Iran - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Iran cover image

Iran

September 22, 2026

Tehran 1:02 pm

34°C

Wakil Kohsar / AFP via Getty Images

Iran threatens to expand war with new weapons if US attacks resume

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened to expand its attacks in the region and use new weapons.

Gargash

UAE's Gargash expects 'prolonged' war, calls for Iran-Gulf security talks

"We need a new mindset that these sort of discussions ... can happen at an Iranian-American level, it should also take place at an Iranian-Arab level," Gargash told Al-Monitor.

United Arab Emirates

Waltz

Interview

Waltz: ‘Door open’ to Iran talks, more countries eye Abraham Accords

Speaking at Al-Monitor Live New York, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said that several more regional states have expressed their interest in joining the Abraham Accords.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

What to expect as UN General Assembly convenes amid Iran war

The US State Department denied visas to Palestinian officials seeking to attend the UN summit, yet authorized the Iranian delegation's travel to New York.

Latest News

Analysis

How a new Baluch militant coalition raises pressure on Iran-Pakistan border

A picture of Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who was killed during Israeli strikes on Tehran in June, is displayed Zahedan, the capital of the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, during a media tour organized by the Iranian government on Dec. 18, 2025.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

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

Analysis

As Iran regime marks 200 days of war, is it also preparing for dissent?

Members of Iran's Basij paramilitary force march

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments

A pedestrian passes by the Treasury Building in Washington, DC on Jan. 18, 2023.

China presses Iran, US to reopen Hormuz as disruptions threaten oil supply

AFP via Getty Images

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

Rouhani praises 'historic' day for Iran, India, Afghanistan

The leaders of Iran, India and Afghanistan gathered in Tehran to sign an agreement to develop a transit system connecting their countries via the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar.

Is it time to tame Iran's lawless publishing sector?

Iranians are debating whether to join the international Berne Convention on copyright, with advocates arguing that signing on will bring legitimacy to Iranian publishing and detractors fearing copyright enforcement will only benefit the corrupt and powerful.

How Leonardo DiCaprio became unlikely champion in Iran

Iranians are elated that actor Leonardo DiCaprio is helping to raise awareness of the drying of Lake Urmia.

Iraqis divided over Soleimani's role in their country

Iran's Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani is stirring controversy in the Iraqi street, where citizens are waving both Iranian and Iraqi flags during demonstrations for or against his presence.

An Iranian anti-narcotics policeman stands guard beside a display of confiscated drugs during a ceremony concluding anti-narcotics manoeuvres in Zahedan, 1,605 kilometers (1,003 miles) southeast of Tehran May 20, 2009. The head of the U.N. crime agency praised Iran during a visit on Wednesday for curbing the flow of smuggled heroin from Afghanistan and helping keep the drug off Western streets. Picture taken May 20, 2009. REUTERS/Caren Firouz (IRAN CRIME LAW POLITICS SOCIETY) - RTXKL1B

Will Iran stop executions for drug offenses?

Mohammad Javad Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Human Rights Council, has been joined by other officials in his repeated calls to cut down on executions for drug offenses.

Rouhani’s greatest win on the verge of becoming liability

Both ends of the bargain of the nuclear deal must be delivered to ensure the agreement will be a lasting legacy.

Last year's disaster offers Saudis excuse to clamp down on hajj

The Saudi Interior Ministry is doing everything it can to keep this year's hajj season tragedy-free — including, conveniently, shutting out Iranian pilgrims over visa problems.

Why Iran should focus on Turkey, not Russia, for Syria cooperation

Despite all talk of a nascent Russian-Iranian alliance, it appears that Iranian interests — and the objective of peace in Syria — are perhaps best served through Iranian-Turkish cooperation.

Is Rafsanjani’s daughter headed for more legal trouble?

Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani faces possible legal action after appearing in a photo with leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community.

Iranian former vice-president Mohammad Reza Aref speaks during a reformist campaign for upcoming parliamentary election, in Tehran February 18, 2016. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/TIMA ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RTX27KDB

Who will be Iran's next speaker of parliament?

The competition for the position of parliament speaker is heating up in Iran.

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington March 29, 2016. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday split 4-4 for the first time in a major case since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia on a conservative legal challenge to a vital source of funds for organized labor, affirming a lower-court ruling that allowed California to force non-union workers to pay fees to public-employee unions. REUTERS/Gary Cameron - RTSCOU4

How Supreme Court decision to freeze Iran assets undermines US foreign policy

The US Supreme Court’s decision to seize Iranian assets to compensate terror victims is creating a backlash that undermines US business interests and could sabotage US foreign policy.

Iran parliament seeks damages for US support of Saddam

Iranian parliament passes bill to seek American assets for US actions taken against Iran in the past 63 years.