Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

The Takeaway: Does Raisi sink prospects for an Iran nuclear deal?

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi is pictured during his first press conference since his election on the weekend in Tehran, on June 21, 2021.

Andrew Parasiliti, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Joe Snell | Iran | Aug 5, 2021

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about refugee programs for Afghans who aided the United States, during a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 2, 2021, in Washington, DC.

Ankara unsettled by role in US program to relocate Afghans

Diego Cupolo | Turkey | Aug 4, 2021

UN says Lebanese, Syrians still suffer from Beirut explosion one year later

Adam Lucente | Aug 3, 2021

US believes Iranians seized oil tanker off UAE coast

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Aug 4, 2021

Turkish inflation climbs to two-year high, likely delaying interest rate cut

Diego Cupolo | Turkey | Aug 3, 2021

Family power grab in Iraqi Kurdistan raises fears of intra-Kurdish violence

Members of the Cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) headed by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani pose for a photograph in Erbil.

Amberin Zaman | Iraq | Aug 4, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

Saudis see agreement with US on 90% of issues in region, says Stephen Kalin

On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Aug 2, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

Meretz legislator Gaby Lasky: Israel's ruling coalition divided ideologically, but united on bettering citizens’ lives

On Israel with Ben Caspit | Aug 2, 2021

Insights

Exclusive insight and analysis from our trusted and independent authors writing from and about the region.

Mansour Abbas (L), head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party, attends a Knesset (Parliament) meeting in Jerusalem on July 7, 2021, during which Israeli President-elect Yitzhak Herzog will swear allegiance.

Will only Arab party in Israel’s ruling coalition provide blueprint for others?

Botrus Mansour | Israel | Aug 5, 2021

Iran calls Gulf of Oman accusations 'psychological warfare'

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Aug 4, 2021

Egypt touts climate, flood control initiatives in Africa outreach

George Mikhail | Egypt | Aug 4, 2021

Egypt announces four-point plan to mitigate possible water crisis

Rasha Mahmoud | Egypt | Aug 4, 2021

Syrian government forces clash with opposition in Daraa

Sultan al-Kanj | Syria | Aug 4, 2021

Yemen's Houthis blow up homes after losing control in Al-Bayda, Marib

Naseh Shaker | Gulf | Aug 4, 2021

Explosion on bus carrying soldiers in Damascus kills one

Al-Monitor Staff | Aug 4, 2021

News

Quick reporting to keep you up to date on the latest events in the Middle East.

Israeli soldiers are positioned near the northern Israeli settlement of Shtula along the border with Lebanon, on May 19, 2021.

Two rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Aug 4, 2021

US state of Florida blacklists Ben & Jerry's

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Aug 4, 2021

Blinken vows ‘collective response’ for ship attack blamed on Iran

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Aug 2, 2021

Saudi Aramco denies rumors it will produce bitcoins

Al-Monitor Staff | Gulf Pulse | Aug 2, 2021

Qatari, Italian athletes praised for sharing gold medal at Olympics

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Aug 2, 2021

Israeli gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat can't get married in own country

Adam Lucente | News Brief | Aug 2, 2021

UK, Romania summon Iranian ambassadors over ship attack

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Aug 2, 2021

Saudi judoka earns praise for facing Israeli opponent at Tokyo Olympics

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 30, 2021

Palestinian protestors clash with Israeli forces the funeral of a 20-year-old Palestinian, in the village of Beit Ummar, north of the West Bank City of Hebron, on July 30, 2021.

Palestinian killed by Israeli troops during funeral of boy shot by IDF

Al-Monitor Staff | Palestine | Jul 30, 2021

Tunisia's president names new interior minister as critics slam 'coup'

Al-Monitor Staff | Tunisia | Jul 30, 2021

Poll finds Americans split on Biden's handling of Gaza war

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 30, 2021

Forest fires rage in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey

Al-Monitor Staff | Lebanon | Jul 30, 2021

Culture

A vibrant tapestry of art, culture, music, food and history that fosters a sense of regional shared identities.

Egypt plans another Pharaonic parade, this time in Luxor

Salwa Samir | Culture | Jul 18, 2021

Remains of an early whale from 40-million years ago lies on the desert pavement of Wadi El-Hutan, 100 kilometers south of Cairo. About 400 skeletons of ancient water life: mammals, reptiles have been identified in what used to be an ancient shoreline.

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Alaa Omran | Culture | Jun 16, 2021

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Shahira Amin | Culture | Jun 13, 2021

Videos

Explore social and cultural context of the Middle East as seen, experienced and understood by those who live there.

Find all of our videos on YouTube and subscribe to our channel for the latest.

The Takeaway: Does Raisi sink prospects for an Iran nuclear deal?

Ankara unsettled by role in US program to relocate Afghans

UN says Lebanese, Syrians still suffer from Beirut explosion one year later

US believes Iranians seized oil tanker off UAE coast

Turkish inflation climbs to two-year high, likely delaying interest rate cut

Family power grab in Iraqi Kurdistan raises fears of intra-Kurdish violence

Pope Francis expresses desire to visit Lebanon

Germany detains Syrian man accused of Yarmouk grenade attack

Despite loss, Israel’s Olympic baseball team wins big in Tokyo

Pentagon doesn't rule out response for Gulf shipping attack

FEATURED PODCAST

Saudis see agreement with US on 90% of issues in region, says Stephen Kalin

FEATURED PODCAST

Meretz legislator Gaby Lasky: Israel's ruling coalition divided ideologically, but united on bettering citizens’ lives

Insights

Will only Arab party in Israel’s ruling coalition provide blueprint for others?

Iran calls Gulf of Oman accusations 'psychological warfare'

Egypt touts climate, flood control initiatives in Africa outreach

Egypt announces four-point plan to mitigate possible water crisis

Syrian government forces clash with opposition in Daraa

Yemen's Houthis blow up homes after losing control in Al-Bayda, Marib

Explosion on bus carrying soldiers in Damascus kills one

News

Two rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel

US state of Florida blacklists Ben & Jerry's

Blinken vows ‘collective response’ for ship attack blamed on Iran

Saudi Aramco denies rumors it will produce bitcoins

Qatari, Italian athletes praised for sharing gold medal at Olympics

Israeli gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat can't get married in own country

UK, Romania summon Iranian ambassadors over ship attack

Saudi judoka earns praise for facing Israeli opponent at Tokyo Olympics

Palestinian killed by Israeli troops during funeral of boy shot by IDF

Tunisia's president names new interior minister as critics slam 'coup'

Poll finds Americans split on Biden's handling of Gaza war

Forest fires rage in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey

Culture

Egypt plans another Pharaonic parade, this time in Luxor

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Videos

The Takeaway by Al-Monitor for July 21, 2021

Fire at Nasiriyah coronavirus hospital

Middle East Minute for July 16, 2021

The Takeaway for July 14, 2021

Turkish airstrikes ignite Assyrian lands, villagers organize firefighting response

Middle East Minute for July 9, 2021