Nuclear Power

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi sign a protocol concerning Nuclear Inspections on Sept. 9, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt.

Iran's hard-liners lash out at FM Araghchi as political rift widens over IAEA deal

Iran's recent deal with the UN nuclear watchdog has intensified domestic political fractures, with the government scrambling to balance hard-liners' scrutiny and international skepticism, as snapback sanctions loom large.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (C) meets with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi (L) and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in Cairo, on Sept. 9, 2025.

Iran FM signs preliminary deal with IAEA chief in Cairo amid diplomatic push

The announcement of the agreement comes less than two weeks after the European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal triggered snapback sanctions, which will likely mean the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran within 30 days.

JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images

Iran, IAEA officials meet in Vienna as UN sanctions clock ticks

European powers have triggered the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism, setting a 30-day clock for the return of UN sanctions on Iran.

Iranians drive next to a billboard displaying pictures of nuclear scientists, centrifuges and a sentence reading in Farsi " Science is the power," at the Enqelab Square in Tehran, on Aug. 29, 2025.

Ditch NPT or embrace diplomacy? Snapback sanctions widen Iran's postwar rift

Iran faces an escalating internal crisis over the UN snapback sanctions, as hard-liners demand immediate NPT withdrawal, while moderate voices call for renewed diplomacy to avert conflict and isolation.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Latest News

Iran turns to Russia ahead of E3 nuclear talks: What to know

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start works on a second reactor at the facility.

Analysis

Missiles and brinkmanship: Iran hardens stance in nuclear standoff

Missiles and UAV's are showed for the people on the side of the road in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 11, 2024.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Deadline for sanctions snapback tests Iran’s resolve

This handout image shows a view of the reactor building at the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant on Aug. 21, 2010, in Bushehr, southern Iran.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Iran's political split deepens: Reformists urge uranium freeze as hard-liners resist

Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former Iranian foreign minister, speaks to supporters during an election rally in support of Iranian presidential election candidate Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, Iran, on June 24, 2024.

OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images

Russia, Iran in talks on construction of small nuclear plants: What to know

The comments by the head of Rosatom follow increasing cooperation between Iran and Russia on gas.

Pedestrians walk past a mural at Palestine Square in central Tehran on July 8, 2025, as an anti-Israeli billboard is displayed on the facade of a building depicting the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with text in Persian and Hebrew reading "Netanyahu lost another war; you fell victim to Bibi's political games; Where will the next failure to stay in power occur?" (Photo by -- / AFP) (Photo by --/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

With Iran weakened but not defeated, Israel pushes Trump to prioritize deterrence over deal

Israel and the United States agree on preventing a restart of Iran's nuclear program, but otherwise differ in their preferred policies toward Tehran.

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

People walk past a mural drawn by the "Grafitiyul" graffiti art group depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a street in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on July 22, 2025. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran snubs talks with US, to remain in NPT under conditions: What to know

The news comes just one day after President Donald Trump told reporters that the US is "not going to allow" Iran to continue its nuclear enrichment.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pose for the media at a hotel prior to an E3 meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 NATO summit on June 24, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands.

Analysis

Iran maneuvers to avert E3's snapback sanctions as deadline looms

France, Britain and Germany have warned that unless significant progress is made on curbing Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, they will move to reinstate UN sanctions by the end of August.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations, Kazem Gharibabadi, gives a press conference after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on July 10, 2019.

Iran's deputy FM says IAEA to visit after halted cooperation

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will discuss a “new modality” for their future cooperation.

Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Analysis

'Cannot take our eyes off the ball:' Israel mulls next move as E3 preps Iran nuclear talks

While the Israeli and US strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities caused significant damage, they did not fully destroy them.

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

Traffic flows past a huge billboard bearing a painting of a missile falling on Israel with the slogan in Farsi: "The missile has fallen amidst the demons", on a main road in central Tehran on July 16, 2025. A 12-day war between Iran and Israel last month was sparked by an Israeli bombing campaign that hit military and nuclear sites as well as residential areas in Iran. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

In Turkey, Iran-E3 talks set to tackle IAEA access, snapback sanctions

As Tehran returns to nuclear talks with Europe amid rising diplomatic pressure, Turkey reaffirms its role as a key regional host for high-stakes diplomacy.

This handout photo made available by the Iranian Army Office on March 12, 2025, shows navy personnel saluting aboard a Chinese military ship during a joint Iranian-Russian-Chinese drill in the Gulf of Oman.

Iran, Russia launch naval drills ahead of trilateral nuclear talks with China

Naval forces from Iran and Russia begin joint military drills in the Caspian Sea, reflecting deepening ties between the two countries that come just weeks after Iran’s 12-day war with Israel and the collapse of nuclear talks with the United States.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi talk.

As Iran deadline looms, here’s what to know about UN snapback sanctions

As the October JCPOA snapback deadline approaches, Western powers are weighing the use of the mechanism, while Iran warns that such a move would undermine progress toward a renewed nuclear deal.

Wang Yi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, on April 23, 2025.

Iran’s Araghchi to meet China, Russia FMs at Shanghai Cooperation meeting

Iran is seeking to deepen economic ties with the China-led bloc amid US sanctions and the aftermath of last month's war with Israel.

Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi arrives to an extraordinary IAEA's Board of Governors meeting at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP) (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Limiting inspectors or bargaining chip: Why Iran suspended IAEA cooperation

Iran’s latest move raises doubts about the oversight of its nuclear program and could mean a shift away from the nonproliferation framework it has long been bound to.

By Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

A poster of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

Pentagon reveals new details about strike on Iran’s Fordow: What to know

Top defense official says "no one" is on the ground at Fordow to assess the damage, as the Trump administration tries to dispel doubts about the effectiveness of the US bombing raid designed to knock out Iran’s main enrichment facility.

Jared Szuba

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