Sections Local news About Axios Sign up World - Iran Iran The big picture Biden and Netanyahu are on a collision course over Iran Netanyahu has personally started campaigning against any return to the Iran deal Dec 9, 2020 - World Iran's nuclear dilemma: Ramp up now or wait for Biden Biden's team has refused to comment on the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Dec 2, 2020 - World How Biden might tackle the Iran deal His election wouldn’t necessarily save it. Oct 30, 2020 - World Iran's proxies in the Middle East Iran could likely use one of its many proxies to strike American military assets. Jan 18, 2020 - World All Iran stories Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv 19 hours ago - World Weapons-grade enrichment would "imperil" nuclear talks, diplomats warn Iran The talks resume in Vienna. Photo: EU Vienna delegation handout via Getty Senior diplomats from France, Germany and the U.K. briefed reporters Tuesday on the sidelines of the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, saying that if Iran starts enriching uranium to 90% purity, the level needed to produce nuclear weapons, it would "seriously imperil" the negotiations. Why it matters: Israel has shared intelligence with the U.S. and several European allies suggesting that Iran is taking technical steps to prepare to enrich weapons-grade uranium, as Axios first reported on Monday. Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv Nov 29, 2021 - World Scoop: Iran preparing to enrich weapons-grade uranium, Israel warns U.S. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi holds a press conference. Photo: Presidency of Iran handout via Getty Israel has shared intelligence over the past two weeks with the U.S. and several European allies suggesting that Iran is taking technical steps to prepare to enrich uranium to 90% purity — the level needed to produce a nuclear weapon, two U.S. sources briefed on the issue tell me. Why it matters: Enriching to 90% would bring Iran closer than ever to the nuclear threshold. The Israeli warnings come as nuclear talks resume in Vienna, with Iran returning to the negotiating table on Monday after a five-month hiatus. Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv Nov 24, 2021 - World UN nuclear chief leaves Iran empty-handed ahead of Vienna talks IAEA chief Rafael Grossi (left) meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Photo: Xinhua via Getty A visit to Tehran by the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog ahead of renewed nuclear talks in Vienna ended without any agreement on resuming inspections in key nuclear sites in Iran. Driving the news: At a press conference in Vienna on Wednesday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Raphael Grossi said the talks had “proved inconclusive” and warned, “We are getting closer to the point where I can’t promise that we have continuity of knowledge about Iran’s nuclear program.” Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow Yacob Reyes Nov 17, 2021 - World Officials warn that Iran-backed hackers are targeting critical U.S. sectors DOJ. Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Bloomberg via Getty Images Hackers linked to the Iranian government are reportedly involved in an ongoing campaign targeting "a broad range of victims" across the United States, an advisory released Wednesday found. Why it matters: The advisory, compiled by American, British and Australian officials, outlined the malicious activity perpetrated by the attackers, which date back to at least March of this year. Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv Nov 17, 2021 - World Scoop: U.S. floats interim Iran nuclear deal Sullivan (R) with Blinken. Photo: Frederic J. Brown/Pool/AFP via Getty National security adviser Jake Sullivan raised with his Israeli counterpart the idea of an interim agreement with Iran to buy more time for nuclear negotiations, three Israeli and U.S. sources tell me. Why it matters: The idea is only preliminary, and the Biden administration continues to insist that the full 2015 nuclear deal be restored. But with nuclear talks set to resume in Vienna on Nov. 29, it provides a window into at least some of the thinking inside the administration. Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow Kierra Frazier Nov 13, 2021 - World Air Force official says U.S. plans to maintain presence in Middle East A Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" rehearses a demonstration flight ahead of the 2021 Dubai Airshow. Photo Marina Lysteva/Tass via Getty Images The commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command said on Saturday that U.S. military forces will continue to play an "important role" in the Middle East even as the Defense Department weighs competition with China and Russia, AP reports. Why it matters: The remarks come as tensions between Iran and the U.S. remain high ahead of a resumption of indirect nuclear talks at the end of the month. Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow Bryan Walsh, author of Future Nov 10, 2021 - World The hybrid future of conflict Polish security personnel guard a barbed wire fence at the Poland-Belarus border on Nov. 10. Photo: Leonid Shcheglov/BELTA/AFP/Belarus OUT Two events over the past week — an attempted drone assassination and a partially engineered migrant crisis — show the changing nature of conflicts. Why it matters: Outright wars between states remain extremely rare, but new technologies and strategies are enabling countries and groups to wage conflict by other, hybrid means. Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv Nov 10, 2021 - World Iran works the room ahead of nuclear talks An Iranian flag in front of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, Nov. 10, 2019. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images Less than three weeks before indirect negotiations are set to resume between the U.S. and Iran about a possible return to the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran is holding talks with other signatories to the agreement to try to set the stage for the new round of negotiations. Why it matters: The talks on Nov. 29 in Vienna will be the seventh round of negotiations since President Biden assumed office and the first round since Ebrahim Raisi was inaugurated as president of Iran. Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv Nov 3, 2021 - Politics & Policy U.S. increases pressure on Iran ahead of new nuclear talks Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios The Biden administration is slowly ratcheting up its diplomatic pressure on Iran ahead of a potential resumption of the nuclear talks. Why it matters: After months of contemplating how to respond to Iran's foot-dragging, with talks now frozen since June, the Biden administration in recent days started taking steps that some of its European allies, Israel and the Gulf states were waiting for. Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow Ivana Saric Oct 31, 2021 - World Iran's foreign minister says Biden can use "executive order" to return to 2015 deal Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Photo: Meghdad Madadi/ATPImages/Getty Images Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday questioned the U.S.' political will to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, saying that President Biden could simply issue an "executive order" on the matter if he wished to, Reuters reported. Why it matters: Amir-Abdollahian's comments come only a day after Biden and the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement urging Iran to return to nuclear negotiations soon to avoid “a dangerous escalation.” Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow More Iran stories Axios gets you smarter, faster with news & information that matters. Copyright Axios Media, 2021 About About Axios Advertise with us Careers Events Axios on HBO Axios HQ Privacy and terms Online tracking choices Contact us Subscribe Axios newsletters Axios app Axios podcasts Courses Earn Axios rewards