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Iran

Nuclear deals? Sanctions? Proxy wars? This is Vox’s home for explanation and analysis of a key player in the Middle East.

Politics
Israel is taking its old Gaza model abroadIsrael is taking its old Gaza model abroad
Politics

“Mowing the grass” didn’t stop October 7. Now it’s going global.

By Joshua Keating
Today, Explained podcast
What Trump and Netanyahu want from each otherWhat Trump and Netanyahu want from each other
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back in Washington for a third visit.

By Avishay Artsy and Noel King
Politics
What the “12-day war” teaches us about Trump’s foreign policyWhat the “12-day war” teaches us about Trump’s foreign policy
Politics

Trump attacked Iran. What he did next was even more revealing.

By Andrew Prokop
World Politics
Why the US just can’t quit Middle East warsWhy the US just can’t quit Middle East wars
World Politics

Every president wants to extricate America from the region’s conflicts. None of them do.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Trump keeps reminding the American public to dislike himTrump keeps reminding the American public to dislike him
Politics

The public doesn’t like it when the president actually does something.

By Christian Paz
World Politics
Why the US is attacking Iran nowWhy the US is attacking Iran now
World Politics

And six other big questions about the bombing, explained.

By Zack Beauchamp, Joshua Keating and 1 more
World Politics
This time, it’s Trump’s warThis time, it’s Trump’s war
World Politics

Donald Trump brings America into Israel’s war on Iran.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Is Israel trying to destroy Iran’s nuclear program — or topple its government?Is Israel trying to destroy Iran’s nuclear program — or topple its government?
World Politics

America may be about to get involved in another regime change war in the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
The Israel-Iran war hinges on three big thingsThe Israel-Iran war hinges on three big things
World Politics

It’s impossible to know how this war will end. But here’s how to make sense of it.

By Zack Beauchamp
World Politics
Will the US get drawn into the Israel-Iran war?Will the US get drawn into the Israel-Iran war?
World Politics

Trump seems to be trying to associate himself with the attacks after the fact.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Trump’s new talks with Iran could end in a deal — or a warTrump’s new talks with Iran could end in a deal — or a war
World Politics

The odds of both scenarios have never been higher.

By Joshua Keating
The Highlight
The world has entered the third nuclear ageThe world has entered the third nuclear age
The Highlight

Nuclear guardrails are falling apart — and Donald Trump is about to retake the launch codes.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Did Israel “win” the post-October 7 war?Did Israel “win” the post-October 7 war?
World Politics

Hamas survived, but Iran is reeling. How 15 months of destruction changed the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
After 13 years of war, Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has been defeated. What comes next?After 13 years of war, Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has been defeated. What comes next?
World Politics

How the Assad regime collapsed slowly, then all at once.

By Joshua Keating
Israel
The conflicted history of Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah, explained The conflicted history of Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah, explained 
Israel

Lebanon’s conflict with Israel is deeper than Hezbollah.

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel
There’s no ceasefire in sight for Israel’s Gaza war. Why not?There’s no ceasefire in sight for Israel’s Gaza war. Why not?
Israel

After Yahya Sinwar’s death, is a ceasefire in Gaza more likely?

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
How Israel’s brutal war strategy has remade the Middle EastHow Israel’s brutal war strategy has remade the Middle East
World Politics

Israel set out to reestablish military superiority. It succeeded — at catastrophic human cost.

By Robert Grenier
Israel
Israel has invaded Lebanon. Here’s what could come next.Israel has invaded Lebanon. Here’s what could come next.
Israel

With Israel’s Lebanon invasion, the Middle East is on the verge of chaos.

By Ellen Ioanes and Nicole Narea
Today, Explained podcast
What the death of Hezbollah’s leader means for the Middle EastWhat the death of Hezbollah’s leader means for the Middle East
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an airstrike. What now?

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
What we know about Trump’s claim that Iran hacked his campaignWhat we know about Trump’s claim that Iran hacked his campaign
Politics

The FBI is now investigating the former president’s claim of Iranian interference with his campaign.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
The attack on US troops in Iraq, explainedThe attack on US troops in Iraq, explained
World Politics

What the attack on US troops in Iraq says about a wider Middle East war.

By Ellen Ioanes
Politics
A very dangerous 24 hours in the Middle EastA very dangerous 24 hours in the Middle East
Politics

After strikes in Beirut and Tehran, the region has never been closer to all-out war.

By Joshua Keating
Iran
Iran’s new president can only change the country so muchIran’s new president can only change the country so much
Iran

Elite clerics still hold ultimate power.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
What the death of Iran’s president could mean for its futureWhat the death of Iran’s president could mean for its future
World Politics

The Iranian regime is unlikely to change course in the near term, but Ebrahim Raisi’s death could affect crucial succession plans.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
How the war in Gaza has gone differently than expected — and how it hasn’tHow the war in Gaza has gone differently than expected — and how it hasn’t
World Politics

Six months in.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Israel just raised the risk of a regional warIsrael just raised the risk of a regional war
World Politics

And US troops may suffer the consequences.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
US officials are always talking about “deterring” Iran. What does that really mean?US officials are always talking about “deterring” Iran. What does that really mean?
World Politics

Adversaries keep chipping away at America’s military credibility. Trump isn’t helping.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Behind Iraq’s call to remove US-led forcesBehind Iraq’s call to remove US-led forces
World Politics

Iraq’s prime minister called for an end to US presence after a drone strike killed a senior militia leader.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Israel moves into southern Gaza after a week-long truce — and its goals are murkier than everIsrael moves into southern Gaza after a week-long truce — and its goals are murkier than ever
World Politics

Seven weeks into the war, 15,000 Palestinians have been killed, and there’s no end in sight.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Iran could determine how far the Israel-Hamas war spreadsIran could determine how far the Israel-Hamas war spreads
World Politics

Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups support Hamas but haven’t opened new fronts.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
How does Iran fit into the war between Israel and Hamas?How does Iran fit into the war between Israel and Hamas?
World Politics

Iran likely won’t launch direct attacks against Israel, but the possibility of a regional conflagration is real.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Hamas has launched an unprecedented strike on Israel. Here’s what you need to know.Hamas has launched an unprecedented strike on Israel. Here’s what you need to know.
World Politics

The IDF has launched retaliatory strikes after hundreds of Israeli citizens are dead and thousands wounded.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Narges Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize is for Iran’s women and girlsNarges Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize is for Iran’s women and girls
World Politics

The jailed activist’s Nobel is also a reminder of Iran’s momentous protest movement.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
The US-Iran prisoner swap, briefly explainedThe US-Iran prisoner swap, briefly explained
World Politics

For Iran’s struggling economy, the deal is more about money.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Biden’s risky Persian Gulf betBiden’s risky Persian Gulf bet
World Politics

Why the US is sending 3,000 Marines to secure the world’s oil.

By Jonathan Guyer
World Politics
Why Iran and Saudi Arabia making nice is a very big dealWhy Iran and Saudi Arabia making nice is a very big deal
World Politics

China’s dealmaking heralds the post-America Middle East.

By Jonathan Guyer
World Politics
Iran’s months-long protest movement, explainedIran’s months-long protest movement, explained
World Politics

Though the Islamic Republic has a history of protest, this year’s unrest is unique.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Why the protests in Iran are so hard to understandWhy the protests in Iran are so hard to understand
World Politics

Censorship, trolls, and bots: The information war distorting Iran’s protests.

By Jonathan Guyer
World Politics
Despite its brutal tactics, Iran’s regime fails to contain mass protestsDespite its brutal tactics, Iran’s regime fails to contain mass protests
World Politics

The women and youth-led movement has proven hard to put down.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Why Iranian women are risking everything by burning their hijabsWhy Iranian women are risking everything by burning their hijabs
World Politics

Iran is in revolt.

By Jonathan Guyer