https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3241 Editorials on Voice of America expressing U.S. policy on the Middle East https://editorials.voa.gov/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-POLICY/img/logo.png https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3241 en 2026 - VOA 60 Mon, 04 May 2026 23:36:04 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA “We will relentlessly target the regime’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds, and pursue anyone enabling Tehran’s attempts to evade sanctions.”  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-tightens-financial-noose-on-iran/8146429.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-tightens-financial-noose-on-iran/8146429.html Mon, 04 May 2026 10:16:00 -0400 Middle EastTradeDefense The United States and its partners on the Board of Peace are pushing hard to achieve peace in Gaza. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-remains-the-obstacle-to-peace-in-gaza/8146425.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-remains-the-obstacle-to-peace-in-gaza/8146425.html Fri, 01 May 2026 14:01:48 -0400 Middle EastSecurity The Treasury Department has frozen more than $344 million in cryptocurrency tied to Iran. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-iran-s-shadow-banking-networks/8144783.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-iran-s-shadow-banking-networks/8144783.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:22:00 -0400 Middle EastSecurityTradeDefense The United States is taking decisive action to disrupt Iran’s illicit oil trade, the Iranian regime’s primary revenue stream that funds its terrorism and destabilizes the region.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/disrupting-iran-s-illicit-oil-trade/8143031.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/disrupting-iran-s-illicit-oil-trade/8143031.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:51:27 -0400 Middle EastSecurityTrade “Iran has a historic chance to make a serious deal, and the ball is in their court.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/iran-should-seize-its-chance-to-make-peace/8142159.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/iran-should-seize-its-chance-to-make-peace/8142159.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:05:01 -0400 Middle EastSecurity The United States Department of the Treasury is sanctioning 14 individuals, entities, and aircraft based in Iran, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in procuring or transporting weapons or weapons components on behalf of the Iranian regime.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-targets-iranian-missile-and-uav-procurement-networks/8141811.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-targets-iranian-missile-and-uav-procurement-networks/8141811.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:32:45 -0400 SecurityMiddle East Russia and China voted to veto a draft resolution earlier this month that sought to protect freedom of navigation and maritime security in and around the Strait of Hormuz. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/russia-and-china-are-obstructing-peace-in-the-middle-east/8139613.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/russia-and-china-are-obstructing-peace-in-the-middle-east/8139613.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:16:39 -0400 AsiaEuropeMiddle EastSecurityDefense The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has intensified pressure on Iran’s illicit oil transportation infrastructure https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-targets-illicit-oil-smuggling-network-run-by-iranian-regime-elite/8138806.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-targets-illicit-oil-smuggling-network-run-by-iranian-regime-elite/8138806.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:38:03 -0400 Middle EastEconomySecurity The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/iran-s-failure-to-make-peace-leads-to-u-s-naval-blockade/8137333.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/iran-s-failure-to-make-peace-leads-to-u-s-naval-blockade/8137333.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:33:08 -0400 DefenseMiddle East The success of the U.S. military created the leverage necessary for President Trump and his team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for long-term peace in the Middle East.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-and-iran-announce-a-two-week-ceasefire/8135709.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-and-iran-announce-a-two-week-ceasefire/8135709.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:01:00 -0400 DefenseMiddle East A heroic mission was carried out over Easter weekend to rescue two American F-15 fighter pilots whose jet went down deep inside enemy territory in Iran while participating in Operation Epic Fury. Both members of the crew ejected from the aircraft and landed alive on Iranian soil. President Donald Trump made the decision to order U.S. armed forces to do whatever was necessary to bring America’s brave warriors back home. It was a risky decision, he said. “But in the United States military, we... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8135398.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8135398.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:08:00 -0400 DefenseMiddle East “The League of Arab States can and should play an important role in addressing conflicts that afflict its member states and their regional neighbors,” said Tammy Bruce, U.S. Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations. Consider Gaza, she said. President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict which the Security Council endorsed in Resolution 2803, has demonstrated the way forward to a stable, safe, and prosperous Middle East. Many members of the... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8134908.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8134908.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:46:23 -0400 DefenseMiddle East "The Iranian regime sought to rebuild their nuclear program at a totally different location, making clear they had no intention of abandoning their pursuit of nuclear weapons.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133736.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133736.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:03:31 -0400 DefenseMiddle East As part of its war on terrorism, the United States is targeting key operatives of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, a Yemen-based affiliate of the core al-Qaida terrorist organization and its most active ally. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133694.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133694.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:09:15 -0400 Rewards for FugitivesMiddle East "This is an individual who organized group protests that not only disrupted college campus classes and harassed Jewish American students and made them feel unsafe," said White House Press Secretary Leavitt. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/arrest-of-former-student-for-hamas-aligned-activities/8011017.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/arrest-of-former-student-for-hamas-aligned-activities/8011017.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:37:22 -0400 Middle EastAmericasSecurityGovernance “The United States remains committed to defending women, children, and families from ideological extremism,” said Acting U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council at UN Shrier. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/protecting-women-from-gender-ideology/8010962.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/protecting-women-from-gender-ideology/8010962.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:58:33 -0400 AmericasAfricaAsiaEuropeHuman RightsMiddle EastGovernance “Iran’s brazen use of transnational criminal organizations and narcotics traffickers underscores the regime’s attempt to achieve its aims through any means,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/disrupting-the-iranian-regime-s-malevolent-activities/8010823.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/disrupting-the-iranian-regime-s-malevolent-activities/8010823.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:13:26 -0400 Middle East The fate of those who instigated the Anfal campaign and killed thousands of innocents in Halabja, should serve as a warning to others who follow in their murderous footsteps. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/on-halabja-37-years-later/8009489.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/on-halabja-37-years-later/8009489.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:14:09 -0400 Middle EastHuman RightsGovernance "The Taliban’s repressive policies and Afghanistan’s struggling economy are drivers of human displacement, which strains the region’s limited resources and contributes to further destabilization," said Ambassador Shea. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/pressure-must-be-kept-on-the-taliban/8008122.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/pressure-must-be-kept-on-the-taliban/8008122.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:09:49 -0400 Middle EastEconomyHuman RightsGovernance “The United States condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days,” said Secretary of State Rubio. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/horror-in-syria/8006762.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/horror-in-syria/8006762.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:08:15 -0400 Middle EastHuman RightsSecurityGovernance