NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) President Xi Jinping failed to reach an agreement on the Power of...

   NEW: Iran is likely using the ceasefire period to normalize Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz by compelling oil-importing countries to...

   NEW: The IRGC threatened that it will expand the war far beyond the region if the conflict in the Middle East resumes. This threat is very likely...

   NEW: Russia is using unannounced strategic nuclear exercises to posture strength against Ukraine’s allies and distract from mounting battlefield...

   NEW: The United States continues to pressure Iran economically through its naval blockade and sanctions, which impose costs on Iran’s economy. (1 7)...

   NEW: South Korea is considering phased participation in the US-led operations in the Strait of Hormuz, following an investigation into an explosion...

   NEW: Iran’s latest counterproposal does not appear to meet US demands. (1 6) Read more: https: isw.pub IranUpdate051826

   NEW: Ukrainian forces struck several Russian defense industrial plants and oil infrastructure objects in Moscow City and Oblast overnight on May 16...

   NEW: The U.S. and Iran continue to pursue incompatible negotiating positions. Unspecified sources familiar with the US response to the latest Iranian...

   NEW: The seniormost Russian military command presented a highly inaccurate assessment of the battlefield situation for the fifth consecutive month,...

   ISW is the source the world trusts for analysis in the Middle East. We inform millions, provide uninterrupted coverage, and elevate both public...

   NEW: The Iranian regime is introducing a formalized toll system under the guise of maritime insurance policies and continuing to deploy incentives &...

   NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin is positively portraying data about Russia’s economic performance that actually shows a strained economy. (1 7)...

   NEW: Senior Iranian officials continue to demand guarantees against future US-Israeli attacks as a precondition for negotiations, and the Iranian...

   NEW: Trump left the US-PRC summit without a clear commitment from Xi Jinping on the PRC’s approach to the Strait of Hormuz. (1 5) We will provide...

   NEW: Russian forces have conducted two days of nearly continuous strikes against Ukraine with over 1,600 total long-range drones and missiles that...

   NEW: Iran may be prioritizing upholding the legitimacy of its claims to the Strait of Hormuz over toll collection at this time. (1 6) Read the full...

   NEW: The Kremlin-appointed Commissioner for Children’s Rights published a report on Russia’s policy toward Ukrainian children. The report attempted...

   NEW: Iran may be prioritizing upholding the legitimacy of its claims to the Strait of Hormuz over toll collection at this time. This would help avoid...

   1 The Kremlin is doubling down on its demand that Ukraine withdraw from all of Donbas as a precondition for the resumption of negotiations.&#&#Read...

   1 Iran’s efforts to reconstitute its military capabilities during the ceasefire period are consistent with the behavior of any military organization...

   NEW: There is an emergent consensus in Tehran that the Strait of Hormuz is an increasingly potent lever of power and must be central to Iranian...

   NEW: Putin is leaning on nuclear saber-rattling to project military strength after Russia’s apparent failure to ensure full security for the May 9...

   NEW: Iran’s pursuit of recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz reinforces our assessment that Iran views the waterway’s control...

   NEW: North Korea altered its constitution to codify its hostile two-state policy and define its territorial borders as not including South Korean...

   NEW: A newspaper reportedly close to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf published details of the recent proposal that, if accurate,...

   Iran Update Special Report, May 11, 2026: Iranian leaders are trying to dictate the terms for ending the war, which illustrates that the Iranian...

   NEW: Russian and Ukrainian forces continued limited offensive operations throughout the theater on the final day of the May 9 to 11 ceasefire...

   NEW: Iran’s latest counterproposal to the US shows that significant differences between the US and Iran’s negotiating positions remain. The Iranian...

   NEW: Russian and Ukrainian forces continued limited offensive operations across the theater throughout the second day of the May 9-11 ceasefire. (1 7...