Analysis As Houthis seize Bab el-Mandeb, Iran appraises value of new Red Sea card Iran is celebrating the Houthis' rapid advance toward Bab el-Mandeb, but appears reluctant to act on the win. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Claude AI used for missile, influence projects in UAE, Iran, Yemen: Anthropic Military and government actors across the Middle East — from Iran to Yemen to the United Arab Emirates — have used Anthropic's Claude AI model for war planning and influence campaigns. Yemen
Analysis Could Iran’s nuclear ambitions harden as war escalates? A new report has raised alarm about the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site that President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Iran’s Pickaxe mountain tests limits of Trump’s military options A secretive Pentagon innovation agency has hastened to test munitions that may penetrate deeper than the GBU-57 bombs dropped on Iran’s two main enrichment facilities. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis What Houthi setbacks in Yemen mean for Iran's regional influence By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Did boycott win Farhadi an Oscar — and Islamic Republic’s embrace? Iranian authorities have clearly welcomed director Asghar Farhadi’s latest Oscar, unlike last time — but what is next for this Academy Award winner? Iran
Why Iran’s auto ambitions will benefit economy, not consumers Iran appears focused on transforming itself into a regional car manufacturing hub in the coming years — but at what price? Iran
Ahmadinejad blamed as US rulings freeze more Iranian assets A new freeze of Iranian assets as a result of US court rulings over terrorist attacks sparks ire in Iran. United States
Gulf countries take back seat on Syria route It seems Saudi Arabia is more interested in Yemen than in Syria these days, which explains dwindling Gulf support for Syrian rebels. Saudi Arabia
Can Congress compromise on bipartisan Iran sanctions law? Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders say they're getting closer to an agreement on non-nuclear sanctions. Congress
Allure of riches draws young Iranians to network marketing Network marketing is growing increasingly popular among young Iranians looking for new ways to make a quick buck. Iran
Iran’s Rouhani moves to form campaign headquarters In a move to perhaps end rumors of his reluctance to run in Iran’s upcoming presidential vote, incumbent Hassan Rouhani has set up a formal campaign headquarters. Iran
Intrigue surrounds arrest, release of Iranian dissident cleric’s son The arrest and release of Ahmad Montazeri, the son of Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri, sheds light on behind-the-scenes maneuvering by clerics in Iran. Iran
What’s stopping Rouhani from reaching out to Trump? While some Iranians argue that more should have been done to improve relations with the United States under former President Barack Obama, not everyone in Iran agrees. United States
Iran’s private sector having hard time financing expansion While the Iranian debt market has greatly expanded in past years, providing an alternative to banks for financing, private sector firms are left out of this boom. Iran
Why Iran won’t work as a bargaining chip between Russia, US Russia and Iran have enough overlapping interests to keep their relationship strong, even if the United States tries to interfere. Russia
Iraq, Iran agree to resolve dispute on joint oil fields After many years, Iraq and Iran have decided to form a joint committee to resolve differences about the oil fields between the two countries and the supply of a new oil pipeline to Iran. Iraq