Reports of Ghalibaf-Trump channel sparks political storm in Tehran
Remarks by Donald Trump suggesting backchannel contacts with a figure inside Iran’s government have stirred intense political debate in Tehran.
Source: Iran International ▾
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Lipstick on the IRGC: why Ghalibaf must not be rebranded as a pragmatist
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf may soon be called a pragmatist. That would be a mistake.
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Trump says Iran has offered US oil-and-gas ‘prize’ as talks advance
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Tehran had offeredWashington a “very significant prize” related to oil and gas, expressing optimism that a deal to end the conflict could be possible.
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Tehran's plan to monetize Strait of Hormuz
Iranian officials and commentators are increasingly portraying control of the Strait of Hormuz not just as a strategic advantage but as a financial asset that could help offset the costs of war.
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Pakistan offers to host US-Iran talks: what to know
Pakistan has offered to host talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending a war that has rattled global energy markets. Here’s why Islamabad is involved—and whether it could work.
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The tipping point: How regimes really collapse
In history, authoritarian systems usually fall twice: first psychologically, when fear breaks; then politically, when the men with guns hesitate. Iran’s recent shocks look less like a single crisis than a classic collapse sequence unfolding at speed.
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'Part of the dance': experts question the purpose of US-Iran contacts
Ambiguous reports of contacts between US and Iranian officials may reflect a tactical effort to calm markets, shape global opinion and deepen uncertainty inside a state already gripped by paranoia, analysts and former US officials told Iran International.
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Weaponizing ambiguity: how US shadow diplomacy may be fracturing Iran regime
Whether real or not, President Donald Trump’s statement that Iran has reached out for talks is already having an impact: fueling mistrust within Tehran leadership while easing tensions in global oil markets, even as Iranian officials deny any such contact.
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From ultimatum to pause: confusion and fear rise over Trump’s Iran signals
Since Donald Trump threatened to target Iran’s power plants, anxiety has surged among Iranians at home and abroad, many warning that this directly targets people’s lives, not the government.
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IRGC aerospace chief faces internal criticism over battlefield absence
Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Force commander Majid Mousavi has come under criticism from senior IRGC officials for being absent during ongoing clashes and leaving his forces without leadership, sources with knowledge of the matter told Iran International.
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Vacuum in Tehran: who can fill Larijani's role?
The assassination of Ali Larijani has opened a rare gap at the center of Iran’s security system, raising immediate questions about who can replace him and whether anyone can perform the same role.
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What Larijani’s killing means for Iran’s power structure
The reported killing of Ali Larijani would mark another blow to the Islamic Republic’s capacity for coordination, weakening an already fragmented system and raising the risk of miscalculation under pressure.
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Son of FBI agent missing in Iran says US strikes are step toward justice
Daniel Levinson, son of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson who vanished in Iran over 19 years ago, says the US‑Israeli strikes could bring long‑delayed justice to his family and strengthen the fight for freedom against Tehran's oppressive regime.
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Larijani rebukes UAE, other Islamic states for not backing Iran during war
Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani on Monday accused Islamic countries of abandoning Iran during the war with the United States and Israel, singling out the United Arab Emirates for describing Tehran as an enemy after attacks on Emirati targets.
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Military adviser appointment by Khamenei Jr draws online mockery
The appointment of a military adviser by Iran’s new Supreme Leader triggered a wave of ridicule on Iranian social media, with users mocking both the decision and the figure chosen for the role.
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Trump plays down Iran talks, leans on allies over Hormuz
President Donald Trump said the United States remains in contact with Iran but voiced doubt that Tehran is ready for serious negotiations.
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The unseen leader: What Khamenei Jr’s absence reveals about IRGC’s role
The mystery surrounding Iran’s new supreme leader may reveal more about the Islamic Republic’s power structure and the role of the Revolutionary Guards than Mojtaba Khamenei himself, analysts said on the Eye for Iran podcast, as Khamenei Jr remains unseen.
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Trump says regime change in Iran will happen but not ‘immediately’
US President Donald Trump said on Friday regime change in Iran could eventually occur though it may not happen immediately, citing the Iranian authorities’ violent repression of protesters as a major obstacle to a popular uprising.
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Trump suggests Iran stay away from World Cup
President Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned whether Iran’s national soccer team should attend the 2026 World Cup, a day after Tehran said it would withdraw from the tournament after being attacked by the United States.
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Allies rally, rivals brace after Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise
Regional reactions to the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader have revealed growing anxiety about stability, with Tehran’s allies condemning the killing of his father and adversaries hardening their military posture.
