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Iran

May 8, 2026

Tehran 7:41 am

22°C

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, the Iran-flagged tugboat Basim sails near a ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

What to know about Iran's 'Persian Gulf Strait Authority' to control Hormuz traffic

The establishment of an entity seeking to control maritime transportation in the Strait of Hormuz is the latest sign that Iran wants to formalize authority in the strategic waterway.

Popular Mobilization Forces

US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias

The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence.

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.

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

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's new foreign minister visits Baghdad for regional summit

The summit is the latest effort by Iraq to reduce tensions between Iran and its Sunni Arab neighbors.

Motorcyclists with face masks in Tehran

Fears grow in Iran as pandemic worsens

Iran wrestles with record infection and mortality rates and officials worry that a new variant could come in on the heels of the Delta variant, which has been ravaging the country.

Inside Evin Prison.

Iran judiciary orders investigation into prison abuse

The head of Iran’s judiciary called for an investigation into the abuse at Evin Prison.

Evin Prison

Iran authorities embarrassed by hacked CCTV prison videos

The hacked videos that show various moments of abuse continue to trickle in and have drawn a rare apology from the country's top prison official.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian attends an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the situation in Yemen on June 16, 2015 in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Raisi's foreign minister pick indicates change for Iranian policy

The choice of incoming Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian suggests that new Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is downgrading the role of the Foreign Ministry in regional conflicts.

Abdollahian

Iran to move away from nuclear-centered foreign policy

Iran’s likely new foreign minister will not be as focused on the nuclear deal as was his predecessor.

Taliban, imam at Kabul mosque

Will the Taliban welcome al-Qaeda back to Afghanistan?

Afghanistan's economy is hanging by a thread; Iran makes the best of the Taliban; the "resistance" finds inspiration; five must reads on Afghanistan.

Raisi speaks at swearing-in at parliament

Iran's art community fears 'Stalin era' under Raisi

President Ebrahim Raisi's pick for the post of culture minister has drawn a furious backlash from Iran's art community members, who fear there will be a return to stifling cultural restrictions.

European External Action Service (EEAS) Deputy Secretary-General Enrique Mora (C) looks on as Iran's newly elected president, Ebrahim Raisi, speaks.

European powers blast Iran's 'troubling' nuclear violations

The United Kingdom, France and Germany urged Iran to return to the negotiating table following reports the country has accelerated its nuclear program.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's official COVID-19 death toll surpasses 100,000

Iran's Health Ministry has also recorded more than 4 million cases, although experts believe the figure is deceptively low.

Taliban fighters stand guard in Herat

The Takeaway: Iran can live with Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

Also: Israel, the United States and Afghanistan; Turkey’s "remorse clause" and the Islamic State; Turks rally around trolled Olympian; Israeli-Palestinian fault lines; Gaza rocks out; and more … in just over 1,500 words!

A Taliban fighter walks past a beauty saloon with images of women defaced using a spray paint in Shar-e-Naw in Kabul on Aug. 18, 2021.

IRGC says Afghanistan exit a ‘lesson’ not to rely on US

An official from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps says the US exit from Afghanistan is a lesson for regional leaders.