Iran protests

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (C) waves as he returns to his car after visiting the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's Basta neighbourhood, on October 12, 2024. At least 22 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a densely populated area of central Beirut on October 10, the Lebanese health ministry said, with a security source saying a Hezbollah figure was the target. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP) (Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Meet Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, IRGC-vetted figure at center of US talks

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has emerged as one of the Islamic Republic’s most visible figures amid the conflict.

Traffic rolls along a main throughfare under a banner with images of past and present leaders that reads in Farsi, "Domino fall", as daily life returns to the streets following nationwide protests, in the Iranian capital Tehran on January 19, 2026. Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into protests widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years. Limited internet access briefly returned in Iran before dropping again, a monitor said January

Analysis

Iran’s longest-ever internet blackout leaves 99% offline: What to know

Facing a historic internet blackout, Iranians are locked in a struggle with authorities to find loopholes to get around this communications crackdown, leading to "shutdowns within a shutdown."

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Saudis shop for fresh products at a market in Riyadh on Feb. 18, 2026, on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia.

Analysis

Alternative supply routes emerge as Iran war tests Gulf food security

Roughly 61 million people in the Gulf rely on established food supply chains, many of which have been upended since the United States and Israel launched their attack against Iran on Feb. 28.

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

Iranian nationals arrive in Turkey after passing through the Razi-Kapikoy border crossing in Van, northeastern Turkey, on March 3, 2026.

Feature

Iranians crossing into Turkey haunted by regime crackdown more than war

Many Iranians crossing into Turkey suggest the regime’s deadly crackdown on recent protests, not the bombardment, is the trauma they cannot shake.

Ezgi Akin

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

Latest News

Which 6 Kurdish groups could join the war in Iran?

A picture from the formation of the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan on Feb. 22, 2026.

Exclusive

US-backed Kurdish forces poised to enter Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan 'within days'

A member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) participates in a military drill in an outpost near Erbil, Kurdistan region of Iraq on Jan. 15, 2026.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, architect of regional expansion, declared dead

In this photo released by the official website of the Supreme Leader's Office on Thursday, June 26, 2025, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears among his supporters for the first time since the Iran-Israel war, in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images)

New Zealand slaps 40 Iran officials with sanctions over protest crackdown

A member of the security forces stands guard during a rally marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran on Feb. 11, 2026.

Iran's conservatives step up scrutiny on university students

Principlists consolidate state control over Islamic Azad University in the aftermath of the recent protests in Iran.

Rouhani’s first interview after protests backfires

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s first interview after the recent protests fails to satisfy the public.

Rouhani moves to leverage unrest to loosen IRGC grip on economy

The Hassan Rouhani administration appears to be leveraging the recent protests in Iran to continue pushing for its agenda of greater accountability and lesser military involvement in the economy.

Women's campaigns flourish beyond Iran protests

The spread of several social campaigns for women's empowerment in Iran are challenging the perception that their role in the Iranian protests was only about standing up against compulsory hijab.

A man uses his smartphone to follow election news in Tehran, Iran May 17, 2017. REUTERS/TIMA ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RC18C545D440

Rouhani unblocks Telegram; hard-liners send message

Iran’s president is under fire from hard-liners for unblocking a popular messaging app.

Iranian students scuffle with police at the University of Tehran during a demonstration driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran on December 30, 2017.
Students protested in a third day of demonstrations, videos on social media showed, but were outnumbered by counter-demonstrators. / AFP PHOTO / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Why protests won’t change Iran’s foreign policy

The recent wave of unrest in Iran is unlikely to change the calculations that underpin the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy.

SOCHI, RUSSIA - NOVEMBER, 22 (RUSSIA OUT) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during Russian-Iranian-Turkish talks at Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, November,22,2017. Presidents of Russia, Turkey and Iran have gathered in Sochi to talk on Syrian war conflict. Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

Confrontation between Rouhani, hard-line clerics heats up

Hard-line clerics rail against Iran’s moderate president over his remarks in favor of freedom of speech.

Palestinian Hamas militants take part in a rally marking the 30th anniversary of Hamas' founding, in Gaza City December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem - RC1E83709490

Iran's aid to militant groups not going anywhere despite protests

Although groups funded by Iran throughout the region have refrained from expressing a stance on Iran’s protests, it's believed that Iran is unlikely to cut or halt such aid even as protesters demand ending the support.

US sanctions hinder Iranian protesters’ ability to organize online

As the Iranian protests die down, hawkish lawmakers and dovish advocates are united in their concern that US sanctions are inhibiting protesters’ ability to organize.

Iran’s supreme leader points finger at Saudi Arabia, US, Israel over unrest

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei distinguished between peaceful protesters and those who damaged public property during the recent unrest.

Iran's Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi, a candidate for upcoming vote on the Assembly of Experts, speaks during a campaign gathering of candidates mainly close to the reformist camp, in Tehran February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/TIMA ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - GF10000320085

Iran intelligence minister says protests not 'guided' by foreigners

Iranian officials said they are still compiling the total arrested but they believe the situation in Iran has calmed down.

Iranian students run for cover from tear gas at the University of Tehran during a demonstration driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran on December 30, 2017.
Students protested in a third day of demonstrations, videos on social media showed, but were outnumbered by counter-demonstrators. / AFP PHOTO / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

16 prominent Iranian Reformists urge support of protesters

While Reformists have been on the sidelines of recent protests in Iran, a number of prominent Reformist leaders recently expressed their support for the right to protest, yet condemned the violence.