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.
Burnham appoints former Defence Secretary John Healey as UK finance minister Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has appointed John Healey to replace Rachel Reeves as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Downing Street announced on Monday. Healey served as defence secretary under Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, and resigned in June over a military spending row, saying that the prime minister was unable to commit to a high enough defence budget.
Trump: Netanyahu will not be arrested while in US Trump said in a social media post on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America”. This comes after New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said that he was consulting with city authorities over the possibility of arresting Netanyahu if he visits the city for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
New UK PM Burnham assures Trump on UK’s commitment to securing shipping in Hormuz New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Trump that the UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was “at the top of his agenda”, according to the Prime Minister’s office after Burnham entered the role on Monday. “The Prime Minister…underlined his commitment to defence and security and said ensuring the security of the UK and its allies was at the top of his agenda,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in a readout of the call which took place shortly after Burnham became leader.
Seen as closer to Iran, Khalil al-Hayya served as the Palestinian militant group’s chief negotiator with Israel and the Trump administration during the Gaza war.
Khalil al-Hayya: Who is the political veteran chosen to steer Hamas forward Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, placing one of the movement’s most experienced negotiators at the centre of its leadership during a period where Gaza is still facing Israeli genocide and the region faces a renewed war. The movement announced the result on Monday after an internal ballot of the leadership in which Hayya secured 35 votes, narrowly defeating Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas abroad and a former political bureau chief, who received 34, according to Al Jazeera Arabic Palestine bureau chief, Walid Al Omari. The vote completed a leadership process that began in May after Hamas failed to settle the contest in its first round.
France warns of consequences after Iranian security services detain embassy staff French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday that there would be consequences after two of its embassy officials in Tehran were detained for several hours by Iranian security services. Barrot said that the French officials were detained without reason, interrogated and in one case, assaulted, before being able to return to the embassy. “I let Iran’s foreign minister know that these extremely serious and unacceptable violations of the integrity of our agents could not go without consequences,” he wrote in a post to X.
Khalil Al Hayya: Who is the political veteran chosen to steer Hamas forward Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 14:11 The Gaza-born leader takes charge after decades in Hamas’s political, parliamentary and negotiating ranks Khalil Al Hayya, senior leader and top Hamas legislative candidate, smiles during an interview with AFP at his office in Gaza City on 21 April 2021 (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP) Off Hamas has elected Khalil Al Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, placing one of the movement’s most experienced negotiators at the centre of its leadership during a period where Gaza is still facing Israeli genocide and the region faces a renewed war. The movement announced the result on Monday after an internal ballot of the leadership in which Hayya secured 35 votes, narrowly defeating Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas abroad and a former political bureau chief, who received 34, according to Al Jazeera Arabic Palestine bureau chief, Walid Al Omari. The vote completed a leadership process that began in May after Hamas failed to settle the contest in its first round.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Mo’meni traveled to Pakistan on Monday at the head of a high-ranking delegation to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, including efforts to boost trade between the two neighboring countries.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps reaffirmed allegiance to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, pledging to safeguard Iran's security and independence, strengthen defensive capabilities, and deliver an unforgettable response to any US aggression.
Tehran [Iran], July 20 (ANI): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday extended his congratulations to Spain for its World Cup victory, calling the title well deserved and affirming that Iran shares in the Spanish nation's happiness.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that national unity and justice are essential for overcoming the country's wartime challenges, urging coordinated governance, collective decision-making, and continued efforts to address economic concerns.
World Cup 2026: Israel loves Argentina but do Argentinians actually love them back? Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 12:32 President Javier Milei has tied his country closely to Israel, but polling shows most people in the country reject the relationship Argentina's President Javier Milei (centre) visits the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem, 19 April 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off Hours before Argentina faced Spain in the World Cup final, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message to President Javier Milei. "Javier [Milei], you are a real friend, a great friend.
Andy Burnham promises 'new economic and political model' as UK prime minister Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 12:34 Burnham appears to herald break from neoliberalism as he takes over from Keir Starmer Britain's King Charles III poses with incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, on 20 July 2026 (Aaron Chown/AFP) Off Andy Burnham has taken over from Keir Starmer as prime minister of the UK , promising to deliver a “new political model and a new economic model” for the country. Speaking to the nation in front of 10 Downing Street on Monday, the former mayor of Manchester said he was “acutely conscious” of the fact that he is the UK’s seventh prime minister since 2016. “It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge,” Burnham, a minister during the New Labour era of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said.
Iran says it is aware of American tricks Iran's parliament spokesperson Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the US claims it seeks an end to the war while bringing new military equipment to the region, "betting on our intelligence being as limited as their IQ. " "We've reached master-level proficiency in recognising these American games ... Actions must confirm claims, not contradict them," Ghalibaf said in a post on X.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The US cannot mislead Iran by simultaneously reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East while claiming to seek an end to hostilities, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament said, stressing that Tehran judges Washington by its actions rather than its rhetoric.
Mediators proposed a 10-day cessation of strikes to revive the Iran-US deal, Reuters reports Senior Iranian sources have told Reuters that mediators have proposed a 10-day cessation of strikes to find ways to revive the Iran-US interim deal.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf congratulated Spain on winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup, commending the Spanish nation for supporting Palestine and condemning the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.
Tehran [Iran], July 20 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday revealed that Washington has recently transmitted messages to Tehran via third-party intermediaries, even as heavy fighting persists between the two factions.
Tehran [Iran], July 20 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday reiterated Tehran's position on the interim deal signed with the United States, maintaining that the document features absolute clarity. Addressing journalists in the Iranian capital, Tehran, the spokesperson emphasised that 'there is no ambiguity' within the framework of the agreement.
Washington, DC [US], July 20 (ANI): United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that Washington is receiving feelers through diverse channels regarding Tehran's willingness to hold talks, against the backdrop of widening fissures within the Iranian leadership.
