United States - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

White House, Washington DC, United States of America

United States

September 5, 2024

District of Columbia 9:21 am

18°C

Elizabeth Whelan, sister of Paul Whelan, speaks during a press conference to launch the “Bring Our Families Home" campaign held by family members of hostages being held around the world, Washington, May 4, 2022.

Breaking | Last Updated: July 20, 2022, 7:18 am

Biden issues executive order on hostages amid pressure from families

The executive order will authorize government agencies to impose financial and travel sanctions on those involved in the wrongful detention of Americans.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian gives a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

US unveils fresh sanctions on Iranian oil trade network

The Biden administration designated 15 individuals and entities located in Iran, Vietnam, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell gives a press conference in Tehran.

Analysis

Cautious optimism as US, Iran set to resume indirect talks in Qatar

A State Department spokesperson confirmed US Special Envoy Robert Malley will travel to Doha, which will serve as the venue for "indirect discussions."

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Ali Hashem

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Ali Hashem

Borrell

Analysis

Don’t write off the Iran nuclear deal just yet

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi still wants and needs the JCPOA more than Biden.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Latest News

Analysis

Families of American hostages abroad discouraged after Blinken call

Blinken

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Iran’s IRGC harasses US Navy in Persian Gulf as nuclear talks stall

In this photo made available by the US Navy, a boat of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy operates in close proximity to patrol coastal ship USS Sirocco.

Analysis

US, Iran still trying to close gap on nuclear deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (2nd-L).

Ali Hashem

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Ali Hashem , Elizabeth Hagedorn

Analysis

Biden approach to Saudi Arabia echoes Bush’s China policy after Tiananmen Square

Biden

Week in Review

By Week in Review

US imposes sanctions on Iranian petrochemical network

AFP via Getty Images

Displaced Afghans in Kabul

More US troops arrive at Kabul airport to bolster Turkish mission

Pentagon says forces could potentially remain in Kabul beyond original withdrawal deadline.

Washington Pulse

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Intel: US sanctions oil broker reportedly linked to Iran’s Quds Force

US Marines in Helmand province

Turkey ‘still in lead’ as US surges troops back to Kabul airport for evacuation

The Pentagon is readying as many as 8,000 troops to facilitate the withdrawal of American and Afghan personnel.

2018 Tice press conference

Biden administration calls on Syria to return missing journalist Austin Tice

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the United States is committed to "following all avenues and talking to anyone" who can help return Tice, a journalist and Marine veteran who disappeared in Syria nine years ago.

Richard Norland and Khalifa Hifter

Intel: US ambassador meets Libya's Hifter in Cairo

The US envoy is for pushing for cooperation with Libya's planned elections in December, State Department says.

Dana Stroul

Iran sending more weapons to Yemen's Houthis amid cease-fire effort: Pentagon

Pentagon allegation comes as Iranian and Saudi officials are reportedly preparing to meet in Baghdad later this month

Nasrin Sotoudeh protest

Senators call for release of 'unjustly imprisoned' women in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Democratic lawmakers condemn four Middle Eastern states for the politically motivated imprisonment of a number of women and call for the prisoners' release.

Washington Pulse

Antony Blinken

Blinken urges UN to hold Iran accountable for Mercer Street attack

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the drone strike was the latest in a pattern of Iranian attacks and provocative behavior.

confiscated hezbollah rocket launcher in Lebanon

US sanctions Iran-backed militias under weapons transfer ban

Washington Pulse

Mercer Street attack photos

Pentagon reveals evidence of Iran's role in Gulf tanker attack

Last week's drone strike on the Israeli-managed oil products tanker Mercer Street required "calculated and deliberate retargeting," CENTCOM said.

Areej al-Sadhan and her brother Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

Intel: US family seeks Biden's help freeing detained Saudi aid worker

The United States said it’s urging Saudi Arabia to resolve the case of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, an aid worker sentenced to prison for allegedly running a Twitter account critical of the kingdom’s rulers.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price speaks during a briefing at the State Department August 2, 2021, in Washington, DC.

US urges Iran to return to nuclear talks as Raisi sworn in

Talks over reviving the nuclear deal remain on hold — a process the Biden administration warned "cannot go on indefinitely."