sanctions before White House visit

The Trump administration's effort to delist the Syrian leader has faced resistance from China.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Soldiers from Iran's land, navy, air force and special forces parade on the occasion of National Army Day in Tehran on April 18, 2025, in Tehran, Iran.

Iran denies arms deliveries from China, Russia amid procurement reports

Iran’s top military denied arms deals with China and Russia, signaling caution over how its defense partnerships are reported amid postwar rebuilding.

Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr gives a speech in Iraq's central holy shrine city of Najaf on Aug. 30, 2022.

Iraq elections: Sadr renews calls for boycott one week out from vote

Iraq’s next election has exposed considerable divides among Shiite politicians as Muqtada al-Sadr sits out and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani splits from the Coordination Framework.

A large picture of Naim Qassem (C), current leader of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, is displayed near another of the group's slain longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of Israel's assassination of Nasrallah and other group leaders, in the town of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr near Tyre in southern Lebanon on September 27, 2025. The Iran-backed group, weakened by a deadly war with Israel last year, has organised a series of commemorative events to mark Nasrallah's

Analysis

With Hezbollah rearming, Israel considers heavy hits in Lebanon

A diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that Washington is trying to avoid an all-out war in Lebanon but “maybe a significant attack [against Hezbollah] will do the trick."

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

A man holds a portrait of Selahattin Demirtas during a gathering of Turkish Kurds for Nowruz celebrations marking the New Year of the Persian calendar and the first day of spring, Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, March 21, 2025.

Erdogan's top ally calls for release of Kurdish leader amid speculation of rift

The nationalist leader has also pushed back against rift speculations between him and the Turkish president amid ongoing peace talks with the Kurdish militants.