Jane Arraf

A small boat sails past cargo ships and other commercial vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Aug. 5.

Attacks flare between the U.S. and Iran after a monthlong pause

U.S. threats erupt into attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran retaliates against U.S. targets in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in the first exchange of fire since July 29.

Workers walk in the Zubair oil field, whose operations have being reduced since the start of the Iran war, near Basra, Iraq, March 28.

NPR Headlines

U.S. says pipelines will make Strait of Hormuz irrelevant. Energy experts disagree

Jane Arraf

Treasure Secretary Scott Bessent said oil pipelines will make Strait of Hormuz irrelevant in two years. Energy experts say that is unlikely to happen.

Syria's breakaway Kurds relinquish autonomy and rejoin the country

Jane Arraf

Syria's Kurds, once backed by the U.S. to fight ISIS, have relinquished autonomy and dissolved their army to rejoin Syria.

NPR Headlines

Greetings from Karbala, Iraq, where millions gathered for a Shia pilgrimage

Jane Arraf

Pilgrims came to Iraq from all over the world in August. Many Iraqi and Iranian pilgrims walked hundreds of miles in extreme heat to mark the event. Outside the shrines, the atmosphere is almost festive.

Gulf countries race to build new oil pipelines as alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz

Jane Arraf, Ayesha Rascoe

A U.S. official says the Strait of Hormuz will be 'irrelevant' in two years. Energy experts disagree.

NPR Headlines

Iraq's PM faces tough challenges after promising to disarm Iran-backed militias

Jane Arraf

Iraq's new prime minister faces a huge dilemma in promising President Trump he will disarm Iran-backed militias by Sept. 30

Iraq's new prime minister promises Trump he'll disarm Iran-backed militias

Jane Arraf, Leila Fadel

Iraq's new leader wants to disarm Iran-backed militias, but the move risks opening a new front in the Mideast.