Archives for April, 2025

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

From Al-Azhar to Turkey: Middle East dignitaries gather for Pope Francis' funeral

Lebanon is sending President Joseph Aoun to Rome for the funeral, with Turkey, Iran and other states also dispatching officials.

NIKITA BORISSOV/AFP via Getty Images

Russia agrees to supply Iran with 55 bcm of gas, fund nuclear plant: What to know

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad is in Moscow this week, meeting with Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev on Friday.

LEESBURG, VIRGINIA - APRIL 24: U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Leesburg Executive Airport on April 24, 2025 in Leesburg, Virginia. Trump is attending the MAGA Inc. fundraiser dinner at Trump National Golf Club. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump willing to meet Iran's Khamenei but 'will be leading' war pack if no deal

In an interview with Time Magazine, President Donald Trump says he believes a deal with Iran can be reached via negotiations while expressing readiness for war in the event that it doesn't.

An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank is carried on the back of a trailer truck to be deployed near a watchtower of the UN-patrolled buffer zone's Quneitra checkpoint, separating Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, on March 2, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel doubts Syria breakthrough as Sharaa signals openness to Abraham Accords

Syria's new leader seems open to joining the Abraham Accords under 'certain conditions,' but Israelis remain skeptical about his true intentions and an emerging alliance with Turkey.

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

Jordanian King Abdullah II meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Analysis

Jordan Muslim Brotherhood ban setback for Islamists but holds risks for Amman

The populist Islamist movement had increasingly challenged the government since the start of the Gaza war.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Iraqi farmer Hadi Saheb says he is cultivating 20 times more land than before in the Najaf desert thanks to groundwater and a government initiative

Iraq farmers turn to groundwater to boost desert yield

Agence France-Presse

Tunisian security forces dismantle a makeshift camp for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa at El Amra on the outskirts of Sfax city

Tunisia burns migrant tents in latest clearance effort: AFP

Agence France-Presse

The Mycetoma Research Centre in the southern Khartoum district of Soba, on August 5, 2013

Sudan war destroys world's only research centre on skin disease mycetoma: director

Agence France-Presse

AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images

Russia, Turkey to hold talks as Moscow seeks to keep Syria military bases: What to know

The talks come after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa reiterated his openness to negotiating with Moscow over the future of Russian military bases in Syria.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is one of the most outspoken critics of Israel's military operations in Gaza

Spain scraps contested Israeli arms deal after uproar

Agence France-Presse

Palestinian medics search the rubble following Israeli strikes in Gaza City

Israel army warns of 'larger' Gaza assault as strikes kill 55

Agence France-Presse

Jeffrey Goldberg's reporting on Donald Trump has angered the US president

Trump announces interview with reporter in Signal chat scandal

Agence France-Presse

Demonstrators gather outside the thermal power station in Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province to demand the construction of a new station for their region, to allow the province to deal with the chronic power cuts and palliate electricity outage that weight on the daily life, on Sept. 4, 2024.

Exclusive

Turkey stops electricity sales to Iraq after Baghdad fails to settle $70M+ bill

Turkey halted electricity exports to Iraq over unpaid dues, straining ties as Baghdad faces a summer power crunch and unresolved Kurdish oil disputes.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa attends the closing ceremony of Syrian National Dialogue Conference at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria on Feb. 25, 2025.

Analysis

Why Syria’s Sharaa is hinting at Israel ties

Congressman Marlin Stutzman, who recently met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, said the Syrian leader told him he would “absolutely” be open to normalization with Israel if conditions are met.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Kurilla

Top US general visits Israel ahead of next round of US-Iran nuclear talks

The CENTCOM commander's latest visit comes as the Pentagon considers maintaining two aircraft carriers in the Middle East in case diplomatic overtures to rein in Iran's nuclear enrichment should fail.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog visits Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate victims of the Nazi death camp

Israel president says 'moral imperative' to bring home Gaza hostages

Agence France-Presse