Iran

America, Iran, and the Appearance That Deceives

Judging from the statements out of Tehran and Washington, the American-Iranian nuclear talks are going swimmingly. This studied appearance is only natural. Iran's leaders are highly motivated to draw the U.S. into protracted negotiations, during which they can appear perfectly reasonable while avoiding further consequences for their inglorious ...

Geopolitical Variations and Political Challenges

The past week was replete with events that cannot be overlooked if we are to address critical conflicts around the world: the death of Pope Francis and its reverberations ; the evolutions of the Ukraine war ; the ultimate scope of the US-Iranian negotiations; the shifting facades of Turkey’s Islamic authoritarianism; and the normalization ...

Death toll from Iran port blast rises to 40

The death toll from a massive explosion at Iran's largest commercial port has risen to 40, according to the Health Commission of the Iranian Parliament. The Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand said Sunday, in a video published on the Iranian government's official website, updating earlier figures reported by state media ...

Iran, US Discuss Nuclear Deal in Third Round of Talks

The United States and Iran went into detail about a potential nuclear deal Saturday at their third consecutive round of talks, hoping to strike an accord that would ease regional tensions. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi again led the talks, which this time included a technical-level meeting between ...

Iran, US To Hold New Round of High-Level Nuclear Talks

Iran, US hold new round of high-stakes nuclear talks The United States and Iran were expected to start haggling over details of a potential nuclear deal in Oman on Saturday as they entered their third round of talks in as many weeks. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are again leading the discussions, ...

Araghchi Arrived in Oman Ahead of Nuclear Talks

Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman on Friday ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States, after both sides said progress had been made in previous rounds. The local Mehr news agency reported Araghchi had arrived in the Omani capital, Muscat, for Saturday's negotiations, releasing a brief video showing the foreign minister ...

Iran's FM Araghchi to Head to Oman for Nuclear Talks with US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to leave for Oman on Friday for nuclear talks with the United States, after both sides reported progress in the first two rounds. Araghchi will be leading what foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described as a diplomatic and technical-expert delegation for indirect discussions with the US ...

US and Iran to Hold Technical Nuclear Talks in Oman Saturday, with Witkoff Attending

Globe-trotting US envoy Steve Witkoff will take part in talks with Iran on Saturday in Oman, his third encounter within weeks on Tehran's nuclear program, the State Department said. Michael Anton, a conservative scholar who serves as the State Department head of policy planning, will lead technical work on the US side, the State Department ...

Dutch Intelligence Accuses Iran of Staging "Assassination Attempt"

The Dutch AIVD intelligence on Thursday accused Iran of staging an "assassination attempt" on an Iranian living in the country. An Iranian man residing in the northern city of Haarlem saw two men climb onto his balcony in the dead of the night in June last year, and police intervened to arrest two suspects, according to the AIVD. The pair were ...

Nuclear: Araghchi Ready to Visit Germany, France, and Britain for Talks

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday he would be willing to visit Germany, France, and Britain for talks on his country's nuclear program. Tehran recently reopened nuclear talks with its arch-foe, the United States, engaging in two rounds of mediated negotiations in Muscat and Rome, with a third slated for Saturday back in the ...

Iran President to Visit Azerbaijan in Sign of Warming Ties

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to pay a rare visit to Azerbaijan next week, state media reported Wednesday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the neighboring countries. Pezeshkian will be traveling to Baku on Monday "at the invitation" of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, state television reported. On ...

Iran Seizes Two Foreign Tankers for Smuggling Diesel in the Gulf

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have seized two foreign vessels carrying "smuggled" fuel in the Gulf, local media said on Tuesday. "The Revolutionary Guards seized two Tanzanian-flagged vessels carrying 1.5 million liters of smuggled diesel fuel," said Iranian news agency Fars. Iranian forces regularly target tankers they say ...