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

Iran cover image

Iran

July 8, 2026

Tehran 2:34 am

29°C

In this US Navy released handout, an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, prepares to take off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 1, 2026 at Sea.

Breaking | Last Updated: July 7, 2026, 5:50 pm

US airstrikes hit Iran after tankers attacked in Hormuz

This was the third time the US had carried out strikes since the April ceasefire.

A picture taken on March 12, 2017, shows an Iranian tanker docking at the platform of the oil facility in the Khark Island, on the shore of the Gulf.

US revokes Iran oil waiver after Hormuz attacks

The United States had issued the two-month sanctions waiver as part of its preliminary deal with Iran.

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows workers on the construction site of a second reactor in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start the works at the facility.

Russia’s Rosatom says staff to return to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant: What to know

Russia evacuated hundreds of personnel from Bushehr after the start of the US-Israel-Iran war, but it has pledged to continue helping Iran develop its nuclear capabilities.

Latest News

Iran’s hard-line judicial chief Mohseni Ejei gets second term: What to know

Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei

Analysis

How Iran war shaped divergent paths to security among GCC states

A man walks past the flags of the countries attending the Gulf Cooperation Council summit at Bayan palace in Kuwait City on Dec. 5, 2017.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

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

Analysis

Iran set to bury Khamenei, but his hard-line legacy may endure

Iranians walk past a billboard bearing a picture of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei ahead of his funeral in Tehran on July 3, 2026. Iranian leaders began paying their respects on July 3 before the coffin of the country's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed in the US-Israeli strikes that triggered the Middle East war, as Tehran prepared for a vast funeral. Khamenei's body arrived at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on July 3 ahead of ceremonies which are expected to draw millions. (Photo by AFP via Getty

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

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

Iranians attend a gathering in Tehran on October 7, 2023, to express their solidarity with Palestine after Hamas militants launched a deadly air, land and sea assault into Israel from the Gaza Strip. A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced support for a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, calling it a "proud operation". (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

US, Qatar reportedly agree to pause Iran's access to $6 billion fund

The Biden administration faced mounting congressional pressure to punish Iran over the surprise attack on Israel carried out by its proxy, Hamas.

Tehran

Khamenei cheers Hamas' 'epic' attacks on Israel, but denies Iran role

While taking "pride in Palestinian youths" for their attacks on Israel, the Iranian leader shielded Tehran from mounting accusations that it was behind the deadly operations.

This photograph taken on May 24, 2023 shows the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford cruising near Jeloya island, in Moss, south of Oslo. The ship is the world's largest warship and will be in port in Oslo for four days. Russia's embassy in Norway on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 hashly criticised the visit by the US aircraft carrier to Oslo as an "illogical and harmful" show of force. (Photo by Terje Pedersen / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by TERJE PEDERSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Pentagon warns Iran, Hezbollah to stay out of Hamas war with Israel

The Biden administration deployed an aircraft carrier strike group in a bid to deter a multi-front war against Israel, but lack of a formal defense treaty with Israel and Congressional authorities could inhibit Washington's ability to respond.

MBZ Bagheri

Iran's parliament speaker visits UAE, meets MBZ as detente continues

The trip was the latest in a flurry of bilateral diplomacy that has seen top Iranian officials in a chain of meetings with the Emirati leadership, though little progress has been reported on core disputes.

Narges Mohammadi has not seen her children for eight years

Iran's jailed women's activist Narges Mohammadi wins Nobel peace prize

Agence France-Presse

09/17/2023 Shiraz, Iran. An Iranian young girl in a car shows a victory sign from the window on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's murder. (Photo by Amir / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by AMIR/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran's security arrests mother of Armita Garawand as teen still lies in coma

Just days after her daughter fell into a coma after reportedly being attacked by morality police officers, Shahin Ahmadi was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location.

Navy gulf Oman

US sends 1.1 million rounds of seized Iranian ammunition to Ukraine

The unprecedented shipment comes as political paralysis in Congress has threatened to interrupt the flow of weapons to Kyiv.

Iranian teen girl

Iranian girl in coma after alleged assault by hijab police

The case of Armita Garawand is eerily similar to that of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody last year after she was arrested for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

A refugee and her children waits at the Lachin checkpoint to leave Karabakh for Armenia, on Sept. 26, 2023.

Azerbaijan eyes Iran, Armenia borderlands after 'voluntary' exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh

The fall of the Nagorno-Karabakh government after 30 years could empower Turkey and weaken Iran.

AFP via Getty Images

Iran's Khamenei calls Arab-Israel normalization push 'betting on losing horse'

The Iranian supreme leader's statement hinted at Iran's growing unease with recent Saudi moves toward reconciliation with Israel only months after Riyadh began its rapprochement with Tehran.

US Army officers stand in front a US Patriot missile defense system during joint Israeli-US military exercise "Juniper Cobra" at the Hatzor airforce base, Israel, March 8, 2018.

Analysis

With Iran in mind, Israel's security brass warms to US defense pact

After years of objecting to a defense pact with the United States, seniors in the Israeli security establishment are increasingly coming around to the idea.

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

Al-Ittihad's supporters wave a flag.

Culture

Saudi-Iran soccer match canceled over Qasem Soleimani statue row

Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed diplomatic relations in March. Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in 2020, is a polarizing figure in the region.