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Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu review a military honor guard on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary in defiance of the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s arrest warrant against him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Hungary has long-standing ties with Israel, and they been further bolstered up since the start of the war in Gaza, sparked by the Palestinian militant group Hamas's attack on Oct

With Orban’s defeat in Hungary, Israel loses European shield

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cultivated a strong relationship with outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who even withdrew from the International Criminal Court because it issued an arrest warrant against the Israeli leader.

Israel

Uncertainty shrouds Lebanon-Israel talks as Israeli bombardment continues

The two countries' ambassadors are scheduled to meet at the State Department at 11:00 am Tuesday.

Lebanon

Hormuz blockade gambit aims to squeeze Iran without expanding war

By blockading Iran’s ports and de-mining the Strait of Hormuz, the US Navy aims to deny Tehran leverage in future negotiations, but experts warn it could take months before the economic pressure builds on Islamic Republic.

By Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

'No fear': Pope Leo pushes against Trump attacks as he lands in Algeria

President Donald Trump has escalated against the first American pontiff over his criticism of the Israel-US war in Iran.

Iran

Ghassan Salame, then-UN Envoy for Libya, holds a press briefing during UN-brokered military talks on Feb. 18, 2020 in Geneva.

Interview

Ghassan Salame says Lebanon-Israel talks ‘not negotiations,’ Hezbollah disarmament by force ‘illusion’

"The idea that you can disarm just by making two phone calls or two check points here and there is just an illusion," Lebanon's minister of culture, Ghassan Salame, told Al-Monitor.

Ghassan Salame

Lebanese Culture Minister

Latest News

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia summon Iraqi diplomats over militia attacks: What to know

A photograph shows the damage in the aftermath of a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama on March 10, 2026.

Iraq

China signals bigger Gulf role as UAE crown prince visits Beijing

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in Beijing on April 13, 2026.

China

Oil back above $100 as US moves to blockade Strait of Hormuz

Iran

As US blockades Hormuz, China urges restraint, rejects call to ditch Iran oil

Iran

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US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan without an Iran deal

'Bad news'? Vance comes up empty-handed on Iran and Hungary, for now

Agence France-Presse

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan.. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS

Vance says US made a lot of progress in talks with Iran

Reuters

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions, listen, on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan.. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS

Exclusive-US, Iran leave door open to dialogue after tense Islamabad talks

Reuters

Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem gives a televised speech from an unknown location in this still image obtained from a video released December 5, 2025. Al Manar TV/REUTERS TV/via REUTERS

Hezbollah chief urges Lebanese government to cancel Washington talks with Israel

Reuters

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On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Lebanon’s Ghassan Salame: Israel talks ‘not negotiations,’ Hezbollah disarmament by force ‘illusion’

Ghassan Salame joins Amberin Zaman

13 April, 3:47 PM ET

33:33

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Ukraine is becoming the Gulf's new shield against Iran, says Yevgeniya Gaber

Yevgeniya Gaber joins Amberin Zaman

9 April, 4:24 PM ET

16:32

Adam Lucente, Jared Szuba and Beatrice Farhat

The AL-MONITOR Brief

Israel and Lebanon to hold talks after US-Iran ceasefire: What’s next?

Beatrice Farhat, Jared Szuba, Rina Bassist joins Adam Lucente

9 April, 5:27 PM ET

17:42

Interviews

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Interview

Ex-Israeli security official: Netanyahu pushed US, Israel into Iran war without imminent threat

Interview

Yadlin: Israel's war goal to weaken Iran, not immediate regime change

Retired Israeli general and executive director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies Amos Yadlin attends a session at the Manama Dialogue security conference in the Bahraini capital, on Dec. 5, 2020.

Interview

Huckabee confirms US-Israel alignment on Iran, says Hamas will disarm 'sooner or later'

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, US President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to Israel, testifies during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, March 25, 2025.

Interview

Ghassan Salame says Lebanon-Israel talks ‘not negotiations,’ Hezbollah disarmament by force ‘illusion’

Ghassan Salame

Lebanese Culture Minister

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Egypt eyes energy breakthroughs as Iran war deepens gas crunch

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Inside Turkey’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) walks with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on June 1, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

In talks with Lebanon, Israel seeking guarantees to contain Hezbollah

NABATIEH, LEBANON - APRIL 08: Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in the city center on April 08, 2026 in Nabatieh, Lebanon. Israel has stepped-up its attacks on Lebanon following President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, conditional on shipping being allowed to resume through the Strait of Hormuz. Israel says it will observe the ceasefire with Iran but insists Lebanon was not included in the deal, and has since launched the "largest coordinated strik

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

US blockade on Iran’s oil begins amid unclear enforcement, energy shock fears

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

A ship is seen off the coast of Ras al-Khaimah, the day after the failure of US-Iran peace talks on April 13, 2026. The failure of US-Iran peace talks has left the US president with several unpalatable options, as analysts say his order to blockade the strategic Strait of Hormuz could further complicate his next move on April 12, 2026. Any hopes that the US vice president would emerge from the marathon day of negotiations with top Iranian officials with a deal to end a war that has rippled across the Middle

Joyce Karam, Randa Slim, Hamidreza Azizi, Hasan Alhasan

Iran War at One Month: Outlook and Implications

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sits across from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy capitalizes on Iran war to ink security deal with Saudi Arabia

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Joe Snell appears on a street wearing a black jacket; in the frame next to it, a woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a black blazer appears on a laptop screen from a Zoom meeting.

French ISIS Member Convicted of Genocide Against Yazidis

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Ezgi Akin at Turkey's Kapikoy border crossing

AL-MONITOR's Ezgi Akin at Turkey-Iran Border Crossing

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Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts food security forum with Dr. Conrad Rein

On October 16, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, alongside representatives from multilateral development banks and the private sector for a discussion on food security in the Middle East and Africa.

Washington, DC

October 16, 2025 11:00 EDT

Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya

On Sept. 21, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, for a discussion on digital inclusion and economic empowerment in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

New York, NY

September 21, 2025 17:00 EDT

Past

Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at AL-Monitor Global Institute

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

On May 22, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC to discuss the future of power and energy in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Washington, DC

May 22, 2025 10:30 EDT

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