Political reporting on Iran — the government and Supreme Leader, elections, nuclear negotiations, and the factional struggles inside the Islamic Republic — collected from independent English-language outlets.
Iran accuses French diplomats of 'infiltration' The Iranian government has accused two French diplomats of conducting an "infiltration and interference" operation inside Iran. Iran's intelligence ministry alleged in a statement that the diplomats were discovered at a secret meeting place, and that documents found there pointed to efforts to establish contacts and build networks elsewhere. It further said that contracts linked to the project carried the signature of a former French ambassador to Iran.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s determination to broaden comprehensive relations with India, describing the two countries’ historical, cultural and civilizational ties as a valuable foundation for closer cooperation.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Minister of Agriculture Gholamreza Nouri and Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed the latest developments in bilateral relations and ways to expand economic and transit cooperation during Nouri’s visit to Afghanistan.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Intelligence Ministry warned France against interfering in the country’s internal affairs, pointed to French diplomats’ involvement in a foreign infiltration project, and stressed that Tehran will take appropriate action if such activities are repeated.
How a pragmatic axis could reshape the Middle East Submitted by Marco Carnelos on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 16:51 The Mecca agreement could do more to determine the region's trajectory than anything decided in Washington, Tel Aviv or Tehran Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh, on 17 September 2025 (Saudi Press Agency/AFP) On Nearly three years after the 7 October Hamas attack shattered the illusion of a manageable status quo - one serving US - Israeli interests, while harming Palestinian rights - and midway through President Donald Trump’s second term, the Middle East no longer maps neatly onto the two axes that have defined it for decades. The region’s fault line long ran between Iran ’s “Axis of Resistance” - comprising Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi armed groups, and a battered but defiant Syria under the Assad regime - and the Israeli-inspired “Pax Americana”: an informal architecture of deterrence, normalisation, and military primacy that Washington and Tel Aviv sought to impose through the Abraham Accords, blatant double standards, international law violations and overwhelming force. Today, a third pole could be emerging: an increasingly institutionalised “Sunni axis” anchored in Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad - with Doha, Cairo, and to a lesser extent Abu Dhabi at its edges.
The Israeli PMs remark comes as the new Labor government weighs taking measures against the Jewish state following months of strained relations Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the UK as the "Islamic Republic of Britain," as the country's new Labor government weighs taking measures against Israel.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei invoked a passage from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov” to decry Washington’s excessive reliance on lies in its policy toward Iran and the region.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Minister of Culture highlighted the coordination between diplomacy and resistance, citing Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem’s remarks on the role of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding in restraining an Israeli attack on Lebanon.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi ridiculed US President Donald Trump’s threat to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, stressing that the strategic waterway can only be opened or closed under Iran’s command.
Morning recap Good morning Middle East Eye readers, President Donald Trump said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory after defeating Iran. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi retorted that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force by Washington. Trump’s remarks came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no decision has yet been made to resume negotiations with the United States.
Rashida Tlaib rally cancelled after Florida lawmaker calls its 'anti-jew' A South Florida site backed out of hosting a rally with Democratic US Representative Rashida Tlaib, a vocal critic of Israel's government, after complaints by a Democratic state lawmaker in the party's latest flashpoint over its stance on Israel. Tlaib, the first Palestinian American member of Congress, was scheduled to appear on Friday at a rally for three candidates in Florida's upcoming Democratic Party primary. However, The Venue Fort Lauderdale, which was scheduled to host the event, suddenly cancelled it after State Representative Michael Gottlieb, chairman of the Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus, posted a statement on Thursday calling the planned rally an "anti-Jew" gathering.
Hamas likely to elect Gaza political bureau head next week, report says Hamas is expected to hold internal elections in the Gaza Strip next week to choose the head of its political bureau for the territory, Arab48 reported. Ali Al-Amoudi is the most likely candidate to succeed Khalil Al-Hayya, who was elected head of Hamas’s political bureau in July after competing against Khaled Meshaal, Arab48 reported, citing Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper. Al-Amoudi was among the Hamas leaders closest to former political bureau chief Yahya Sinwar, who was assassinated in Rafah in October 2024.
OIC warns of ‘grave risks’ posed by Israel’s West Bank policies The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has warned of the “grave risks” posed by Israeli announcements aimed at annexing West Bank areas. In a statement, the 57-member OIC said: “The Israeli occupation and colonial settlement enterprise, as well as all measures, entities and institutions associated with it, are illegal”. “And all acts emanating from them constitute flagrant violations of international law, relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice,” the statement added.
Araghchi says talks with Oman about Strait of Hormuz ‘may reach conclusion soon’ Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that negotiations between Iran and Oman “may reach a conclusion soon,” Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported. Araghchi said the talks with Oman regarding the shared management of the Strait of Hormuz between the two countries “are ongoing, but this is a completely separate discussion” from ceasefire talks with the United States. He added that “a technical discussion related to determining the maritime routes of the Strait of Hormuz for ship traffic” is continuing.
Iran's deputy foreign minister says won't be intimidated by US threats after Trump's statements on Hormuz Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said early Saturday that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force by Washington after US President Donald Trump said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory. Commenting on Trump's statements, Gharibabadi said in a post on X that the strategic waterway would only be opened or closed under Iran's authority. ترامپ گفته بعد از شکست ایران، بزودی تنگه هرمز را قلمرو آمریکا اعلام خواهد کرد!
Iran has not decided on resuming US talks, ISNA citing foreign minister Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no decision has yet been made to resume negotiations with the United States, the Iranian Student News Agency reported. Araghchi added that mediator Qatar and Pakistan were in contact with Iran and exchanging messages, but that this did not amount to negotiations.
Republicans risk losing younger voters unless living standards improve, the vice president has said The US Republican Party must address the economic pressures facing Americans or risk driving more young people toward socialism, Vice President J. D. Vance has said.
Tehran [Iran], August 15 (ANI): Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Friday rejected US President Donald Trump's remarks that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz 'a territory of the United States' after defeating Iran, saying the strategic waterway 'cannot be seized by tweet' or military force.
Vance says low oil prices are top US goal in Iran conflict Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that the top US priority in the Iran war was keeping oil and gasoline prices low for Americans, with preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon ranking second. The remarks contrasted with President Donald Trump's repeated framing of the fight: that entering the war had the sole objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, even if that meant short-term economic sacrifices for Americans. Vance's comments also underscored the growing reality that the war now centres on control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has forced to the top of the negotiating agenda.
President Donald Trump said he may soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory as shipping through the waterway nearly stopped and Tehran insisted it alone would decide when the strait opens or closes.
