China's Xi to visit Egypt for first time in decade as military, Huawei ties grow The visit comes as Chinese telecoms giant Huawei seeks to supply more than 2,000 advanced AI chips for Egyptian government data centers. Egypt
China warns US not to interfere with Iran trade: What to know China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing was firmly opposed to what it called “illegal unilateral sanctions” and would take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its rights. Iran
Newsletter: FutureVerse Economic D-day’s tech risks Digital assets and technology are explicitly among five critical sectors now facing the risk of secondary sanctions. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
China holds second air drill with Egypt: What to know China is seeking to strengthen ties with Egypt and Gulf states, including via joint air drills. Egypt
Iran defense chief visits China, first trip after war with Israel: What to know While Iran and China maintain a deepening military and economic partnership, Beijing offered only rhetorical support during Iran’s 12-day war with Israel. China
Turkey's Fidan holds call with China FM as Iran-Israel ceasefire reached The two top diplomats also discussed bilateral ties as well as the situation in Gaza. Turkey
Analysis Looking East: How Iran is leveraging Asia ties to offset Western pressure With sanctions still in place and nuclear talks stalled, Iran is using its SCO membership to forge economic and strategic ties across Central and South Asia. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Analysis As US nuclear talks stall, Iran ups military planning, turns to China for missile fuel Amid uncertainties in the recent US-Iran nuclear diplomacy, Tehran is gearing up for a showdown with Israel, reportedly rebuilding its missile capabilities and threatening Israel with a devastating response. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
China expands visa-free policy to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait During a landmark summit in Malaysia, China announced an exemption for nationals from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait from the need for entry visas. China
Gulf states court China, ASEAN at landmark Malaysia summit: What to know The Gulf Cooperation Council’s summit with the Southeast Asia bloc was expanded to include China, bringing the emir of Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat to Malaysia. Qatar
Newsletter: China-Middle East Meet Iran's new ambassador to China This week, the Islamic Republic announced the appointment of Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli as its new ambassador to Beijing. Who is Fazli? What does the appointment mean for the Iran-China relationship? By Joyce Karam
Who is Iran’s new ambassador to China? Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli served in various capacities during both administrations of President Hassan Rouhani in a career marred with the brutal crackdown against the 2019 protests. Iran
China expands foothold in Egypt’s Suez with $17M garment deals China has signed more than a billion dollars' worth of deals in the Suez Canal Economic Zone this year as the waterway reels from the Red Sea crisis. Egypt
Newsletter: China-Middle East Mixed bag for China from Trump’s Gulf tour Although during President Trump's regional tour there have been no major breakthroughs, new avenues for AI cooperation between US companies and Gulf partners will be causing some uneasiness in Beijing. By Joyce Karam
Analysis Symbolism or strategy? Inside Egypt, China’s first joint air exercise China’s first air drills in Egypt project power near critical trade routes, while Cairo maneuvers between Western military ties and Beijing’s growing defense diplomacy. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance