Iran deal ‘very close’ but not at finish line, senior US official says The announcement comes after a week of tit-for-tat strikes between the two sides. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
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
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
Trump calls off Iran strikes, says deal is close Iran did not immediately respond to his claim that its leadership had approved a deal. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
US issues more Iran sanctions as Trump says strikes will resume By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Israel pays the price for sidelining Europe on the Iranian file The latest visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Biarritz indicates that France is willing to offer Israel a respite on the Palestinian issue, but not on the Iranian file. Israel
Trump leans into Macron's Iran diplomacy, open to meet Rouhani US President Donald Trump welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to try to arrange a meeting between Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss prospects for a new deal in the coming weeks. United States
Hard-liners lack evidence for dual nationality charges against Rouhani officials For years, hard-liners have claimed a large number of Rouhani administration officials held dual nationality, but a recently released parliamentary report on the matter provided no evidence to back this up. Iran
Gaza’s Islamic Jihad openly at the service of Iran Hamas no longer tries to conceal the growing involvement of Iran in Gaza through its proxy Islamic Jihad. Palestine
New Iranian hard-line group seeks to expel parliament speaker from their camp Iranian hard-liners say parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has become soft on conservative issues and seek to remove him from their grouping for good. Iran
Macron to press Trump on Iran diplomacy at G-7 French President Emmanuel Macron says he will present US President Donald Trump ideas for an economic incentive package to try to advance Iran diplomacy at the G-7 summit in Biarritz this weekend. United States
What was behind regional tour of Iranian foreign minister? Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif goes to Kuwait and Qatar to promote dialogue, perhaps because opportunities that once developed through Oman may no longer be as fruitful as they once were. Saudi Arabia
Iran unveils new missile defense system Iranian media hails counter to Russian S-300 missile defense system. Russia
Zarif makes fresh push to save Iran deal, ease Gulf tensions Iran's foreign minister has embarked on a long journey in search of workable diplomatic solutions to save the battered nuclear deal and resolve heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf. United States
Is Iran’s national broadcaster being pushed to brink of irrelevance? Iran's national broadcasting monopoly IRIB continues to play a partisan role in the country. Iran
US blacklists Iranian foreign minister After the United States placed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, White House officials told the media that he was merely a propaganda chief not worth negotiating with; experts, however, said Zarif was an effective messenger for the Islamic Republic. United States
New UK government signals continued support for Iran nuclear deal The new British government led by Boris Johnson's expresses support for the Iran nuclear deal as the pact faces a possible new obstacle involving the reduction of proliferation risks at Iran’s Fordo and Arak facilities. United States
