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Iran

September 15, 2025

Tehran 1:39 pm

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Protesters hold placard against executions in Iran during a rally against the Iranian regime in Rome on July 30, 2025.

Iran executions hit 913 this year as postwar crackdown deepens: What to know

The latest spree comes in the aftermath of the war with Israel and amid deepening domestic crises facing the Islamic Republic, which has repeatedly turned to executions when its survival is on the line.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (C) meets with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi (L) and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in Cairo, on Sept. 9, 2025.

Iran FM signs preliminary deal with IAEA chief in Cairo amid diplomatic push

The announcement of the agreement comes less than two weeks after the European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal triggered snapback sanctions, which will likely mean the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran within 30 days.

Chinese President Xi jinping attends a photo session for participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit 2025 on Sept. 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China.

China calls on BRICS to boost multilateral trade as Iran, UAE eye closer ties

The UAE’s and Egypt’s trade with BRICS members is on the rise, while Iran’s efforts to increase economic ties are complicated by sanctions.

A picture obtained on Dec. 14, 2013 from Iran's ISNA news agency allegedly shows the launch of the Pajohesh (research) rocket containing a live space monkey named Fargam (Auspicious) at an undisclosed location in Iran.

Iran eyes launch of 4 satellites, open Chabahar space port by spring 2026

Iran is set to launch four domestic-made satellites into orbit by next March, in the latest milestone for Iran's space program.

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Analysis

Iran turns to China, Russia to bolster air defenses as it preps for next Israel war

Traffic flows past a huge billboard showing a missile falling on Israel with the slogan "The missile has fallen amidst the demons," on a main road in central Tehran on July 16, 2025.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Old sanctions, new risks: Iran’s economy hampered by war fallout, China reliance

Stacks of Iranian rials and US dollars sit counted on a table in an unofficial currency exchange shop, Tehran, Iran, Aug. 6, 2025.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Iran, IAEA officials meet in Vienna as UN sanctions clock ticks

JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Inside Israel's Yemen operation that decapitated Houthi leadership

MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images

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

Elizabeth Hagedorn

State Department Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

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

Bijan Khajehpour

In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics

U.S. Capitol Building on May 30, 2023 in Washington, DC. Later today the House Rules Committee will meet to consider The Fiscal Responsibility Act, a bill made after a deal House Republicans and U.S. President Joe Biden's negotiators struck up to raise the debt ceiling until 2025. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Analysis

Where does Congress stand on Iran one year after the Mahsa Amini protests?

Members of both parties in Congress are critical of Iran’s crackdown against protesters, though there is disagreement over President Joe Biden’s approach towards Iran, including with regards to a recent prisoner exchange.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Iran hijab

One year into unrest, Iranian women still defying hijab laws

On the first anniversary of nationwide unrest, a growing number of women continue to defy the mandatory hijab laws despite the Islamic Republic's brutal response.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboat cruises past an oil tanker off the port of Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, on July 2, 2012. Iran has come up with several methods to foil the European insurance embargo on ships loaded with its crude, a sanction which may harm its vital exports as much as the EU oil embargo itself. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/GettyImages)

Iran's IRGC claims to seize 2 oil tankers in Gulf

Iran claims to have captured two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf carrying smuggled fuel and arrested their crews.

Women hold up signs depicting Mahsa Amini, who died while in the custody of Iranian authorities, Irbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, September 24, 2022.

US, partners impose new Iran sanctions to mark Amini anniversary

The US in conjunction with Australia, Canada, and the UK issued a new round of sanctions against Iranian-state entities, officials and individuals in connection with Tehran's crackdown on protesters.

Iranian refugees and Iranians living in Greece wave a Kurdish flag while singing the Iranian protest song of Shervin Hajipour during a demonstration to commemorate 40 days from the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini while in police custody in Iran, in central Athens on Oct. 29, 2022.

A year since Mahsa Amini’s killing, Iran’s Kurds brace for renewed crackdown

The Kurdish twist to Iran's grassroots civic uprising cutting across ethnic, sectarian and gender lines served the regime well in its crackdown.

People marked the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amin, on September 13, 2023, London, England.

Timeline of Iran's Mahsa Amini protests and crackdown, one year on

One year after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini and the ensuing protests, Iranian authorities continue to repress all dissent, arresting and executing protesters, activists and minorities to sow fear among the population.

Amini

A year on, Mahsa Amini's death exposes divides in Iran establishment

The death of Mahsa Amini almost a year ago has had profound and enduring effects on Iranian politics and society, reconfiguring political alliances and a renewing debate over the future direction of the Islamic Republic.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Nasser Kanani speaks during a press conference in the capital Tehran on December 5, 2022. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran lashes out at Israel after Mossad threatens to hit 'top echelon' in Tehran

The flare-up in the harsh rhetoric was the latest episode in yearslong allegations between the two enemies, who blame one another for "terror" plots targeting their respective citizens worldwide.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel's Mossad chief sets new red lines for Iranian leadership, Russia

Mossad chief David Barnea warned the Iranian leadership directly and Moscow more subtly, but his real message was for American ears.

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

A general view shows the Iranian capital Tehran on January 7, 2023, with the Iranian flag fluttering in the wind. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran reveals names of 5 citizens sought in US prisoner deal

Washington and Tehran are on the verge of a deal that would see the exchange of five Americans for five Iranians, most of whom were accused or convicted of sanctions violations.

International Institute for Counter-Terrorism

Mossad chief warns Iran leadership of retaliation, says Israel foiled 27 attacks

In an unusual direct threat, Israel's Mossad chief warned Tehran decision-makers that Israel will come after them should Iran hurt any Jew or Israeli.

Iran UAE

Iran's thaw with regional rivals threatened by UAE, Kuwait disputes

The Islamic Republic's recent reconciliation efforts with its Arab rivals appeared to be on a bumpy road over disputes arising from the ownership of three Gulf islands and shares from the Durra gas field.