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Politics & Security

A man holds a poster of Abdullah Ocalan, Turkish-jailed founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), during a gathering of Turkish Kurds for Nowruz celebrations in Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey, on March 21, 2025.

Analysis

Moving Iran talks from Turkey to Oman deepens Ankara’s PKK concerns

Ankara is brushing off Tehran’s venue switch to Oman, but fears Iran’s nuclear-only stance is shrinking diplomatic space and heightening the risk of US military escalation.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, ahead of talks with the US in Muscat, Oman on Feb. 6, 2026.

Analysis

Why Iran is facing hard choices after Oman nuclear talks

Iran and the United States ended Friday's talks in Muscat without a breakthrough, preserving diplomacy but deepening uncertainty as military pressure, hard-line rhetoric and military tensions intensify.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Oman talks leave Israel unsure of Trump's endgame as missile threat persists

Israel and the United States are tightly coordinated on intelligence, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently in the dark on President Donald Trump's intentions in Iran.

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

Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin gives a press conference following talks with Sweden and Finland over their bids to join NATO at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on May 25, 2022. - Turkey on May 25 said the NATO accession process for Sweden and Finland would not move forward unless they addressed Ankara's security concerns, in talks with delegations from both Nordic states. NATO member Turkey has opposed the applications of Sweden and neighbouring Finland over what it considers leniency t

Turkey arrests two over alleged Mossad espionage ties: What to know

Turkish authorities accuse the suspects of providing intelligence for more than a decade, including technical data on communications equipment and attempting to infiltrate technological supply chains.

Latest News

US troops pull out of Shaddadi base in Syria: What to know

A person with a motorbike stands on the side of a road as US-led coalition plane operates at a base on Jan. 26, 2026 in Al-Shaddadi, Syria.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Lebanon, Syria sign deal to transfer 300 Syrian prisoners: What we know

A picture shows a view of a street with access to a detention center under the Adliyeh (Palace of Justice) bridge (L) of Lebanon's capital Beirut, on Aug. 7, 2022.

Iranian FM says US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman 'a good start'

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Analysis

From 'help is on the way' to nuclear talks, Iranians wary of Trump's shift

An Iranian man walks past an anti-US and anti-Israel banner hanging on a building in Palestine Square in Tehran on Jan. 27, 2026.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

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

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stands next to his Togg T10X, Turkey's first domestically-produced electric car, after receiving it from the company at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on April 3, 2023. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Sweden's NATO ratification likely to wait until after Turkey's elections

As Finland becomes a NATO member, Sweden’s options are limited before the Turkish elections of May 14.

Mazloum Kobane, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), gives a press conference near the northeastern Syrian Hassakeh province on Oct. 24, 2019.

Breaking | Last Updated: April 11, 2023, 5:08 am

Drone strike targets US Syrian-Kurdish ally Mazlum Kobane, Turkey suspected

Mazlum Kobane, the Pentagon’s chief ally in the fight against the Islamic State, was traveling in a convoy with US officials at the time of the strike.

Israeli soldiers deploy in an open area near Kibuttz Malkia, in northern Israel bordering Lebanon, on April 7, 2023. - On April 6, the Israeli army said more than 30 rockets had been fired from Lebanese territory into Israel in the largest escalation on the northern border since Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in 2006. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel, Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to avoid confrontation, but for how long?

After two days of rockets first from Gaza and then from the Lebanese border, tensions seem to have calmed, at least temporary.

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

CIA Director William Burns testifies during a House Select Committee on Intelligence hearing concerning worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill March 9, 2023 in Washington, DC. The leaders of U.S. intelligence agencies testified on a wide range of issues, including China, Russia, Covid-19 origins, and TikTok. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

CIA director visited Saudi Arabia, aired 'frustration' over Iran, Syria thaw

The CIA director met the country's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and reportedly expressed displeasure with Washington being "blindsided" over agreements brokered by China and Russia.

Israeli forces and emergency personnel gather near the Hamra junction, in the northern part of the Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank, following a shooting attack on April 7, 2023. - Two women were killed and another seriously wounded today in the shooting attack on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army and medics said. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/afp/AFP via Getty Images)

Two Israelis killed, third in critical condition in West Bank attack

On the backdrop of growing tensions and fire exchange on both the Gaza and Lebanon borders, two Israelis were killed at a shooting attack in the Jordan Valley region.

Tunisia

Analysis

Tunisia's problems grow worse while Kais Saied avoids public

When President Kais Saied reappeared recently after a two-week absence, he addressed a country whose political, economic and immigration woes grow steadily more intractable.

Gilles Kepel

By Gilles Kepel

Women chant slogans in front of the Istanbul courthouse in Istanbul on April 5, 2023, as We Will Stop Femicides Platform, leading women rights group in Turkey appear on court for the second hearing of the trial that seeks to ban the platform.

Will Turkey’s conservative young women abandon Erdogan and AKP?

The conservative women vote played an important role in bringing Erdogan’s AKP to power two decades ago. But according to polls, that segment of Turkish society is looking for alternatives as AKP became too conservative for their taste.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov arrives at the formal welcome ceremony to mark the beginning of the G20 Summit on November 15, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. The G20 meetings are being held in Bali from November 15-16. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images,)

Russia's Lavrov in Turkey to discuss Syria, Caucasus, possible Putin visit

Ankara is eager to see Lavrov's visit followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip on April 27 to inaugurate Turkey's first nuclear power plant, built and financed by a subsidiary of Russia's nuclear energy firm Rosatom.

The Palestinian Hamas movement's leader Ismail Haniyeh flashes the victory sign following a speech at a public rally during his visit to the southern Lebanese city of Saida, on June 26, 2022. (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon’s Hezbollah hosts Hamas chief as rockets fly over Israel border

The delegation has reportedly discussed efforts to coordinate action against Israel.

HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Is China playing long game against dollar in Middle East?

Chinese spokesperson says "the internationalization of the [yuan] is a natural process, and the goal is not to replace the dollar or other international currencies."

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L), Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (C) and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (R) in Beijing on April 6, 2023. - SPA

Iran media hails thaw with Saudi Arabia as top diplomats meet in China

Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers met in Beijing on Thursday as China's role expands in the Middle East.

Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers in China

Iran, Saudi Arabia FMs meet in China, agree to expand ties

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have agreed to reinstate diplomatic offices and resume flights between the two countries.