Sanctions

A woman walks past a deactivated Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile in front of a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran's Bahrestan Square on Sept. 27, 2025, as part of an exhibit to mark the "Sacred Defense Week" commemorating the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

US targets Iran's military tech with sanctions after allies trigger snapback

New sanctions aim to increase pressure on Iran to restrict the IRGC’s relentless development of ballistic missiles and military aircraft, but risk pushing Tehran further into the orbits of Russia and China.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) welcomes Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov (L) and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazeem Gharibabadi.

Analysis

How far will China, Russia go in shielding Iran from UN sanctions?

Iran is lobbying states to resist enforcement of UN sanctions — looking particularly to China and Russia to blunt the impact, even as questions remain about the limits of their willingness to act.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

US President Donald Trump (L) greets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) upon his arrival at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25, 2025.

From F-35s to Ukraine: Erdogan-Trump talks signal reset, but sanctions obstacles remain

The summit underscored both leaders’ personal chemistry while highlighting the limits of what the partnership can deliver.

President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 24, 2025 in New York City.

Analysis

'Prepared for any scenario': What are Iran's options after sanctions snapback?

As the snapback nears, Iran weighs diplomacy, escalation and changes to its nuclear policy.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Latest News

Russia, Iran sign deal to build small nuclear power plants: What to know

Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images

Araghchi pushes last-ditch diplomacy at UN as Iran braces for sanctions snapback

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference following the signing of an Egypt-backed agreement on practical modalities to resume nuclear inspections on the Iranian nuclear program on Sept. 9, 2025 in Cairo, Egypt.

In UN spotlight, Syria’s Sharaa meets Rubio in New York

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City on Sept. 22, 2025.

Analysis

As US steps back from Europe, Turkey eyes bigger role in NATO defense industry

People pose for photographs in front of a Turkish Hurjet at Turkey's 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) on July 24, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

India weighs options as US ends waiver for Iran’s Chabahar Port: What to know

India has been working to develop the strategically important Gulf port for close to a decade, but the move has been complicated by US sanctions on Iran.

NIKITA BORISSOV/AFP via Getty Images

Russia’s energy minister in Iran to discuss stalled natural gas deal: What to know

Russia and Iran are strengthening their energy ties amid their growing international isolation.

UMIT BEKTAS/AFP via Getty Images

In first visit in 25 years, Syrian FM pushes sanctions relief in Washington

Asaad al-Shibani’s visit to Washington comes as Syria seeks sanctions relief and engages in US-mediated talks with Israel on a security agreement.

Fighters lift flags of Iraq and paramilitary groups, including al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah, during a funeral in Baghdad for five militants killed a day earlier in a US strike in northern Iraq, on Dec. 4, 2023.

US lists 4 Iran-backed Iraqi militias as foreign terrorist organizations

Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited the militias' repeated attacks on US and coalition forces across Iraq.

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.

Stacks of Iranian rials and US dollars sit counted on a table in an unofficial currency exchange shop, Tehran, Iran, Aug. 6, 2025.

Analysis

Old sanctions, new risks: Iran’s economy hampered by war fallout, China reliance

Europe’s move to revive UN sanctions against Iran comes amid growing economic strain for a country already buckling under war damage, domestic crises and a plunging currency.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

US citizen Siamak Namazi

Trump order lets US label countries as wrongful detention sponsors

Iran will be reviewed for possible listing as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention.

PARKER SONG/AFP via Getty Images

Iran’s Pezeshkian meets Xi in Beijing as China, Russia try to stall E3 sanctions

Iran’s president met China's in Beijing after the SCO summit, which backed Iran’s against international sanctions and condemned US-Israeli strikes on the country earlier this summer.

Al Drago/Getty Images

US sanctions network smuggling Iranian oil diguised as Iraqi: What to know

The move come on the heels of the E3’s push to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.

Delegates attend the Defense Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on June 26, 2025.

At SCO summit in China, Iran seeks support ahead of UN sanctions

China's SCO will bring together major world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, as Tehran seeks support amid mounting Western pressure.

People unload containers at the port of Latakia in western Syria on Dec. 30, 2024.

US eases export controls to boost Syria's recovery

The move is the Trump administration’s latest bid to assist the country's postwar reconstruction.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 21, 2023 in New York City. Heads of states and governments from at least 145 countries are gathered for the 78th UNGA session amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and fires around the globe. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

US to deny visas to Palestinian officials for UN summit

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Palestinian officials to “return to a constructive path of compromise."