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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after speaking during the 81st United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on Sept. 24, 2026.

Exclusive

Inside Netanyahu’s relentless push for meeting with UAE’s MBZ

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to persuade the Emiratis to receive him a month before Israel’s elections, but like other Arab capitals, Abu Dhabi is also in contact with his political rivals.

By Ben Caspit

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

A woman crosses a street near a giant billboard erected on the facade of a building depicting a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps placing his foot on a US sea drone, reportedly seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, in Vanak Square in Tehran, on Sept. 24, 2026.

Analysis

As Iran’s grip on Hormuz weakens, what leverage does Tehran have left?

Six months into the war, Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz is weakening. The world is slowly learning to live with it, oil flows are recovering, alternative routes are expanding and Tehran's own economy is bearing the cost of keeping the waterway under pressure.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

MBS hosts Sheikh Mansour as Saudi-UAE ties thaw: What to know

The renewed outreach comes as Saudi Arabia faces mounting attacks from the Iran-backed Houthis.

United Arab Emirates

Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles are seen on display beside a large portrait of Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Baharestan Square in Tehran on Sept. 28, 2026.

After indirect talks, new US sanctions target Iran's weapons supply

The latest sanctions come after the two sides held another round of indirect talks over a possible deal to end the war.

Iran

Iran’s IRGC slams Trump as Ghalibaf threatens oil infrastructure

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that no other country in the region will be able to sell oil if Iran is unable to do so.

Iran

Latest News

Culture

Who is Fatima El Mansouri, Morocco’s first woman prime minister?

Morocco

Saudi stocks hit wartime low as Aramco slides, Gulf oil exports rebound

Saudi Arabia

Iran’s rial hits record low as pressure on oil exports mounts

Iran

US troops exit Iraq after 12 years as Iran war reshapes regional security

By Jared Szuba

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

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Iranian missiles are displayed next to a banner with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, on a street in Tehran

Trump denies offering Iran sanctions relief, Tehran says it is ready for talks

Reuters

US President Donald Trump speaks to the media at the White House driveway following a luncheon for tech leaders in the East Room, in Washington

Trump says he does not know if Iran is going to 'give up yet'

Reuters

RAF Fairford airbase after a major incident, in Fairford

Rubio says UK airbase incident involved a foreign state

Reuters

US imposes sanctions on 13 tied to Iran weapons procurement

Reuters

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29 September, 8:42 AM ET

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Interviews

Exclusive conversations with AL-MONITOR.

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Interview

Waltz: ‘Door open’ to Iran talks, more countries eye Abraham Accords

Interview

Yemen separatists urge US not to let Saudi Arabia ‘call the shots’

Yemenis gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the coastal port city of Aden, on December 14, 2025. (Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images)

Interview

Barzani calls for enhanced air defense for Kurdistan Region to counter drone attacks

Masrour Barzani

KRG Prime Minister

Interview

Trump's Africa adviser denies Libya plan would entrench rival families

US Department of State's senior advisor to the President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Fares Boulos attends a conference for the support of peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region, in Paris, on October 30, 2025. The international community gathered in Paris on October 30, 2025 to raise awareness about the dire humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region, aiming to raise hundreds of millions of euros despite a drastic decrease in international aid, particularly from the United States. (Phot

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Why Turkey is drawing the line at defense in its support for Saudi Arabia

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (3rd R) with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud (R) and Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (2nd R), Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman (C), Turkish Chief of the General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu (L), Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif (2nd R), Pakistani Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir (3rd R) at the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in relation to the

By Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Analysis

Qatar confronts new economic reality with Wall Street deals, Hormuz hopes

Traditional Qatari dhows docked in front of Doha's skyline from the Corniche promenade, Nov. 28, 2022.

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Can Turkey’s Bashiqa withdrawal pave the way for deeper Iraq ties?

Turkish soldiers conduct military exercises near the Habur crossing gate between Turkey and Iraq on Sept. 27, 2017 in the Silopi district, southeast Turkey.

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

As Iran’s grip on Hormuz weakens, what leverage does Tehran have left?

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

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September 20, 2026