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Iran

May 8, 2026

Tehran 9:08 am

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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

Ebrahim Raisi campaign poster in Tehran

Iran reconsidering list of disqualified presidential candidates

Iran's powerful Guardian Council said it would review the decision to bar certain candidates from running in this month's presidential election.

Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Javad Zarif (L) meets with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza (R) at the Casa Amarilla palace in Caracas, on Nov. 5, 2020.

Pentagon issues warning over Iran warship reportedly headed to Venezuela

The United States is threatening to "deter" Iran's apparent effort to deliver weapons to Venezuela.

VAHID AHMADI/TASNIM NEWS/AFP via Getty Images

Iran says refinery fire contained, rules out sabotage

Iranian officials rushed to reject speculation of sabotage behind a Tehran refinery blaze that followed a chain of incidents blamed on Israel.

refinery fire

Fire reported at Iranian oil refinery near Tehran

The fire at the Tondguyan refinery was reportedly caused by a leak at a liquid gas pipeline.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce on July 4, 2018, in Vienna, Austria.

Iran's Rouhani says problems with US ‘resolved’ in Vienna talks

President Hassan Rouhani said most issues with the United States have been resolved, but he hinted a deal may not happen until after his term ends.

Kharg

Iran navy's largest ship sinks after fire in Gulf of Oman

The Navy said the crew safely evacuated before the Kharg sank near the southern Iranian port city of Jask.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images

Prominent activist accuses Iran interrogators of sexual abuse

Narges Mohammadi, known for her long struggle for human rights in Iran, said prison authorities and interrogators regularly use sexual harassment and abuse as a tool to break dissident women in custody.

Iran's former parliament speaker Ali Larijani delivers a speech after registering his candidacy for Iran's presidential elections, at the Interior Ministry in capital Tehran, on May 15, 2021, ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for June.

Prominent disqualified candidates urge Iranians to still vote

Despite being disqualified to run by the country's Guardian Council, several major Reformist and centrist figures are still calling on citizens to go to the polls.

An Iranian medical staff works with samples at the Avicenna embryology and infertility centre in Tehran on June 29, 2016.

Iran to open fertility research center in Algeria

Iran and Algeria have improved relations in recent years, leading to concerns from Morocco and Iranian government critics.

Iran's former parliament speaker Ali Larijani delivers a speech after registering his candidacy for Iran's presidential elections, at the Interior Ministry in capital Tehran, on May 15, 2021, ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for June.

Tehran hard-liner council bans leading centrists from presidential race

Iran's Guardian Council disqualified all the major moderate contenders from the country's presidential election, paving the way for a one-sided race and an anticipated victory for hard-line judicial chief Ibrahim Raisi.

A woman walks past the sign of the International Atomic Energy Agency ahead of a press conference by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, about the agency monitoring of Iran's nuclear energy program on May 23, 2021, in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA has been in talks with Iran over extending the agency's monitoring program. Meanwhile, Iranian and international representatives have been in talks in recent weeks in Vienna over reviving the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal.

Iran, IAEA extend inspection agreement by one month

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency extend an understanding to keep the nuclear talks alive.

Canada protest

Iran rejects Canadian court's decision on responsibility for downed passenger plane

A court in Ontario, Canada, ruled that Iran's 2020 shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which killed 55 Canadians, was a terrorist act.