AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

A man walks past the flags of the countries attending the Gulf Cooperation Council summit at Bayan palace in Kuwait City on Dec. 5, 2017.

Analysis

How Iran war shaped divergent paths to security among GCC states

The Iran war left the Gulf more fragmented than united, with competing security strategies replacing any prospect of a common regional defense.

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

An aerial view shows port of the western Syrian port city of Latakia, on Dec. 18, 2024.

Analysis

Can a UAE-backed Syria-Iraq corridor become Gulf's next trade route?

On June 26, Emirati and Syrian officials discussed plans for a logistics corridor connecting Syrian ports to Gulf markets via Iraq.

By Jack Dutton

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Joint List Party leader Ayman Odeh attends a meeting on April 5, 2021 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Interview

Ayman Odeh says Arab parties could back Bennett or Eisenkot to block Netanyahu

In an interview with Al-Monitor, head of the Arab-Israeli Hadash-Ta'al Knesset faction, Ayman Odeh, said his party is prepared to make difficult decisions to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Ayman Odeh

Head of the Knesset's Hadash-Ta'al faction

Iranians walk past a billboard bearing a picture of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei ahead of his funeral in Tehran on July 3, 2026. Iranian leaders began paying their respects on July 3 before the coffin of the country's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed in the US-Israeli strikes that triggered the Middle East war, as Tehran prepared for a vast funeral. Khamenei's body arrived at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on July 3 ahead of ceremonies which are expected to draw millions. (Photo by AFP via Getty

Analysis

Iran set to bury Khamenei, but his hard-line legacy may endure

The elaborate funeral for the late supreme leader is becoming more than a farewell; it serves as a carefully staged test of regime continuity after his decades-long rule.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Motorists drive past a billboard bearing a picture of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, ahead of his funeral in Tehran on July 3, 2026. Iranian leaders began paying their respects on July 3 before the coffin of the country's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed in the US-Israeli strikes that triggered the Middle East war, as Tehran prepared for a vast funeral. Khamenei's body arrived at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on July 3 ahead of ceremonies which are expected to draw millions. (Photo by AFP via Ge

Analysis

As US-Iran talks falter, Israel views war outcome as 'total strategic failure’

Israeli officials believe the US failure to attain the kind of agreement with Iran that it originally sought stems from the strategic mistakes made during and after the recent war.

By Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

As Trump touts nuclear progress, US-Iran talks show little momentum

Iran

Clashes between Druze fighters, Syrian forces raise fears of renewed violence

Syria

Syria launches gas project with Saudi firm in latest Gulf energy partnership

Syria

Explainer

Does provision 13 of Lebanon-Israel deal bar Beirut from pursuing war crimes claims?

The court stands at the start of the first hearing at the International Court of Justice in which Myanmar is accused of committing genocide against the country's Muslim minority, the Rohingya, in the Hague on January 12, 2026. The Gambia filed the genocide case in cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 2019. Myanmar's military deliberately targeted the Rohingya minority in a bid to destroy the community, Gambia's Justice Minister Dawda Jallow told the International Court of Justice Mond

Lebanon

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Rana Abu Nassar, mother of Palestinian prisoner Osama Abu Nassar who is held by Israel, sits inside her home in Al-Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, July 3, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Israel hasn't said who its soldiers abused. Two Gaza mothers think it's their son

Reuters

Pope Leo XIV has made the defence of migrants one of the pillars of his papacy

Pope urges Europe to protect migrants in visit to island frontier

Agence France-Presse

Mourners gather on the day of a public farewell ceremony to pay their respects to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, in Tehran, Iran July 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Iranians flock to week-long funeral rites for Khamenei

Reuters

Pope to defend migrants at Mediterranean island frontier

Agence France-Presse

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Middle East Minute

Syria FM says Damascus open to talking to Hezbollah

2 July, 8:36 AM ET

3:22

Middle East Minute

Syria’s Sharaa names appointees to parliament as US and Iran talk Hormuz

1 July, 8:48 AM ET

3:27

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Turkey’s World Cup meltdown is a milestone in unraveling of Erdogan’s reign, says Selim Koru

Selim Koru joins Amberin Zaman

25 June, 3:19 PM ET

22:16

Interviews

Exclusive conversations with AL-MONITOR.

See All

Interview

Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO

A student attends a training seminar at the Tourism Ministry Training center in the city of Riyadh on August 30, 2022.

Olivier Badard

CEO of Armada Holding

Interview

US-Egypt fund makes case for economic statecraft in hard power era

A worker counts banknotes after filling up the tank of a vehicle at a petrol station in Giza on March 10, 2026.

Cornelius Queen

Senior Vice President of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund

Interview

Franco-Gulf investment holds firm despite Iran war, French official says

French Trade & Invest Commissioner for United Arab Emirates and Middle East and Business France's regional director for the Middle East Axel Baroux. — Business France

Axel Baroux

France’s trade and investment commissioner for the UAE and Middle East

Interview

Ayman Odeh says Arab parties could back Bennett or Eisenkot to block Netanyahu

Ayman Odeh

Head of the Knesset's Hadash-Ta'al faction

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

How Iran war shaped divergent paths to security among GCC states

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Analysis

Iran set to bury Khamenei, but his hard-line legacy may endure

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

As US-Iran talks falter, Israel views war outcome as 'total strategic failure’

By Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Analysis

Can a UAE-backed Syria-Iraq corridor become Gulf's next trade route?

By Jack Dutton

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Joyce Karam and Ariane Tabatabai in conversation on the latest US-Iran memorandum of understanding

Deciphering the US-Iran deal: What comes next?

June 23, 2026