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US President Donald Trump talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset, Jerusalem, Oct. 13, 2025.

Analysis

'A complete disaster': Israel scrambles for clarity as Trump touts emerging Iran deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relayed Israel’s red lines to Trump, but given the current rift between the two leaders, the demands may be little more than a wish list.

By Ben Caspit

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

TOPSHOT - People cross the street past a large billboard showing portraits of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (L) and slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) in central Tehran on June 8, 2026. Iran said on June 8 that the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East war will have consequences for ongoing talks with the United States to reach peace in the region. "It is perfectly natural that the diplomatic process initiated to put an end to this imposed war would be affected,

Iran-US draft deal would release $24B in funds, ensure Lebanon ceasefire: Iranian media

The draft circulating in Iranian state media, which Trump denied on Friday, would grant Tehran sanctions relief and access to billions in frozen funds while limiting final talks to nuclear issues and excluding its missile program and proxies.

Iran

Exclusive

Barrack heads to Iraq as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias

US envoy Tom Barrack is due to meet with Iraq’s new prime minister and other top officials in Baghdad, where he will likely press US demands for Iran-backed Shiite militias be dismantled and disarmed.

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

US strikes on Indian-crewed tankers spark tensions with New Delhi

India summoned the US deputy chief of mission in Delhi on Friday to protest American strikes on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman.

Iran

An unmanned aerial vehicle is seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

Explainer

How Iran war is giving China an opening in Gulf drone market

The ongoing war has helped China carve out a growing role in Gulf defense by offering cheaper, faster and less restricted drone capabilities.

China

Latest News

Trump calls off Iran strikes, says deal is close

US President Donald Trump watches the start of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Culture

World Cup opens amid visa disputes for Iran, Iraq and Somalia

Iran

Analysis

As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties

Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile launching system is displayed at the exposition field in Kubinka Patriot Park outside Moscow on Aug. 22, 2017 during the first day of the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017.

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Trump names US attorney Jay Clayton new intelligence chief: What to know

Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission Jay Clayton speaks during a Financial Stability Oversight Council meeting October 16, 2018, at the Treasury Department in Washington, DC.

United States

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There hasn't been a full scale Pride parade in Tel Aviv since before Hamas's October 7, 20023 attack on Israel

'It's not over yet': Tel Aviv celebrates Pride but war in back of mind

Agence France-Presse

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool

Pakistan PM Sharif says in X post that final text of US-Iran peace deal agreed, working on next steps

Reuters

US deports Iranian pro-democracy activist to Central African Republic, lawyer says

Reuters

'Third-country' deportations have become a staple of US President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration

US deportation flight carrying Iranians en route to C.African Republic

Agence France-Presse

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On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Armenia's pro-Western prime minister won elections, but peace with Turkey & Azerbaijan remains a challenge

Tigran Grigoryan joins Amberin Zaman

10 June, 2:47 PM ET

32:18

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Turkey's outsize influence in Somalia fuels corruption and autocracy, says MEI's Gonul Tol

Gonul Tol joins Amberin Zaman

14 May, 5:43 PM ET

19:31

The AL-MONITOR Brief

Is there a US-Israel rift on Iran?

Rina Bassist joins Adam Lucente

8 May, 4:16 PM ET

11:57

Interviews

Exclusive conversations with AL-MONITOR.

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Interview

Saudi Arabia eyes state-backed stablecoin amid digital finance push

The symbols of bitcoin and the stablecoin Tether (USDT) are displayed at a cryptocurrency store in Hong Kong on July 29, 2025.

Interview

Top Syrian Kurdish official slams parliamentary vote in northeast as 'undemocratic'

Foza Yusuf

Top Syrian Kurdish official

Interview

As Sudan war drags on, US-Iran conflict compounds humanitarian crisis in Darfur

Janti Soeripto

President and CEO of Save the Children US

Interview

Armenia candidate Tatoyan eyes Pashinyan's pro-West mantle in sea of Russia-backed rivals

Arman Tatoyan

Founder, Wings of Unity Party

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Analysis

Macron meets Tom Barrack as France seeks larger role in Lebanon

France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech after receiving the Pic du Midi nomination file for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List from officials of the Occitanie region at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Thomas Padilla / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

From Beirut to Bab el Mandeb, Iran tests new deterrence strategy

People ride motorcycles past a large billboard showing portraits of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (L), and slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) in central Tehran on June 8, 2026.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

'A complete disaster': Israel scrambles for clarity as Trump touts emerging Iran deal

By Ben Caspit

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

Speakers from Iran war energy event: Samuel Wendel, Dr. Carole Nakhle, and Noam Raydan

How the Iran war is reshaping energy markets

May 20, 2026