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
Israel’s Shin Bet chief meets CIA director for talks on Palestinians, Iran Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar met in Washington with CIA chief William Burns over mutual concerns for the stability of the Palestinian Authority. Israel
Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE attend BRICS meeting in South Africa as bloc mulls expansion Iran, which has applied for observer status in BRICS, is finessing non-Western states to remedy its battered economy. Iran
Israel slams IAEA for closing two Iran nuclear sites probes Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign Ministry slammed the IAEA for caving into Iranian pressure and ending two probes on traces of enriched uranium found at the Fordo and Marivan sites. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
US not notified yet of UAE's withdrawal from Gulf maritime coalition The announcement that the UAE had withdrawn its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces coalition appears to be Abu Dhabi's latest signal to Washington that it wants serious dialogue on security guarantees. Legacy: Gulf
CENTCOM commander visits Israel, observes multifront war exercise Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla is on a wider tour of the Middle East as the Pentagon aims to build regional military capabilities to better deter attacks by Iran and its proxies. Israel
Why did Shamkhani, Iran's powerful national security chief, resign? Ali Shamkhani, the longstanding secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, has yielded his post to a prominent commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
Iran’s Khamenei hails thaw with Egypt, Saudi Arabia during Omani sultan visit The potential rapprochement falls within Tehran's hard-liners' recent push on the reset button in Iran's ties with Arab rivals to reposition itself in the regional power play, avert economic collapse and fight off international isolation. Iran
Iran-Pakistan cooperation complicated by sanctions, porous border Newly inaugurated power line and border marketplace mark progress, but sanctions hinder completion of long-delayed pipeline. Iran
Meet Gen. CQ Brown: US Air Force chief tapped to be Pentagon's top general Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown has pushed the Air Force to adapt in order to deter war with China while being ready to respond elsewhere in the world. Washington Connection
Israeli brass sounds alarm on Iran's readiness to launch nuclear attack Israeli officials are watching tensely as intelligence indicates Iran is working on the detonation mechanisms needed for a nuclear bomb. Israel
Iran tests ballistic missile with 1250-mile range, capable of hitting Israel The missile's declared range makes it capable of reaching Israel, which warned Tehran this week with military action over its ramped-up nuclear enrichment and regional activities. Iran
Sultan of Oman to make first visit to Iran amid regional thaw The visit comes amid Iran’s rapprochement with Saudi Arabia, and Oman's mediation between Egypt and Tehran. Oman
