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September 15, 2026

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Exclusive

Houthi top diplomat says no intention to shut down Red Sea shipping, group open to talks

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Acting Foreign Minister of the Houthi-led administration Abdulwahid Abu Ras said concerns over a potential closure of the Red Sea are being fueled by Saudi Arabia.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

VTB Bank in Moscow

US hits major Russian bank VTB with Iran-linked sanctions

State-controlled VTB becomes one of the most prominent global names yet caught up in Washington’s ongoing effort to squeeze Iran's economy.

Milak border crossing near the town of Zabol, Iran

Third Sunni cleric killed in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan Province: What to know

Iran says it is stepping up its crackdown on armed groups in the impoverished province as Sunni clerics have been reported killed there and in the predominantly Kurdish northwest.

AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Saudi pipeline shutdown exposes shrinking global oil-supply buffers

Oil prices have climbed to their highest since May as disruptions to flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the temporary shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline tighten global supply.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Latest News

Oil tops $109 after Houthi strikes, Saudi pipeline shutdown

A sailor from the navy of Yemen's Aden-based internationally recognized government stands at a machine-gun position aboard a vessel patrolling a shipping lane off Hanish Island in the Red Sea on July 27, 2026.

Analysis

As Houthis seize Bab el-Mandeb, Iran appraises value of new Red Sea card

Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities gather in Sanaa on Sept. 10, 2026.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Claude AI used for missile, influence projects in UAE, Iran, Yemen: Anthropic

member of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces firing a heavy machine gun

Analysis

Could Iran’s nuclear ambitions harden as war escalates?

Pedestrians walk past a wall mural along a street in downtown of Tehran on Aug. 31, 2026.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

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

Congress wants VOA to take hard line on Iran

Accusing US-funded media like Voice of America of being too soft on Iran, Congress and the Donald Trump administration seek to exert more control over its Persian-language news services.

Iran supreme leader’s top aide in Moscow to ‘deliver message’

Iran has dispatched to Russia a “special envoy” with a message for President Vladimir Putin only a few days before his scheduled meeting with Donald Trump in Helsinki.

Why Iran's president won’t close strategic Strait of Hormuz

While Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s implicit threat to close the Strait of Hormuz has made headlines around the world, the real aim of his remarks appears to be domestic politicking.

Why only Khamenei can break deadlock over global watchdog blacklist

The heavily politicized debate in Iran over whether to ratify bills necessary to exit the FATF blacklist has reached a standstill that only the supreme leader seems able to break.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA - JULY 04: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign secretary, at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce on July 4, 2018 in Vienna, Austria. Rouhani is on a one-day visit to Austria, during which he is meeting with President van der Bellen and Chancellor Kurz and will attend an event at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Michael Gruber/Getty Images)

Momentum builds for Iran to meet global financial watchdog requirements

Iran’s political elite finally appear to have enough momentum to pass key measures to satisfy FATF’s demands for greater transparency and compliance with international standards, which will improve the changes of Iran and the European Union to build on their economic relations.

A man walks towards the gate of the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen June 24, 2018. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad - RC1869894F80

Top Democrats urge Gulf to drop demand for Houthi surrender in Yemen

Some of the House’s most hawkish Democratic leaders rebuked Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over their offensive on the key port of Hodeidah.

Iran moves closer to reinstating Zoroastrian city councilor

Iran’s Expediency Council is inching closer to reinstating an elected Zoroastrian member of a city council after a controversial suspension over his faith.

Billion dollar debt, heat wave push Iran to cut electricity to Iraq

Iran has cut off electricity supplies to Iraq amid increased consumption during a hot spell and reports of massive accrued debt by Baghdad, sparking a wave of protests in central and southern Iraqi regions.

Why Putin won’t throw Iran under the bus in Syria

Despite speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin may sacrifice Iran's interests in his upcoming summit with US President Donald Trump, Russian policy appears geared toward gaining concessions from the Americans without going beyond Iran’s red lines in Syria.

Israeli soldiers look at the Syrian side of the Israel-Syria border on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israel July 7, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC18A49EEEF0

Israel prepares for Assad’s return to the border

Israeli security experts claim that the return of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Golan Heights is not necessarily bad news for Israel.

How Trump is uniting Rouhani and Iran's Revolutionary Guards

In a dramatic move, Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani has publicly praised Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over his toughened rhetoric against the United States and Israel.

Iranians outraged by Instagram dancer's forced confession

In solidarity with arrested Instagram dancer Maedeh Hojabri, Iranians have begun to post their own videos dancing online.