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Iran

May 7, 2026

Tehran 11:01 pm

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Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China in Beijing on May 6, 2026. Credit: Telegram

Analysis

China shores up Iran support as Trump seeks exit

China understands how badly Trump wants an exit from the conflict. But timing is critical: if no agreement is reached before Trump arrives in China on Thursday, Beijing would be better positioned to set the agenda.

Joyce Karam

An Iranian woman holds up an image of Iran's new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iran president says he held official meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei: What to know

The president’s announcement marks the first public confirmation of a meeting between a senior official and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the start of the war.

Latest News

Iran, China discuss Hormuz reopening amid potential US-Iran talks

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, talks to his Iranian Counterpart Abbas Araghchi, left, during the bilateral meeting in Beijing, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Rubio warns Iran of 'total defeat' if it refuses deal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on May 5, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Analysis

Iran's Gulf gambit: Attacking the UAE to shift US calculations

A billboard with the image of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wraps the front of a building in Tehran on May 5, 2026.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

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

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Benjamin Houghton

In Durham, reporting on China in the Middle East

Rahim Rahimov

In Baku, reporting on Middle East-Caucasus ties

Mehrnaz Samimi

In Washington, DC, reporting on Iranian culture

Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps march during the annual military parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the Iraq-Iran War, Tehran, Iran, Sept. 22, 2018.

IRGC Syria commander removed 'upon request from Assad'

The future of Iran’s presence in Syria seems to be dividing the Syrian leadership.

The Iranian national flag is seen outside the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters during the agency's Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on March 1, 2021.

Iran negotiator says goal in Vienna is to undo 'illegal sanctions'

Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran on the latter’s nuclear program will resume on Nov. 29 after a five-month pause.

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian held in Iran since 2016.

UK urges Iranian deputy FM on jailed British nationals

The meeting between British officials and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani came nearly three weeks after Richard Ratcliffe launched a hunger strike to protest his wife's detention.

In this picture taken on Oct. 19, 2021, Afghans who were forcibly deported back from Iran to Afghanistan wait in a refugee office at the border between Afghanistan and Iran.

Iran deports thousands of Afghan refugees, UN agency says

In the last week of October, Iran sent back more than 28,000 Afghans who fled across the border.

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian held in Iran since 2016.

Iranian diplomat visits UK amid growing pressure over jailed activist

The Iranian negotiator's meetings were expected to be overshadowed by UK demands for the release of British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, whose husband is on a hunger strike outside the UK Foreign Office headquarters in London.

Afghans Iran

Up to 5,000 Afghans fleeing to Iran daily, aid group says

The Norwegian Refugee Council said some 300,000 Afghans have crossed into Iran since the Taliban's takeover in August.

Chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami (R) delivers a speech.

The Takeaway: Iran says US must show goodwill ahead of nuclear talks

Saudi Arabian beach riles conservatives; Turkey responds to Erdogan health speculation; Arab-Israeli legislator vindicated by budget; Alexandria’s global warming worries; Egypt offers divorce counseling; Pharaoh’s honey bees still buzzing; all in less than 1,500 words!

A billboard depicting Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps navy units observing a US warship in the Gulf of Oman.

Iran's IRGC praises forces in Gulf of Oman incident

Iran claims its naval forces thwarted a US attempt to confiscate oil from an Iranian tanker, yet Washington denies the incident even occurred.

Iran minister

Iran vows to boost defenses ahead of fresh nuclear talks

The Iranian foreign minister's words for his French and German counterparts signaled a tough round of talks ahead for all parties as they were to reconvene after six months in Vienna.

Iraqi security forces take position on Nov. 7, 2021 at one of the entrances of the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, following an overnight drone attack on the residence of Iraq's prime minister inside the zone.

Iran condemns assassination attempt on Iraqi prime minister

While many have speculated that Iran-backed militias were behind the attack, hard-line Iranian media outlets pointed the finger at the United States.

Saudi air force

US approves sale of air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia

The Biden administration says the weapons are key to Saudi Arabia's self-defense from Iran-backed drone attacks out of Yemen.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran increases enriched uranium stockpile ahead of Vienna talks

Indirect talks between the United States and Iran on the latter’s nuclear program will resume in late November after months of delay.