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Iran

Nuclear deals? Sanctions? Proxy wars? This is Vox’s home for explanation and analysis of a key player in the Middle East.

Politics
This bipartisan bill could help block an Iran deal. So why do conservatives hate it?This bipartisan bill could help block an Iran deal. So why do conservatives hate it?
Politics

The big internal Republican fight on Iran, explained.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
Iran just seized a cargo ship near one of the world’s most important shipping lanesIran just seized a cargo ship near one of the world’s most important shipping lanes
Climate

Here’s why that matters.

By Zack Beauchamp
Politics
Does Marco Rubio have the chutzpah to roll the dice on Iran?Does Marco Rubio have the chutzpah to roll the dice on Iran?
Politics

Rubio’s push to force Iran to recognize Israel could blow up a bipartisan deal that would give Congress a check on a new nuclear deal. That’s why offering his amendment is a big gamble.

By Jonathan Allen
Climate
This is the case against Obama’s Iran deal that everyone should hearThis is the case against Obama’s Iran deal that everyone should hear
Climate

Michael Doran, who sat on Bush’s National Security Council, explains how the deal could make things a lot worse.

By Max Fisher
Explainers
The congressional Iran bill, explainedThe congressional Iran bill, explained
Explainers

Did Congress just kill the deal, or save it?

By Matthew Yglesias
Climate
Supporters of the Iran deal are ignoring this huge potential problemSupporters of the Iran deal are ignoring this huge potential problem
Climate

Would Obama hold Iran to account if it cheats?

By Max Fisher
Climate
Why Iran hawks can’t be honest about what they really wantWhy Iran hawks can’t be honest about what they really want
Climate

Lindsey Graham’s flip-flop on the Iran deal is a little too revealing.

By Max Fisher
Politics
Chuck Schumer is bucking the White House on Iran, and it’s a big dealChuck Schumer is bucking the White House on Iran, and it’s a big deal
Politics

A powerful and committed opponent in a position of influence.

By Matthew Yglesias
Israel
The real reason Netanyahu and the GOP hate this Iran dealThe real reason Netanyahu and the GOP hate this Iran deal
Israel

The disagreements about specific provisions of the deal are really about a broader debate over the nature of the Iranian regime itself.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
An Iran deal seemed impossible. How did it become possible?An Iran deal seemed impossible. How did it become possible?
Climate

The breakthrough seems to have come when both sides realized US success and Iran’s success were not mutually exclusive.

By Max Fisher
Climate
What Congress could do to block Obama’s Iran dealWhat Congress could do to block Obama’s Iran deal
Climate

A proposed bill would let veto-proof supermajorities in Congress block an agreement they don’t like.

By Andrew Prokop
Climate
Iran deal skeptics get one big thing rightIran deal skeptics get one big thing right
Climate

The deal really will empower Iran to do bad things. The really tricky part is that it’s a problem with any deal.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
The most important quote from Obama’s Iran deal speechThe most important quote from Obama’s Iran deal speech
Climate

Obama’s core argument in favor of the Iran deal isn’t about the deal itself. It’s about the alternatives to it.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
Full transcript: the international statement on the Iranian nuclear dealFull transcript: the international statement on the Iranian nuclear deal
Climate

Finally, an agreement, after days and days of exhausting talks.

By Katy Lee
Climate
Here’s the official US description of the Iran nuclear dealHere’s the official US description of the Iran nuclear deal
Climate

This is what Iran will be giving up — and getting — under the new deal.

By Amanda Taub
Climate
Oil prices could fall further if Iran nuclear deal is reachedOil prices could fall further if Iran nuclear deal is reached
Play
Climate

The country has many tons of oil just waiting to be exported when it gets the chance.

By Matthew Yglesias
Climate
The Iran nuclear talks: a very simple guideThe Iran nuclear talks: a very simple guide
Climate

Clear explanations of the issues at the heart of the Iran negotiations.

By Max Fisher
Climate
What everyone gets wrong about Iran nuclear negotiationsWhat everyone gets wrong about Iran nuclear negotiations
Climate

Are Americans focusing on the wrong issues in the Iran talks?

By Max Fisher
Video
Frenemies: a story of Iran, Israel, and the United StatesFrenemies: a story of Iran, Israel, and the United States
Video

Watch these floating heads explain the politics of Iran’s nuclear deal.

By Johnny Harris and Zack Beauchamp
Media
Iran and Saudi Arabia’s cold war is making the Middle East even more dangerousIran and Saudi Arabia’s cold war is making the Middle East even more dangerous
Media

A look at one of the most important conflicts for today’s Middle East.

By Zack Beauchamp
World Politics
Democratic senator’s amendment would defund Tom Cotton’s stationery for letters to IranDemocratic senator’s amendment would defund Tom Cotton’s stationery for letters to Iran
World Politics

A petty — though pretty funny — stunt.

By Zack Beauchamp
World Politics
Why Tom Cotton’s Iran letter could blow up in his faceWhy Tom Cotton’s Iran letter could blow up in his face
World Politics

There are three clear ways the Senate Republican letter to Iran could end up doing the opposite of what it was supposed to.

By Zack Beauchamp
Iran
McCain’s breathtaking defense of signing the Iran letter: “I sign lots of letters”McCain’s breathtaking defense of signing the Iran letter: “I sign lots of letters”
Iran

Why is John McCain acting like signing the open letter to Iran isn’t important?

By Amanda Taub
Congress
Vox Sentences: Is the Senate Republican letter to Iran backfiring?Vox Sentences: Is the Senate Republican letter to Iran backfiring?
Congress

That and more in today’s news roundup.

By Dylan Matthews
Politics
Hillary Clinton’s comment on the GOP’s Iran letter is just brutalHillary Clinton’s comment on the GOP’s Iran letter is just brutal
Politics

“Either the senators were trying to be helpful to the Iranians or harmful to the commander in chief.”

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
Tom Cotton’s Iran letter tells us something fundamental about the GOPTom Cotton’s Iran letter tells us something fundamental about the GOP
Climate

To understand the Iran letter controversy, you need to understand how the GOP thinks about Iran — and why it’ll be a huge issue in the 2016 campaign.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
The uproar over Sen. Tom Cotton’s letter to Iran, explainedThe uproar over Sen. Tom Cotton’s letter to Iran, explained
Climate

The Republican hawk was sending a message to more than just Iranian leaders.

By Max Fisher
World Politics
Read the Iranian foreign minister’s super passive-aggressive response to Tom CottonRead the Iranian foreign minister’s super passive-aggressive response to Tom Cotton
World Politics

Javad Zarif fires off some zingers.

By Max Fisher
Climate
GOP senators explain why Iran can’t trust America in open letterGOP senators explain why Iran can’t trust America in open letter
Climate

“It has come to our attention while observing your nuclear negotiations with our government that you may not fully understand our constitutional system.”

By Zack Beauchamp
Israel
Iran’s foreign minister says Netanyahu got Jewish scripture wrongIran’s foreign minister says Netanyahu got Jewish scripture wrong
Israel

“It is unfortunate that Mr. Netanyahu...distorts his own scripture.”

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
The real reason Netanyahu is so hawkish on IranThe real reason Netanyahu is so hawkish on Iran
Climate

It’s about his theory of Jewish history.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
Netanyahu’s controversial speech to Congress on IranNetanyahu’s controversial speech to Congress on Iran
Climate

The Israeli Prime Minister’s speech to a joint session of Congress has become a major flashpoint, with potentially huge implications for America, Israel, and the Middle East.

By Vox Staff
Video
Netanyahu’s argument to Congress about Iran, explained in 2 minutesNetanyahu’s argument to Congress about Iran, explained in 2 minutes
Play
Video

Here’s the key point on which Netanyahu and Obama differ, and why it’s such a big deal.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
This was the most important part of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on IranThis was the most important part of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Iran
Play
Climate

These lines expose the core disagreement between Netanyahu and Obama on Iran.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
No, Netanyahu, Iran is not secretly planning to nuke IsraelNo, Netanyahu, Iran is not secretly planning to nuke Israel
Climate

The idea that Iranian leaders are bent on a suicidal nuclear war has been debunked.

By Max Fisher
Israel
Watch: full video of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on IranWatch: full video of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Iran
Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s full address to Congress

By Amanda Taub
Climate
Read the full transcript of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on IranRead the full transcript of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Iran
Climate

The full text of Netanyahu’s controversial speech

By Amanda Taub
World Politics
Chart: Fewer and fewer Americans see Iran as the US’s greatest enemyChart: Fewer and fewer Americans see Iran as the US’s greatest enemy
World Politics

This chart helps show why Netanyahu will have such a tough time blocking Obama’s Iran deal.

By Max Fisher
Climate
Why Netanyahu is willing to blow up his relationship with Obama over IranWhy Netanyahu is willing to blow up his relationship with Obama over Iran
Climate

Netanyahu thinks any plausible nuclear deal with Iran will be a disaster for Israel. This is why.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
The real reasons Iran is so committed to its nuclear programThe real reasons Iran is so committed to its nuclear program
Climate

Why is Tehran so bent on a program that has brought devastating sanctions, isolation, and threats of war?

By Max Fisher