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Politics & Security

Fishing and cargo ships and ferries are pictured in the Gulf off the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, which is the main base of the Islamic Republic's navy and has a strategic position on the Strait of Hormuz, on April 29, 2019.

Iran seizes two cargo ships in Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire

The IRGC Navy’s seizure of two cargo vessels follows US Navy interdictions of two Iran-linked crude oil tankers in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean earlier this week.

Mahdi Farid, who was convicted of espionage for Israel’s Mossad, was executed after his death sentence was upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, Tehran, Iran, April 22, 2026.

Iran executes 14th person since war over alleged Mossad ties: What to know

Iran has carried out multiple executions since the outbreak of the war with the United States and Israel, as it intensifies a crackdown on individuals accused of spying for Israel.

President Donald Trump walks toward reporters before answering questions before boarding Air Force One on April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Trump extends ceasefire with Iran ‘until discussions concluded’

Trump also said he directed the US Navy to continue its blockade of Iranian ports.

US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a meeting with President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump envoy Barrack’s embrace of 'strong leaders' sparks fury in Turkey

Turkish opposition members say envoy Tom Barrack’s remarks praising “strong leaders” and monarchies undermine Turkey’s democratic tradition and embolden President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Latest News

Analysis

Israel sees chance of US-Iran deal as almost 'non-existent,' readies for war

ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images

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

Syria’s Sharaa makes fourth visit to Saudi Arabia, first since Iran war: What to know

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives ahead of a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in central London on March 31, 2026.

US boards Iran-linked tanker in Indian Ocean, vows pursuit of 'ghost fleet'

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: A US Navy Seahawk helicopter takes off from the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan on July 14, 2017 in Townsville, Australia. USS Ronald Reagan is a 1,092- foot aircraft carrier which carries a crew of 4,539 around 60 aircraft. Exercise Talisman Sabre is the largest combined military exercise undertaken in Australia. The biennial exercise is the principal Australian and U.S. military training activity. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

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

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli-Palestinian violence erupts in West Bank on eve of Flag March

The clashes in the Palestinian city follow a cease-fire between the Israeli military and Gaza-based armed groups and come ahead of the controversial Jerusalem Flag March.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israelis shocked as Arab party leader Ayman Odeh decides to leave office

Arab Israelis hope that Hadash-Ta’al leader Ayman Odeh's surprising exit from politics will shake up the Arab political system and encourage young people to revive unification efforts.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk defends ‘antisemitic' tweets on George Soros after Israeli criticism

Israel's Foreign Ministry accused the Twitter owner of encouraging antisemitic posts on the social media platform.

Sinan Ogan

Turkey's nationalist candidate basks in glory ahead of Erdogan-Kilicdaroglu runoff

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his secularist challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu each plot strategy behind closed doors as nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan ponders whom to support.

Karwan Gaznay

Iraqi Kurdish politician survives assassination attempt

Tensions have been high for months between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, though recent dialogue may have calmed the situation.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio seen during the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting at the Weissenhaus Grand Village Resort on May 13, 2022 near Oldenburg in Holstein, Germany. The three-day conference is focusing on the current Russian war in Ukraine. The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Moldova are also attending. (Photo by Georg Wendt - Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Meet Italy’s Luigi Di Maio, EU’s first envoy for Gulf region

Not everyone in Italy and France is welcoming the nomination of former Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio as the European Union's new envoy to the Gulf region.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Iran hosts Russian navy chief, seeks to boost China triangle

Russian and Iranian commanders discussed forming joint committees tasked with deepening cooperation as sanctions-hit Tehran continues to lean on Moscow.

his combination of pictures created on April 18, 2023 shows Sudan's army chief, Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (L), in Juba on October, 14, 2019 and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (R), who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), addressing the media upon his return from Russia at Khartoum airport on March 2, 2022. - Explosions rocked the Sudanese capital Khartoum on April 18, 2023 as fighting that has claimed nearly 200 lives entered a fourth day, despite growing (Photo by Akuot Chol and Ashr

Washington ignored warnings on Sudan days before descent into chaos

Senate lawmakers called for a new approach after State Department officials led by Africa bureau director Molly Phee repeatedly downplayed intelligence indicating Khartoum's rival generals were heading for a violent confrontation.

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby.

White House previews new moves against Iran's drone transfers to Russia

Iran has sent more than 400 armed drones to Russia since August and is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment in return, a White House official said Monday.

People form a convoy as they celebrate in support of the Sudanese armed forces in Khartoum on May 12, 2023.

Sudan: 280 killed as fighting rages in West Darfur

The conflict in war-torn Geneina is ethnic in dimension and predates the current conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the rebel Rapid Support Forces.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meets with Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom in Stockhold, May 15, 2023.

Israeli FM in Sweden, applauds move to blacklist Iran's IRGC

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has turned a new page in bilateral relations with Sweden, hoping to cooperate on economic opportunities as well as battle antisemitism and the Iranian regime.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (R), accompanied by his wife Ermine Erdogan (L), waves to supporters at the AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Turkey May 15, 2023.

Erdogan proves unbeatable as Turkey heads for runoff

The latest count from Turkey's Supreme Electoral Board shows Erdogan with 49.40% of ballots cast versus 44.96% for Kilicdaroglu, indicating the country is set for a runoff on May 28.