Interview UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable' Abdulla Balalaa, UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, spoke to Al-Monitor about the situation in the Gulf along with the UAE's focus on promoting privatization in the water sector and the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Analysis What is Iran really willing to concede on its nuclear program? Iran’s current posture accepts short-term, reversible constraints while rejecting long-term limits on enrichment. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
'The reach is global': Pentagon vows pursuit of ships tied to Iran trade A top admiral said the US Navy will pursue any vessels "providing material support to Iran" anywhere in the world. United States
Sharaa distances Syria from Iran war, says Israel talks ongoing: What to know Negotiations with Israel "have not reached a dead end, but they are progressing with great difficulty” Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Syria
Analysis How long can Iran's economy weather US naval blockade? By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Pentagon denies US military to cut Iran’s land route into Syria The top commander of US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Syria denied his forces are preparing to cut the road from al-Qaim to Albukamal, pushing back on recent reports in Arabic-language media. Syria
US lawmakers question if Iranian 'intimidation effort' delaying seized oil transfer American shipping companies have reportedly been reluctant to offload Iranian oil from a tanker anchored off the coast of Texas. Iran
US says burden on Iran to de-escalate following prisoner deal Biden administration officials say they expect Iran to take de-escalatory steps and they'll continue to exercise a variety of options to deter any aggressive moves in the Persian Gulf region. Washington Connection
Lebanon’s Hezbollah makes show of force with tanks, armored vehicles as Israel tensions mount Hezbollah is facing growing resentment inside Lebanon with several parties accusing the group of dragging the country into an unwanted war with Israel. Lebanon
Confusion around US-Iran prisoner swap as Tehran puts out its own narrative Iran's official explanation of the prisoner swap agreement carried discrepancies with the one confirmed by the American side, most notably on how Tehran could potentially access and spend $6 billion in funds once unfrozen. Iran
US, Iraq defense chiefs discuss post-Islamic State strategy Congress has long sought answers as to how the Pentagon plans to prepare Iraq’s military forces to stand on their own after the defeat of the Islamic State. This week, the Biden administration took a first step. Iraq
Iran moves US prisoners to house arrest ahead of planned exchange Under a detainee deal negotiated between Washington and Tehran, several US citizens imprisoned in Iran have been transferred to house arrest in a step toward their full release. Iran
UAE president meets US national security adviser amid regional tensions National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s trip to Abu Dhabi comes amid US military maneuvers aimed at countering Iran in the Gulf. United Arab Emirates
Iran warns of more ship seizures in defiance of US Marines' Gulf deployment Tehran ratcheted up its rhetoric against Washington in the wake of fresh American reinforcement in the Persian Gulf, prompted by the Iranian "harassment" of international commercial ships there. Iran
Why is US sending 3,000 Navy, Marines force to Persian Gulf? The Pentagon has not yet specified the Marines' role in deterring Iran from interfering with commercial shipping and threatening neighboring Arab states. Iran
Iran’s foreign minister meets Japanese counterpart in rare Tokyo trip Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's visit to Japan comes amid mounting tensions in the region over Iran’s nuclear activities and attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf. Iran
Analysis Biden considers raising stakes for escalation with Iran in Gulf Iraq’s quiet may be misleading; Israel-Hezbollah tensions increase; Russia depends more on Iran than the reverse; Raisi visits Africa. By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti
