Iran Deal

US President Donald Trump (R) attends a meeting with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, during the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019.

Analysis

Russia's Putin offers Trump help on Iran, likely with strings attached

As Iran weighs the US proposal for a nuclear deal, Russia has volunteered to play a role facilitating future talks.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

US soldiers patrol in Syria's northeastern city Qamishli, in the Hasakeh province, mostly controlled by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, on January 9, 2025. (AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

US' Syria pullout continues amid looming Iran clash

The Trump administration is taking advantage of a rare moment of quiet following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in hope of disentangling the US military from nearly a decade of involvement in Syria.

Jared Szuba

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

An oil tanker unloads imported crude oil at Qingdao port in China's eastern Shandong province on May 9, 2022.

Iran oil exports to China fall sharply amid US sanctions, weakened demand

China is by far Iran’s largest customer for oil, snapping up around 90% of the Islamic Republic’s shipments.

ranians pass by a mural that depicts the two Supreme Leaders of Iran near Enghelab (Revolution) Square in downtown Tehran, Iran on April 8, 2025.

As US proposal takes shape, Iran mulls response to nuclear compromise

Iran says it will soon respond to what the White House described as a "very detailed and acceptable proposal."

Latest News

Analysis

If Iran rejects Trump’s nuclear deal, will Israel seize moment to strike?

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

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

Iran, Egypt, IAEA hold nuclear talks as Tehran mulls US proposal: What to know

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (C) meets with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi (L) and Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Cairo on June 2, 2025.

Analysis

With clock ticking, Iran shows mix of defiance, engagement in nuclear talks

A picture taken on Sept. 7, 2019, shows traffic driving past a political mural at Vali Asr Square in the Iranian capital Tehran.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Rebuffed by Trump, has Netanyahu missed his chance to strike Iran?

This satellite image shows a nuclear reactor facility near Bushehr, Iran, that the United States believes could along with others in Iran be used to make nuclear weapons, Jan. 13, 2002.

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

A pedestrian walks past a branch of a Lloyds Bank in London on Feb. 24, 2021.

Analysis

Iran's use of 2 UK banks to evade sanctions tests West's financial systems

The Financial Times reported earlier this week that Lloyds Bank and Santander UK provided accounts to companies with links to Iran’s intelligence services.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Iran begins building 4 more nuclear power plants amid IAEA warnings

Western officials have long suspected Tehran of looking to produce nuclear weapons, though Iran denies this.

A seal on the exterior of the US Department of Treasury building, March 13, 2023.

Who are the Iranians sanctioned by US, UK for murder plots against dissidents?

One of the plots culminated in the 2019 assassination of Iranian government critic Mas’ud Vardanjani in Istanbul, according to a statement by the US Treasury Monday.

Rafael Grossi

Davos 2024: IAEA chief says monitoring of Iran nuclear sites 'not at a good place'

Asked by Al-Monitor if Iran was close to enriching weapons-grade uranium, Grossi responded, “They are already there.”

France's Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna (2R) meets with soldiers of the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), outside the Pine Residence, the French Ambassador's official residence in Beirut, on December 18, 2023. France's top diplomat is in Lebanon on December 18, for talks on de-escalating near-daily exchanges of fire on the Israel border, which have triggered fears of all-out conflict. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Image

Breaking | Last Updated: January 11, 2024, 4:42 pm

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna out as France changes cabinet

With French President Emmanuel Macron still in charge of his country's foreign policies, Colonna's exit is unlikely to affect Paris' Middle East positions.

People wave Hezbollah and Iranian flags at a rally in Baalbek, Lebanon, May 13, 2022.

Britain hits Iran and its foreign proxies with fresh sanctions

The measures, coordinated with the United States, also target Iran's shipping sector and drone exports.

TOPSHOT - Protesters hold pictures of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, during a demonstration outside the US consulate in Istanbul, on January 5, 2020, two days after top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike. - A US drone strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad's international airport on January 3, dramatically heightening regional tensions and prompting arch enemy Tehran to vow "revenge". (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty

Iran court orders US to pay $49 billion over Soleimani assassination

Qasem Soleimani led Iran’s elite Quds Force until he was assassinated by the United States in Baghdad in 2020 in response to attacks on US forces in Iraq.

ran's President Ebrahim Raisi watches combat drones alongside high-ranking officials and commanders during a military parade marking the country's annual army day in Tehran on April 18, 2023.

US targets Iran's drone, missile programs as UN restrictions expire

US officials said the latest sanctions are intended to constrain Iran's military relationship with Russia and counter the Islamic Republic's destabilizing regional behavior.

Iranians attend a gathering in Tehran on October 7, 2023, to express their solidarity with Palestine after Hamas militants launched a deadly air, land and sea assault into Israel from the Gaza Strip. A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced support for a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, calling it a "proud operation". (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

US, Qatar reportedly agree to pause Iran's access to $6 billion fund

The Biden administration faced mounting congressional pressure to punish Iran over the surprise attack on Israel carried out by its proxy, Hamas.

The launch of a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite from an orbiting spacecraft.

Israel, Azerbaijan announce landmark deal for sale of two satellites

Israel Aerospace Industries and Azeri space agency Azercosmos announced the signing of an agreement for the sale of two Israeli-developed satellites.

US Army officers stand in front a US Patriot missile defense system during joint Israeli-US military exercise "Juniper Cobra" at the Hatzor airforce base, Israel, March 8, 2018.

Analysis

With Iran in mind, Israel's security brass warms to US defense pact

After years of objecting to a defense pact with the United States, seniors in the Israeli security establishment are increasingly coming around to the idea.

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

Al-Ittihad's supporters wave a flag.

Saudi-Iran soccer match canceled over Qasem Soleimani statue row

Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed diplomatic relations in March. Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in 2020, is a polarizing figure in the region.