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Politics & Security

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As US blockades Hormuz, China urges restraint, rejects call to ditch Iran oil

Beijing and Ankara called for calm as the US began its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as regional diplomacy over the fragile ceasefire intensifies.

Pope Leo XIV

'No fear': Pope Leo pushes against Trump attacks as he lands in Algeria

President Donald Trump has escalated against the first American pontiff over his criticism of the Israel-US war in Iran.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) walks with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on June 1, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Inside Turkey’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire

Turkey used its intelligence networks and rare access to both Washington and Tehran to quietly facilitate the US-Iran ceasefire while advancing its own regional security priorities.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

NABATIEH, LEBANON - APRIL 08: Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in the city center on April 08, 2026 in Nabatieh, Lebanon. Israel has stepped-up its attacks on Lebanon following President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, conditional on shipping being allowed to resume through the Strait of Hormuz. Israel says it will observe the ceasefire with Iran but insists Lebanon was not included in the deal, and has since launched the "largest coordinated strik

Analysis

In talks with Lebanon, Israel seeking guarantees to contain Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would seek to disarm Hezbollah and advance normalization with Lebanon in its talks with Beirut, though both goals appear highly ambitious at present.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Latest News

Analysis

Ceasefire without relief: How Iranians are grappling with post-war repression

People gather under a large portrait of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, during a memorial to mark the 40th day since his father, Ali Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli joint strikes, on April 9, 2026, in Tehran, Iran.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Meet Nada Hamadeh, Lebanon's US ambassador set to lead Israel talks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun receives Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh in Beirut on Aug. 29, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency)

In Islamabad, US set to face a more defiant Iran at negotiating table

A woman walks past a digital screen displaying news of US-Iran peace talks along a road in Islamabad on April 10, 2026.

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

Iraq lgbtq

Rights watchdog slams Iraq’s anti-LGBTQ bill

An amendment in the Iraqi parliament would make same-sex activity punishable by death. One Iraqi militia leader recently accused the US of “spreading homosexuality” in the country, and anti-LGBTQ sentiment is rising in the region.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R) poses with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Baghdad on Aug. 22, 2023.

Turkey’s FM tackles long-held disputes with Iraq in first official visit

Hakan Fidan chose Iraq for his first official visit as Turkey's new foreign minister, but the visit appeared to yield little progress on long-standing disputes between Ankara and Baghdad.

Huthi forces take part in funeral ceremony for Yahya Al-Shami, assistant supreme commander of the Houthi forces, a day after his death due to Covid-19 pandemic, in Yemen's capital Sanaa on April 27, 2021.

US urges Houthis to negotiate with Yemen’s government

US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking called on the Iran-backed rebels to "seize this unprecedented opportunity" to sit down with the Yemeni government.

AFP via Getty Images

Iran sentences 7 men, 1 woman to prison as protest anniversary nears

Eight people were convicted of killing a paramilitary force member during Iran's nationwide protests that erupted following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group.

Wagner chief Prigozhin among passengers in fatal plane crash: Russian state media

Russia’s grey-zone influence in the Middle East and Africa enters uncharted territory amid reports of the Wagner chief’s death.

Russia / Mideast

SABAH ARAR/AFP via Getty Images

Iraq strikes Islamic State hideouts

The US military said in a recent report that IS’ capabilities are “degraded” in Iraq and Syria.

This photograph taken on July 13, 2022, shows a firefighting helicopter carrying water over a wildfire.

Wildfire in Turkey’s northwest injures dozens, halts maritime traffic

Dozens of people have been injured and more than 80 livestock have perished as more than a thousand residents flee the wildfire engulfing the country’s northwest.

JALAA MAREY / AFP

Israel's Druze community on strike after quadruple homicide

Israel's Druze community is shocked by the killing of four men in broad daylight, including a former soldier who was running for local office.

Syria Israel

Syrian soldier injured by suspected Israeli airstrikes near Damascus

Israel is regularly accused of striking Syrian and Iranian military targets in the country. The latest attack comes amid especially high tensions between Israel and Iran.

Arab Israeli citizens and activists lift placards at a rally in the mostly Arab northern city of Umm al-Fahm.

Arab Israelis protest as crime soars, development funds stay frozen

Israeli Arab localities warn that if they do not receive much-needed funds for development, education and city cleaning, they will not open schools once the summer vacation is over.

Byron Smith/Getty Images

Ukrainian ambassador threatens to block Israeli pilgrims from Uman

Ukraine's ambassador to Israel has warned Israel that if it does not stop turning away Ukrainians, Kyiv will close its doors to Israeli pilgrims to the city of Uman.

President Ebrahim Raisi, second right, at a ceremony to unveil the Mohajer-10 drone, Aug. 22, 2023.

Iran unveils new armed drone, defying pressure over shipments to Russia

With a range of over 1,200 miles, Mohajer 10 is the latest from a family of drones that Russia is believed to have imported from Iran to use in its war on Ukraine.