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 Sat, 11 Jul 2026 10:22:22 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intent to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism during a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/taking-steps-to-further-normalize-syria-relations/8170463.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/taking-steps-to-further-normalize-syria-relations/8170463.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Middle East After 136 countries told Iran to stop, Iran fired again after its neighbors pleaded for de-escalation. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/iran-must-choose-peace-now/8169601.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/iran-must-choose-peace-now/8169601.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:36:50 -0400 Middle EastSecurity The demilitarization of Hamas is a central part of President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which was endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2803. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-must-disarm-as-condition-of-peace/8168744.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-must-disarm-as-condition-of-peace/8168744.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:40:00 -0400 Middle East Lebanon, Israel, and the United States have signed the Trilateral Framework - marking another major milestone in President Donald Trump’s effort to bring lasting peace and stability to the Middle East. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-lebanon-and-israel-sign-trilateral-framework/8166922.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-lebanon-and-israel-sign-trilateral-framework/8166922.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:08:00 -0400 Middle EastSecurity Regardless of the financial instrument, method of transmission, or location of the funds, the Treasury Department will relentlessly pursue ISIS’s finances and disrupt their ability to harm Americans.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-isis-facilitators/8164296.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-isis-facilitators/8164296.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:32:00 -0400 Middle EastDefense The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Hizballah-aligned Lebanese officials, https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-hizballah-aligned-officials/8163869.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-hizballah-aligned-officials/8163869.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:51:00 -0400 Middle East The U.S. Treasury, said Secretary Bessent, “will not tolerate any support of the Iranian military.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-disrupts-support-for-iran-s-military/8161164.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-disrupts-support-for-iran-s-military/8161164.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Middle East The United States under President Donald Trump has brought a new action-based approach to the Middle East that has achieved real results, https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-pursues-action-based-strategy-in-the-middle-east/8159803.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-pursues-action-based-strategy-in-the-middle-east/8159803.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:11:48 -0400 Middle East For over eleven months now, IAEA inspectors have been unable to access either Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile or other previously declared low-enriched uranium stocks at facilities hit a year ago by U.S. airstrikes. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/it-s-time-to-hold-iran-accountable-at-the-un/8159444.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/it-s-time-to-hold-iran-accountable-at-the-un/8159444.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:09:14 -0400 Middle East The United States continues to disrupt Iran’s efforts to evade U.S. sanctions and fund its destabilizing activities. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-sanctions-aim-to-strangle-iran-s-energy-smuggling/8159290.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-sanctions-aim-to-strangle-iran-s-energy-smuggling/8159290.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:22:00 -0400 Middle East Treasury is sanctioning an Iran-based procurement network that impersonated and defrauded U.S. companies in order to procure restricted goods for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces. Logistics, https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-iranian-network-defrauding-u-s-firms/8156143.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-iranian-network-defrauding-u-s-firms/8156143.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:59:09 -0400 Middle East U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan continued the establishment of a new era in cooperation between the United States and Armenia https://editorials.voa.gov/a/rubio-in-armenia/8154967.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/rubio-in-armenia/8154967.html Thu, 28 May 2026 09:37:00 -0400 Middle EastEconomyEuropeDefense The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated nine individuals in Lebanon for obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hizballah. These Hizballah-aligned officials include individuals embedded across Lebanon’s parliament, military, and security sectors, where they seek to preserve the Iran-backed terrorist group’s influence over key Lebanese state institutions. Hizballah’s continued militant activity and... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/treasury-targets-hizballah-aligned-officials-obstructing-peace/8154133.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/treasury-targets-hizballah-aligned-officials-obstructing-peace/8154133.html Tue, 26 May 2026 14:56:50 -0400 Middle East Drones struck the United Arab Emirates on May 17, targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. Fortunately, no serious damage was inflicted. The United Arab Emirates reported that the drones originated in Iraq, likely launched by Iranian-backed militias. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz condemned “Iran’s outrageous and unacceptable attacks in the strongest possible terms.” The UN Security Council’s efforts should be focused on reigning in Iran, he added. As a result of... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-condemns-drone-attacks-on-united-arab-emirates/8152135.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-condemns-drone-attacks-on-united-arab-emirates/8152135.html Wed, 20 May 2026 10:25:00 -0400 Middle East In less than 40 days, CENTCOM forces achieved our military objectives." https://editorials.voa.gov/a/epic-fury-has-crippled-iran-and-enhanced-military-partnerships/8150490.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/epic-fury-has-crippled-iran-and-enhanced-military-partnerships/8150490.html Fri, 15 May 2026 16:28:48 -0400 Middle East The meetings underscored a shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/secretary-rubio-at-the-vatican/8149253.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/secretary-rubio-at-the-vatican/8149253.html Tue, 12 May 2026 13:41:38 -0400 AmericasAfricaHuman RightsMiddle East These actions follow the reimposition of UN restrictive measures and sanctions on September 27, 2025, in response to Iran’s “significant non-performance” of its nuclear commitments. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/holding-china-accountable-for-support-of-iran/8148868.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/holding-china-accountable-for-support-of-iran/8148868.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:23:12 -0400 Middle EastAsia Secretary Bessent warns that “Treasury will not stand idly by as Iran's military exploits Iraqi oil to fund terrorism against the United States and our partners." https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-targets-iranian-proxies-in-iraq/8147686.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/economic-fury-targets-iranian-proxies-in-iraq/8147686.html Thu, 07 May 2026 15:20:53 -0400 Middle East “For more than two months now, these innocent sailors and commercial crew members have been stranded out at sea” due to because Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a White House press conference. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-launches-project-freedom-in-strait-of-hormuz/8147314.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-launches-project-freedom-in-strait-of-hormuz/8147314.html Wed, 06 May 2026 14:33:29 -0400 Middle EastSecurityDefense “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