Sanctions

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan (L) at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on October 20, 2024. (Photo by Artem Geodakyan / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ARTEM GEODAKYAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE president heads to Russia to meet Putin as ties grow: What to know

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan is heading to Moscow on Thursday for an official visit, his second in less than a year as Russian-Emirati relations continue to develop rapidly.

United Arab Emirates

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa holds a joint press conference with the Turkish president following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on Feb. 4, 2025.

As Trump warms to Syria, US pushes UN to lift Sharaa sanctions

The move comes as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa prepares to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next month.

A plume of heavy smoke and fire rise from an oil refinery in southern Tehran after it was hit in an overnight Israeli strike, on June 15, 2025.

Mysterious fires, alleged cyberattack hint at escalating Israel-Iran shadow war

Amid a shadow war with Israel that appears to be escalating, Iran's foreign minister has said that nuclear negotiations are still possible, but will require overcoming rising "anti-negotiation" sentiment in Iran.

Protesters hold Palestinian flags during a demonstration organized by several peace organizations in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, at Dam Square in Amsterdam, on Oct. 13, 2024.

US hits Palestine officials with visa bans amid growing statehood recognition

The sanctions are expected to have limited effect, as Palestinian officials generally avoid traveling to the United States due to restrictions imposed by a 2019 anti-terrorism law.

Latest News

Trump admin unveils largest-to-date Iran sanctions on oil 'shipping empire'

An Iranian flag flutters on board the Adrian Darya oil tanker, formerly known as Grace 1, off the coast of Gibraltar on Aug. 18, 2019.

China steps in to help electrify Iran’s railways: What to know

A train moves during the inauguration of a 140-kilometer line running from eastern Iran into western Afghanistan, at a railroad station in Khaf, on Dec. 10, 2020.

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

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)

Analysis

Trump’s Syria gamble tested by unrest in Suwayda

Druze men greet each other as they wait near the border fence in the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, as Syrian Druze who had crossed over the day before to the village, cross back to return to Syrian, on July 17, 2025. Syrian government forces have withdrawn from the whole of Sweida province after days of sectarian bloodshed in the heartland of the Druze minority, a war monitor and witnesses said July 17, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

A photo illustration taken on March 30, 2018 in Beijing shows the screen of a laptop with the word "VPN" written in the search field of the Chinese Baidu website. Chinese authorities had announced that all unrecognised VPN services would be blocked by March 31, meaning that Chinese and foreign companies must choose from a limited number of state-approved VPNs. / AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR (Photo credit should read FRED DUFOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia follow close behind China in VPN blocking

China led the ranking, blocking about 73% of all attempts to access VPN providers, with Iran and several Gulf Arab countries following close behind.

Wagner group

From UAE to Sudan: US targets Middle East entities for Wagner ties

The US has sanctioned entities operating in the UAE and Sudan for alleged connections to the notorious Russian mercenary group, which also has an extensive presence in the Middle East and North Africa.

United Arab Emirates

Blinken

US unveils visa restriction policy tied to Saudi fugitive case

The new policy permits visa denials for foreign officials who help their citizens evade the US justice system.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) met today met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) in Abu Dhabi, June 22, 2023.

Iran rushes regional thaw in UAE as it hopes for sanctions relief

Iran's foreign minister was in the United Arab Emirates to pursue the Islamic Republic's reproachment drive, while his deputy was on a parallel mission in neighboring Qatar in a quest for sanctions relief through indirect diplomacy with the United States.

United Arab Emirates

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L), in Kuwait City

Iran's FM visits Kuwait, then UAE in latest Gulf charm offensive

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Oman on Tuesday to meet with Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi as part of his Gulf tour that began in Doha.

United Arab Emirates

The official welcoming ceremony of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran, Uzbekistan ink major deals during rare visit by Uzbek president

The Islamic Republic offered to share its "experience" in overcoming international sanctions in the first visit by an Uzbek leader to Tehran in 20 years, marked by multiple trade and energy agreements.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi disembarks after landing at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maquetia, La Guaira State, Venezuela, on June 12, 2023.

Iran's Raisi urges unity to 'neutralize' US sanctions in Nicaragua visit

Iran and Nicaragua closed cooperation deals as Raisi admired the leftist state for its resistance against the United States.

MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

MBS holds call with Putin, talks oil prices as Blinken visits Saudi Arabia

The IMF projected that Saudi Arabia’s economic growth will slow to 2.1% in 2023 from its 3.1% forecast in May, after the kingdom cut more oil production on Sunday.

Iranian soldiers stand next to an Iranian Kheibar missile (R) and a Shahab-3 missile (L) during a rally marking al-Quds (Jerusalem) day, in street at the capital Tehran, on April 29, 2022. - An initiative started by the late Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Quds Day is held annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

US sanctions target Iran's ballistic missile ties with China

The latest barrage of US economic sanctions came just hours after Iran unveiled what it claimed to be its first hypersonic missile.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, June 5, 2023.

Analysis

Venezuela's Maduro visit to Saudi Arabia is another signal to US

Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Relations Yvan Gil said Monday that cooperation projects in oil and gas, petrochemicals and infrastructure were addressed in Jeddah.

By Salim A. Essaid

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

US sanctions Iranian firm over internet censorship

The Treasury Department says that the technology company Arvan Cloud has a close and collaborative relationship with Iran's intelligence services.

Men hang the national flag next to posters of President Bashar al-Assad, a candidate for the Presidential election, in the Syrian capital Damascus on May 17, 2021.

Breaking | Last Updated: May 30, 2023, 2:42 pm

US unveils Caesar sanctions on Syrian money service businesses

The sanctions targeting a pair of money service businesses are the administration’s second use of the bipartisan Caesar Act.