I spoke with BBC’s legendary @JohnSimpsonNews on whether the Iranian regime can survive this war.

Pakistan, which has been mediating between the US and Iran, says it expects an agreement to be finalised in the next twenty-four hours. But Tehran is more cautious, saying a signing is possible but in the coming days.

“Khamenei’s death disrupted Iran’s evolution and provided the regime with an opportunity to consolidate,” writes @citrinowicz. “Paradoxically, the external pressure meant to topple the Iranian regime has helped preserve it.” foreignaffairs.com/iran/how-…

Donald Trump reposted Iranian FM's post about a possible deal just two hours after describing Iranian authorities as “very dishonorable people to deal with.” In the meantime, Iranian hardliners are already pushing back against the deal.

Karaj, near Tehran, is being targetted, residents tell me.

RT @HamidRezaAz: "Israel secretly deployed elite military and intelligence units to #Azerbaijan during the war with #Iran as part of a netw…

بنیامین نتانیاهو پس از حمله به کویت و بحرین گفت ایران با «آتش بازی» می‌کند و تاکید کرد که با دونالد ترامپ در مورد مسائل اصلی مربوط با ایران توافق دارد ۶۰ دقیقه چهارشنبه ۱۳ خرداد

حمله به کویت و بحرین نتانیاهو: ایران با آتش بازی می‌کند ۶۰ دقیقه چهارشنبه ۱۳ خرداد

Kuwait army: Today a number of hostile drones targeted the passenger building (T1) at Kuwait International Airport as a result of the criminal Iranian aggression, which resulted in significant material damage to the building and injuries to a number of individuals.

Iran-US Talks Under Strain as Lebanon Front Escalates

Inside Iran’s Cost-of-Living Crisis: Lay-offs & Soaring Prices "Every shopping trip, if you can afford it, brings a great deal of anger. And when you can’t afford it, the result is malnutrition and a sense of deprivation, especially for children," an Iranian mother told me.

Iran says if Donald Trump tries to return to war - the US and its allies will be met by many surprises - including strikes far beyond the middle east.

Our @nytimes report finds there was a second Israeli base in Iraq's desert. At least one dated back to the June '25 war. Israel chose Iraq for these covert ops due to US role in Iraq's security affairs. The shepherd who exposed the first base was killed. nytimes.com/2026/05/17/world…

The only non-British flags at today’s "Unite the Kingdom" rally in London were pre-revolutionary Iranian flags (featuring the royal emblem), alongside some US and Israeli flags. ​All were carried by Iranian monarchists protesting alongside far-right British groups. These Iranian demonstrators, many immigrants or asylum seekers, sympathize with Tommy Robinson’s anti-immigration and anti-Islam messaging, and support US/Israeli military action against Iran. Covered on the ground by my colleague @BBCParham.

Pakistani officials have been travelling to Tehran one after another, but the sticking points remain significant.

Thanks to my backwatcher for saving the day. Today’s far-right protest in London.

Iran’s Supreme Leader rejects US threats I explained that the Strait of Hormuz is now Iran’s key leverage, and unlike its nulcear program, it can be monetized. This has become a war of endurance between Iran & the US: not about who is stronger, but who can last longer.

Strait of Hormuz: Close. Reopen. Close again. Iran’s U-turn raises a bigger question: Unity—or a rift inside the system?

Blocking the Strait of Hormuz became Iran’s strongest weapon. But after the US naval blockade, Iran realised it had to put this gun back in the holster before it backfired. However, Iranian hardliners are not happy.