Analysis Iran publicly praises Gaza ceasefire but frets over its isolation and Israel’s gains Iran has officially welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and has called for accountability over Israeli "genocide." Yet, sidelined from the US-Arab diplomacy, Tehran risks exposing its diminishing regional clout as it weighs the strategic costs of the conflict. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
US sanctions firms in China, Turkey, UAE over Iran drone network The entities are accused of facilitating the purchase of American electronic components found in weaponized drones used by Iran-backed groups such as Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Gaza-based Hamas. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Supreme Court clears path for Turkey’s Halkbank trial over Iran sanctions The Turkish president personally raised the Halkbank case with US President Donald Trump at the White House, as Ankara pushes for a settlement to avoid a drawn-out legal battle. Turkey
Analysis Reeling from Israel war, Iran expands espionage law, bans Starlink use Iran has officially enacted a sweeping new espionage law imposing harsher measures — including the death penalty — for collaboration with Israel, as rights activists decry what they say is a new campaign of arbitrary arrests and deeper repression. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis How far will China, Russia go in shielding Iran from UN sanctions? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis How Afghanistan's Bagram base became focal point of US-China-Iran rivalry By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
US sends Pacific aircraft carrier to cover Afghanistan withdrawal The USS Ronald Reagan will divert to the Middle East as the USS Eisenhower heads home. News Brief
Iran, IAEA extend inspection agreement by one month Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency extend an understanding to keep the nuclear talks alive. Iran
Iran rejects Canadian court's decision on responsibility for downed passenger plane A court in Ontario, Canada, ruled that Iran's 2020 shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which killed 55 Canadians, was a terrorist act. Iran
Rouhani claims US has agreed to lift key Iran sanctions Iran's president said the United States has agreed to remove substantial economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic following marathon talks in Vienna. Iran
Iran denies US Navy’s account of run-in in Persian Gulf Iran has accused the US Navy of “false narratives” and “unprofessional behavior” in the latest run-in with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
US Navy fires 30 warning shots to ward off Iran’s speed boats IRGC fast boats harassed US Navy ships once again amid nuclear talks in Vienna. Iran
Top Democrats urge Biden to lift sanctions on Tehran in good faith Prominent Democratic National Committee members urged President Joe Biden to relieve sanctions on Iran as the window closes for a return to the nuclear deal. Iran
House Republicans call for review of John Kerry's security clearance Republicans on the House Oversight Committee responded to a report that Kerry provided Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif information on Israel's operations in Syria, but Kerry has denied this ever happened. United States
Iran downplays state media report on US prisoner swap The US government has also denied that it reached a deal to swap prisoners with Iran. Iran
Blinken meets Israel’s Mossad chief to talk Iran The meeting follows talks earlier this week involving Israeli officials and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Israel
Iraqi, Syrian oil ministers discuss gas imports The Iraqi and Syrian oil ministers talked about the possibility of transporting Egyptian gas to Iraq through Syria during a meeting in Baghdad. News Brief
Intel: US, Israel to cooperate against Iran’s missiles and drones Biden White House avoids row with Israel over nuclear negotiations with Iran, offers to help counter Tehran's ballistic and cruise missiles. Washington Pulse