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

White House, Washington DC, United States of America

United States

November 2, 2026

Washington D.C. 8:59 pm

11°C

Iranian motorists drive past a poster of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in central Tehran on Nov. 1, 2026. I

Iran gives 2-day window for Hormuz deal as US mulls strikes: What to know

An Iranian spokesperson said on Monday that a revised proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could take effect within two days if Washington meets its demands.

US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Oct. 27, 2026.

Will Iran take up Vance lifeline to avoid another US attack?

Vance’s letter comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline; Jordan and Syria move to deepen security ties following a terrorist attack.

Eisenkot - Netanyahu

Analysis

How Netanyahu is trying to discredit Arab parties in bid to block Eisenkot

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to discredit the Arab parties' unprecedented electoral breakthrough by casting their victory as illegitimate.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Trump Netanyahu

Analysis

Israel’s deadlock: Could Trump broker Netanyahu-Eisenkot deal?

With most of the votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, find themselves in a political stalemate that may only be resolved if the US president pressures them into forming a unity government.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

Culture

RFK Jr. sparks backlash after false claims Arabs 'don't produce science'

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) listens as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an election rally at Alico Arena on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus on October 23, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. President Trump traveled to Florida to rally for local Republican candidates ahead of next week's midterm elections. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Analysis

Corruption trial, ICC warrant: Why Netanyahu will stay in politics even if he loses

A print house worker produces a campaign poster showing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Analysis

Putin puts Trump ahead of Iran in bid to mediate war

Putin

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

Feature

50,000 Israeli expats fly home to vote in potential boon to Netanyahu rivals

JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

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

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

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

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Joyce Karam

Editor-in-Chief

Rosaleen Carroll

News Reporter and Supporting Editor

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Paul J. Saunders

In Washington, DC, reporting on Russia in the Middle East

Michael White, a freed U.S. Navy veteran detained in Iran since 2018, poses with U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook while on his return to the United States at Zurich Airport in Zurich, Switzerland June 4, 2020. U.S. State Department/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. THIS IMAGE WAS PROCESSED BY REUTERS TO ENHANCE QUALITY, AN UNPROCESSED VERSION HAS BEEN PROVIDED SEPARATELY. - RC2K2H90N3HH

Can Trump secure release of all US hostages in Iran?

Another prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States seems possible after two in just six months, but the previous exchanges have not generated any mutual trust.

Intel: Democrats condemn US broadcasting CEO’s Middle East purges after expanding office’s powers

President Donald Trump’s new CEO of the US Agency for Global Media on Wednesday fired the heads of at least three of its outlets who collectively oversaw its Middle East and Iran coverage. The move sparked immediate condemnation from key Democrats despite their previous bipartisan support for expanding the CEO’s powers.

New National Security Adviser John Bolton listens as U.S. President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC19BD172000

Intel: Bolton says Trump sought to drop charges against Turkish bank at Erdogan’s behest

President Donald Trump allegedly sought to convince the Justice Department to drop charges against Turkey’s Halkbank at the request of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, The Wall Street Journal reported in an overview of former national security adviser John Bolton’s tell-all book.

Rockets hit Baghdad's Green Zone again

A series of such attacks is happening as the United States and Iraq discuss the future of the US military presence in the country.

FILES - A Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jet takes off from the Hmeymim air base near Latakia, Syria, in this handout photograph released by Russia's Defence Ministry on October 22, 2015. REUTERS/Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - TM3EC9K1AWQ01

Intel: Russian-built aircraft actively using Libya’s Jufra air base

Russian fighter aircraft recently delivered to Libya in support of Khalifa Hifter's campaign against the Tripoli-based government are now being put to use.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks the press at the State Department in Washington, DC, on May 20, 2020. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Intel: Pompeo speaks with Iraq’s new foreign minister

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Iraq’s new Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein by phone on Tuesday.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad stands next to his wife Asma, as he addresses injured soldiers and their mothers during a celebration marking Syrian Mother's Day in Damascus, in this handout picture provided by SANA on March 21, 2016. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Intel: Assad, wife named in new Syria sanctions

The US State Department has warned more sanctions are coming in the weeks and months ahead as part of the Caesar Act.

Battleground state Democrats warn against annexation after AIPAC greenlights criticism

Eight Senate candidates in battleground states are warning Israel against annexing the West Bank after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee greenlit the criticism.

A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in the rebel-held town of Nairab, Idlib region, Syria April 17, 2020. Picture taken April 17, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC2C8G9K3BBG

US kills two al-Qaeda affiliates in northwest Syria

A US drone struck a vehicle carrying two senior commanders of Huras al-Din, one a Jordanian leader and the other a Yemeni leader of the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group.

Iraqi security forces demonstrate their skills during a graduation ceremony at an Iraqi army base in Camp Taji in Baghdad, February 21, 2016. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad - GF10000317853

Iraqi forces thwart rocket attack near US troops

Iraq's success in stopping a rocket attack comes after dialogue with the United States on reducing US troop levels and protecting international coalition forces in the country.

Report: King Abdullah of Jordan refused phone call with Israeli PM due to annexation

Jordan-Israel relations continue to worsen over Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank in July.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at a news conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid - HP1EF9Q1CPOMH

Iran's Rouhani warns other countries against following US arms sanctions

Iran has warned other countries of the United Nations Security Council to not go along with US plans to continue the arms embargo.