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Iran

September 15, 2026

Tehran 8:15 am

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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

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.

Oil tops $109 after Houthi strikes, Saudi pipeline shutdown

The Houthi militia said on Monday that it fired dozens of drones and ballistic missiles at military targets in Saudi Arabia in retaliation for airstrikes by Riyadh in Yemen.

Latest News

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

Analysis

Iran’s Pickaxe mountain tests limits of Trump’s military options

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on September 2, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)

Jared Szuba

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

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

Iran welcomes Russian help to end crisis in Syria

Iranian officials have said they welcome Russian involvement in Syria, as Russia builds up its military presence in the country.

US offer of anti-Iran bomb lands as a dud in Israel

Some in Congress are keen to share the latest bunker-busting technology, but Israel is skeptical.

IAEA chief testifies before Iran parliament committee

Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, faced tough questions from parliament members of Iran who are reviewing the final nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1.

Will boycott campaign put the brakes on Iran's auto industry?

On the cusp of no longer facing Western sanctions, Iranian carmakers now face a domestic boycott of their vehicles over price and quality concerns.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, September 21, 2015. Netanyahu said his visit to Moscow on Monday was aimed at preventing clashes between Russian and Israeli military forces in the Middle East. REUTERS/Ivan Sekretarev/Pool - RTS25BW

Israel fears return of Persian Empire

According to a senior IDF source, Israel's major concern should be the Iran-Shiite-Hezbollah axis and Iran gaining regional influence and power after the nuclear agreement.

Is this the next movie to be banned by Egypt?

Al-Azhar says it opposes the Iranian movie “Muhammad: The Messenger of God” because of representations of the prophet, but some suspect political motives behind its reaction.

Pressure shifts to Iran to implement nuclear deal

No sanctions to be lifted until Iran puts in place unprecedented nuclear safeguards; White House spokesman calls out critics of Syria policy; Aleppo region a "living hell"; siege of Madaya continues.

A picture taken on September 28, 2013 and obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency shows Iranian soldiers destroying satellite dishes with an army tank in a street of the southwestern city of Shiraz. The Iranian authorities carry out regular crackdowns to seize satellite dishes, removing them from rooftops, and issue warnings against their use. AFP PHOTO/ ISNA/MOHSEN TAVARO (Photo credit should read MOHSEN TAVARO/AFP/Getty Images)

Will Rouhani end jamming of satellite TV signals?

In Iran, controversy continues over the hotly debated issue of the jamming of signals from foreign-based satellite channels.

130730-D-NI589-235 Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asia Pacific Security Affairs Peter Lavoy, right, and State Department Deputy to the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Jarrett Blanc brief the press on a report titled, "Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan," in the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on July 30, 2013. DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett. (Released)

US announces nuke deal implementation team

Outgoing ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull, a former senior adviser to William Burns, will lead the team coordinating the Iran nuclear deal implementation. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Jarrett Blanc will serve as deputy coordinator.

Why Iran, Saudi Arabia keep locking horns on Syria

The window of opportunity for regional dialogue provided by the Iran nuclear deal appears wasted as Tehran and Riyadh stick to their positions.

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY ALI NOORANI - A picture taken on September 12, 2015 shows an Iranian couple getting into a Pride car (manufactured by SAIPA Iranian auto manufacturer) in northern Tehran. A campaign to boycott "substandard and expensive" Iranian-made cars has fired up social media in the Islamic republic, where its supporters have been accused of anti-revolutionary treason. AFP PHOTO / ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

Why is Iran's health minister complaining about domestic-made cars?

After a social media campaign to boycott Iranian-made cars, Iranian officials weigh in on the matter.

Khamenei asks IRGC to prevent 'enemy’s influence'

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, asking them to protect the country from foreign influence.