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Politics & Security

The Ateela 2 oil tanker boat navigates the sea on April 28, 2026, on Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysis

How long can Iran's economy withstand Trump's naval blockade?

Iranian authorities are denouncing US seizures of the country's oil tankers as piracy, but mounting disruptions to maritime trade are exposing economic fragility beneath Tehran's claims of control and resilience.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Prime Minister Mohammed S. al-Sudani met with Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi on April 28, 2026.

Meet Ali al-Zaidi, businessman and Iraq's new prime minister-designate

Legal sources familiar with the nominee told Al-Monitor that there are no US sanctions on Zaidi or financial institutions affiliated with him.

Cadets of the Saiqa Force (Special Forces) of the self-styled Libyan National Army affiliated with eastern strongman Khalifa Hifter take part in a graduation ceremony in tribute to the force's late commander, Wanis Bukhamada, in the eastern city of Benghazi, on Jan. 20, 2022.

In first, Libya’s rival armies to join drill in Turkey: What to know

The move follows the first joint exercise inside Libya amid renewed international efforts to unify the country.

Latest News

Israel rejects Ukraine's claim that Russian shadow fleet vessel docked in Haifa

DENIS LOVROVIC/AFP via Getty Images

US seeks to train Lebanon army units to disarm Hezbollah: What to know

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C), alongside US State Department Counselor Michael Needham (2L) and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (2R), speaks during a meeting.

Analysis

Despite Trump pressure to limit Israel's Lebanon attacks, Aoun-Netanyahu meeting still unlikely

ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

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

Breaking

Last Updated: April 28, 2026, 8:54 am

UAE to leave OPEC on May 1

Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

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

Demonstrators marching in solidarity with protesters in Iran stand around the Lincol Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, on Oct. 29, 2022.

Analysis

The Takeaway: Republicans to dial up Iran pressure in 2023

Plus, Israeli officials were surprised by the reported FBI investigation into Shireen Abu Akleh's death, and the US blames Iran for a drone attack in the Gulf of Oman.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

The Israeli-linked Japanese-owned tanker MT Mercer Street.

Iran behind drone strike on Israeli-owned tanker, US says

Drone debris recovered from the MV Pacific Zircon belonged to an Iranian-made Shahed drone, the US military said today.

Israel Balad

Left out of Knesset, Arab Israeli party fights for survival

Failing to pass the electoral threshold, the Arab party Balad must find new goals, new faces and new enthusiasm in order to survive.

An aerial picture shows the flag of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

North Cyprus anniversary highlights renewed rivalry between Turkey, Greece

Ankara’s support for a two-state solution and efforts to legitimize Turkish Cypriot entity stir Greek anger.

Tehran, IRAN: TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY FARHAD POULADI: Iranian staff members of "Press TV" news channel work at the newsroom in Tehran, 20 June 2007. An increasingly crowded market for 24-hour news is facing a new rival -- a channel from Iran whose self-proclaimed aim is to break the "stranglehold" of the West over the world?s media. Iran's state broadcaster is to launch "Press TV" on July 2 at a time of mounting international tension over its nuclear programme, complete with international journalists brough

Breaking | Last Updated: November 16, 2022, 7:55 pm

US sanctions employees of Iranian state-run broadcaster

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is accused of airing hundreds of forced confessions, including from the relatives of Iranians killed in the ongoing protests.

25th Knesset sworn in

Israel’s most religious, furthest right Knesset sworn in

The 25th Knesset includes more far-right legislators, more ultra-Orthodox, fewer women, fewer Arabs and no Druze representatives at all.

IRNA/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli-owned tanker hit by drone off Oman coast

No group or country have taken responsibility for the drone attack last night against the Pacific Zircon, but the Israeli security system suspects Iran was behind the hit.

FBI seal

Israel rejects US plan to investigate death of Palestinian journalist

The outgoing and incoming Israeli leaderships agree that Israel will not allow the FBI to investigate the death of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Kurdistan

Iran says attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan will continue

Tehran vows to continue targeting Iraq's Kurdistan region until the Iranian Kurdish opposition leave the area permanently.

A Tunisian voter waits outside a polling station in Tunis on Oct. 13, 2019.

Few candidates run in Tunisian parliamentary elections

The first legislative elections under the new constitution are falling short on candidates, with some seats having no candidates at all, which some say shows a loss of faith in parliament under the current president.

Navy Gulf

US Navy seizes load of missile fuel going from Iran to Yemen

The 70-ton haul suggests the US Navy's yearslong game of cat-and-mouse with Iran-backed arms traffickers in the Gulf of Oman is beginning to pay off.

AFP via Getty Images

Businesses shut down as Iran protests enter third month

Iranian shops are closing up in waves amid the continuing nationwide protests.