The eventual rescue of missing US pilot caps a week of confusion for the president as he loses his grip on the conflict

The US and Israel's strikes on Iran have triggered a conflict which is rapidly spreading across the Middle East.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barume   Episode photography: Sofia Fenton   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

Iran’s attack on the Ras Laffan plant will not only disrupt energy markets but could mean the emirate pulling back from key global investments

After widespread protests in Iran, the regime has reasserted control. Now, evidence showing the scale of the violence is starting to emerge. With America threatening military attack, will the Iranian regime be able to survive?   Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Ada Barumé Executive Producer: Gary Marshall

Ali Larijani was ready to walk through the smouldering wreckage of the regime to which he gave his life. His killing will make it harder for the regime to assert power

In the weeks since the ceasefire was agreed, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and more than 600 injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.    Host: Ada Barumé Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell

After the White House says it has obliterated 90 sites on Iran’s oil hub, Kharg island, the regime retaliates by issuing threats against a neighbour’s non-US assets for the first time

Which international peacekeeping forces might be present in Gaza, and what will their role be? Is the fact that kids on free school meals do worse in their GCSEs a symptom of a failed state? Does the Amazon outage show that the internet is too reliant on a small number of companies?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Stephen Armstrong, Bex Sander and Ruth Michaelson as they pitch their top story of the day.   

Questions are being asked in Washington about whether its missile attack was an information failure

The current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is phase one of the peace deal: a downing of arms to allow the exchange of prisoners and hostages in a set timeframe. But phase two of the plan remains vague.

In Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence, the regime’s top brass are out in force

Hamas has released the last 20 living hostages and in return, Israel has freed over 1,700 Palestinian detainees. We're devoting the entire episode to the latest from Gaza. Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Chloe Hadjimatheou and Middle East Correspondent Ruth Michaelson, to answer questions about the first part of Donald Trump's peace deal in Gaza. We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky  Host: Rebecca Moore Producer: Amalie Sortland Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Matt Russell  

Three books that cast a light on the country under Islamic Republic rule

Since May, almost 900 Palestinians are reported to have been killed in the vicinity of aid checkpoints. So what exactly has happened at these aid sites?

Little is known about him – except that he is more hardline than his father

The announcement of a major Israeli ground offensive came within minutes of a UN report which states that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland  Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

Trump insisted that the US must approve Iran’s next leader. Instead, new head of the regime is expected to maintain his father’s hardline

Amid the rubble and chaos of US and Israeli srikes, the regime’s desperate footsoldiers are stoking fear in order to keep protesters off the streets

The son, president, the security head, the fearsome judicial chief… where will Iran turn now?

The death of Ayatollah Khamenei alone will not dislodge the Islamic Republic

For Israel to target and kill Iran’s supreme leader took knowledge and precision. Former military officials comment on the attack and what might happen next

Israeli officials say Khamenei’s body has been found after a day of sweeping raids and retaliatory strikes

As smoke billowed over their streets, some who would welcome the theocracy’s collapse are sceptical of what happens next

More than 53,000 protesters have been held – and now cultural figures, politicians are being swept up in the crackdown

The resultant uncertainty is Tehran’s last point of leverage

Protesters and their families face the torture of real and mock executions as regime crackdown enters a grim new phase

The crown prince has been forced to rein in plans for his high-tech metropolis as costs spiral to $8.8tn and the kingdom’s wealth falls

Iran is seeking ways to hide the scale of the killings, including imposing huge sums on grieving relatives who want to bury their loved ones