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Iran

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Iran. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Tehran

Head of State

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Head of Government

President Masoud Pezeshkian

An oil tanker is seized by US forces, the Pentagon says, in footage released on Tuesday. Photo: US Department of Defence via Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

US boards third Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Indian Ocean

The US military says it tracked the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, as it sought to escape pursuit.

13 minutes agovideocam

Ukraine war

Where Ukraine and Russia stand as war enters fifth year

24 Feb 2026 - 3:19PM

Middle East

Trump pushes back on reports of Iran war risks as clock ticks

24 Feb 2026 - 3:29PM

SCMP Highlights

South Korean ex-president sentenced, Buddha’s early life: 7 Asia highlights

From ex-president Yoon’s sentencing to Singapore’s auntie matchmakers, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

24 Feb 2026 - 12:30PM

A woman walks past a television screen in Seoul broadcasting a news report on Yoon Suk-yeol’s sentencing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

The German chancellor realises that while China poses a long-term economic challenge, the United States is currently the more disruptive partner.

23 Feb 2026 - 9:07PMvideocam

Russia

Iran in secret deal with Russia for shoulder-fired missiles: report

Report of a deal for 2,500 advanced anti-aircraft missiles emerges as the US weighs military action against Iran.

23 Feb 2026 - 10:26AM

US-China trade war

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

23 Feb 2026 - 10:05AMvideocam

United States

Iran’s defiance against US military power leaves Trump ‘curious’

Steve Witkoff said Trump can’t understand Tehran’s refusal to yield despite Washington’s military build-up in the region.

22 Feb 2026 - 4:02PMvideocam

Israel-Iran conflict

‘I am getting more scared’: Tehranis brace for ‘inevitable’ US-Iran war

‘I don’t want war to happen, but one should not fool around with the realities on the ground,’ a resident in the Iranian capital says.

22 Feb 2026 - 10:45AMvideocam

Protests around the world

30 people in Iran face death penalty after protests, Amnesty says

A death sentence has been passed in eight cases, while two minors are among the 22 other cases before the courts.

21 Feb 2026 - 7:58PM

Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran on January 9. Photo: AP

Middle East

How Trump’s threatened strikes on Iran could backfire

Instead of pushing Tehran towards a nuclear deal, bombing the country could set off a deadly cycle of retaliation, analysts warn.

21 Feb 2026 - 7:49AMvideocam

People walk past an anti-US billboard in Tehran, Iran, in January. Photo: WANA via Reuters

Middle East

Trump weighs limited strike on Iran, as Tehran says draft deal coming soon

The US president has warned that ‘bad things’ will happen if an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme is not reached soon.

21 Feb 2026 - 7:58PMvideocam

US-China relations

PLA, Chinese firm release images showing US military build-up around Iran

Imagery of combat aircraft and support planes at bases in the region comes amid reports that Washington appears ready to strike Tehran.

20 Feb 2026 - 6:00PM

China energy security

What would blocking the Strait of Hormuz mean for global oil and LNG shipments?

Tehran temporarily and partially closed the strategic waterway during a military drill, prompting speculation over an extended blockade.

20 Feb 2026 - 5:15PM

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launches a rocket during a military drill in the Strait of Hormuz in a photo released on Tuesday by the IRGC‘s official website. Photo: EPA/Sepah News

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks fall as market reopens after 3-day Lunar New Year holiday

Tech heavyweights Alibaba, Baidu and Kuaishou drop as trading commences in the Year of the Horse.

20 Feb 2026 - 4:49PM

Hong Kong stock exchange in Central. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Middle East

Trump appears to set short deadline for Iran, warning of ‘bad things’

US president said he will decide within the next 10 to 15 days whether or not to strike Iran.

20 Feb 2026 - 10:45AM

Israel-Gaza war

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ debuts with Gaza pledge as war threat looms elsewhere

The US president gathers global allies to fund Gaza’s reconstruction while issuing a final 10-day warning to Iran.

20 Feb 2026 - 10:04AM

Espionage

Iran sentences British world travellers to 10 years for spying

Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested while travelling through the country on a round-the-world trip, according to relatives.

19 Feb 2026 - 4:47PM

Craig and Lindsay Foreman take a selfie at Naqsh-e Jahan Square, with the Shah Mosque in the background, in Isfahan, Iran. Photo: Foreman family / AFP

Middle East

Satellite photos show Iran has been repairing and fortifying key sites

New satellite imagery offers a glimpse of Iranian activities as the White House warns it ‘would be very wise to make a deal’.

19 Feb 2026 - 12:33PM

United States

Trump tells Starmer ‘do not give away Diego Garcia’ in new attack on Chagos deal

President says the UK should not lose control of Indian Ocean island by entering ‘tenuous’ lease, amid concerns about China’s growing ties there.

19 Feb 2026 - 2:53PMvideocam

Cryptocurrency

‘Sentiment is bleak’: bitcoin declines amid geopolitical tensions

Bitcoin prices drop as much as 3.2 per cent to US$66,604 on Tuesday, before paring the decline.

18 Feb 2026 - 2:06PM

Many bitcoin investors see US$60,000 as a key support level for the world’s leading cryptocurrency. Photo: Shutterstock

Diplomacy

Speaking Trump’s language: Iran frames nuclear deal as ‘trillion-dollar’ US win

Tehran is dangling access to its vast oil, gas and mineral reserves, but analysts warn that even this may fail to ‘move the needle’ in talks.

18 Feb 2026 - 1:17PMvideocam

A map showing Iran behind a 3D printed miniature of US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Iran fires missiles, Khamenei threatens to sink US warship amid nuclear talks

As the talks began, local media announced that Iran had fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz.

17 Feb 2026 - 10:54PMvideocam

United States

Trump predicts Iran nuclear deal, warns of ‘consequences’ ahead of talks

After a summer of military strikes and stalled diplomacy, indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are set to resume on Tuesday.

17 Feb 2026 - 9:27AMvideocam

Middle East

US lawmakers push for VPN funding so Iranians can access internet

Government officials have advocated for funding anticensorship technology to help Iranians access the internet amid the Islamic Republic’s restrictions.

16 Feb 2026 - 8:20PM

An Iranian woman walk near a huge anti-US billboard hanging at the Enqelab square in Tehran, Iran, on January 31. Photo: EPA-EFE

US-Venezuela conflict

US forces board another tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from Caribbean

The Veronica III, which sails under the Panamanian flag, is subject to US sanctions related to Iran, the US says.

16 Feb 2026 - 8:33AM

US forces aboard the Veronica III on Sunday. Photo: US Department of Defence via Reuters

US-Iran tensions

Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva for second round of talks with US

Talks will centre on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, as the US deploys a second aircraft carrier to the region.

16 Feb 2026 - 2:42PM

Munich Security Conference

In Munich, US urges ‘collective strength’ among allies to deter China

Washington and its Indo-Pacific and European allies emphasise need for cooperation to counter Beijing’s military build-up.

16 Feb 2026 - 6:00AM

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Iran

US boards third Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Indian Ocean

The US military says it tracked the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, as it sought to escape pursuit.

Where Ukraine and Russia stand as war enters fifth year

Trump pushes back on reports of Iran war risks as clock ticks

South Korean ex-president sentenced, Buddha’s early life: 7 Asia highlights

From ex-president Yoon’s sentencing to Singapore’s auntie matchmakers, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

The German chancellor realises that while China poses a long-term economic challenge, the United States is currently the more disruptive partner.

Iran in secret deal with Russia for shoulder-fired missiles: report

Report of a deal for 2,500 advanced anti-aircraft missiles emerges as the US weighs military action against Iran.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

Iran’s defiance against US military power leaves Trump ‘curious’

Steve Witkoff said Trump can’t understand Tehran’s refusal to yield despite Washington’s military build-up in the region.

‘I am getting more scared’: Tehranis brace for ‘inevitable’ US-Iran war

‘I don’t want war to happen, but one should not fool around with the realities on the ground,’ a resident in the Iranian capital says.

30 people in Iran face death penalty after protests, Amnesty says

A death sentence has been passed in eight cases, while two minors are among the 22 other cases before the courts.

How Trump’s threatened strikes on Iran could backfire

Instead of pushing Tehran towards a nuclear deal, bombing the country could set off a deadly cycle of retaliation, analysts warn.

Trump weighs limited strike on Iran, as Tehran says draft deal coming soon

The US president has warned that ‘bad things’ will happen if an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme is not reached soon.

PLA, Chinese firm release images showing US military build-up around Iran

Imagery of combat aircraft and support planes at bases in the region comes amid reports that Washington appears ready to strike Tehran.

What would blocking the Strait of Hormuz mean for global oil and LNG shipments?

Tehran temporarily and partially closed the strategic waterway during a military drill, prompting speculation over an extended blockade.

Hong Kong stocks fall as market reopens after 3-day Lunar New Year holiday

Tech heavyweights Alibaba, Baidu and Kuaishou drop as trading commences in the Year of the Horse.

Trump appears to set short deadline for Iran, warning of ‘bad things’

US president said he will decide within the next 10 to 15 days whether or not to strike Iran.

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ debuts with Gaza pledge as war threat looms elsewhere

The US president gathers global allies to fund Gaza’s reconstruction while issuing a final 10-day warning to Iran.

Iran sentences British world travellers to 10 years for spying

Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested while travelling through the country on a round-the-world trip, according to relatives.

Satellite photos show Iran has been repairing and fortifying key sites

New satellite imagery offers a glimpse of Iranian activities as the White House warns it ‘would be very wise to make a deal’.

Trump tells Starmer ‘do not give away Diego Garcia’ in new attack on Chagos deal

President says the UK should not lose control of Indian Ocean island by entering ‘tenuous’ lease, amid concerns about China’s growing ties there.

‘Sentiment is bleak’: bitcoin declines amid geopolitical tensions

Bitcoin prices drop as much as 3.2 per cent to US$66,604 on Tuesday, before paring the decline.

Speaking Trump’s language: Iran frames nuclear deal as ‘trillion-dollar’ US win

Tehran is dangling access to its vast oil, gas and mineral reserves, but analysts warn that even this may fail to ‘move the needle’ in talks.

Iran fires missiles, Khamenei threatens to sink US warship amid nuclear talks

As the talks began, local media announced that Iran had fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump predicts Iran nuclear deal, warns of ‘consequences’ ahead of talks

After a summer of military strikes and stalled diplomacy, indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are set to resume on Tuesday.

US lawmakers push for VPN funding so Iranians can access internet

Government officials have advocated for funding anticensorship technology to help Iranians access the internet amid the Islamic Republic’s restrictions.

US forces board another tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from Caribbean

The Veronica III, which sails under the Panamanian flag, is subject to US sanctions related to Iran, the US says.

Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva for second round of talks with US

Talks will centre on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, as the US deploys a second aircraft carrier to the region.

In Munich, US urges ‘collective strength’ among allies to deter China

Washington and its Indo-Pacific and European allies emphasise need for cooperation to counter Beijing’s military build-up.

Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era