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Iran

May 8, 2026

Tehran 3:10 pm

28°C

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

JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images

Iran pledges 'firm' response to IAEA resolution, switches off cameras

Prospects for supervision of Iran's nuclear activities went cloudy as the UN nuclear watchdog chief decried a potential "fatal blow" from Iran's disabling of 27 IAEA-installed cameras at its key facilities.

India protest

Iran moves on from India's Prophet Muhammad controversy

Iranian diplomats have praised India’s response to members of its ruling Bharatiya Janata Party who insulted Islam.

Iran's political attache at the permanent mission to the Vienna-based international organizations Khodayar Rouzbahani.

Iran turns off nuclear site cameras in response to IAEA

Iran and the IAEA continue escalatory measures.

An Iranian boy takes a tray of eggs at a grocery store in Tehran on Sept. 30, 2012.

Retirees join Iran protests over economic grievances

The rallies were sparked by unprecedented rising prices across the food sector under President Ebrahim Raisi's economic policies.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh holds a press conference in Tehran on May 9, 2022.

Iran warns IAEA against resolution

Iran has threatened to reduce its cooperation with the IAEA if a resolution is written against it.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) meets with head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi (R) in Tehran on March 5, 2022.

Analysis

Limits on Iran’s nuclear program are needed more than ever

Two recent IAEA reports indicate Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to produce material for a nuclear weapon in mere weeks.

Mark Fitzpatrick

By Mark Fitzpatrick

A man stands on the bank of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, formed at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, in Iraq's southern city of Basra on May 23, 2022, during a sandstorm sweeping the country.

Iran, Iraq, Syria to cooperate on sandstorms

Sandstorms have pummeled the region this year, particularly Iraq.

Iranian Basij paramilitary forces.

Tehran denounces GCC over missile comments

The GCC enumerated worries about Iran and its "destabilizing behavior," triggering typically strong rhetoric from Tehran.

A boy listens to Live Go-Go music playing at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, DC, on June 19, 2021.

Iran calls exodus of Black staffers from Biden White House 'systematic racial discrimination'

Iran has criticized the treatment of Black Americans before, but the Islamic Republic has its own issues with discrimination against Kurds, Arabs, Jews and others.

Bijan Khajehpour

Analysis

The Takeaway: Iran hoped to close nuclear deal before economic reforms, says expert

Israeli exodus from Turkey over Iranian threat; Turkey takes aim at Syrian towns; Manbij residents brace for Turkish attack; desperation in Yemen’s displacement camps; Egyptian dance music livens up "Moon Knight."

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Andrew Parasiliti

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti

Iranians gather at the site where a 10-story building collapsed.

After protests over building collapse, Iran vows to take measures against developers

Iranian officials have vowed to take measures after the death toll of a tower collapse reached 34.

The sign of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is pictured in front of the headquarters, photographed in Vienna on Dec. 17, 2021.

Iran criticizes nuclear watchdog's 'unfair' report

A new IAEA report underlined Tehran's failure to come clean on its undeclared nuclear sites and fears are growing that the assessment may further complicate a revival of the Iran nuclear deal.