Iran currency dips to new low of 1.2M per dollar as sanctions bite: What to know Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, the rial has plummeted. Iran
Analysis Trump’s Muslim Brotherhood move rekindles US debate over Islamist movement The executive order targeting Muslim Brotherhood chapters comes after President Trump weighed designating the entire movement in his first term. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Syria signs deals with ConocoPhillips, Novaterra Energy: What to know Syria signed a memorandum of understanding with US energy companies ConocoPhillips and Novaterra Energy to develop and explore gas fields as Damascus works to revive the country’s battered natural gas sector. Syria
Trump buys time with Syria sanctions waiver as Congress wrestles over repeal Before his Oval Office visit, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with a key lawmaker whose support is needed to repeal the Caesar Act. Syria
Analysis Sharaa in Washington: Can US charm offensive boost Syria’s reconstruction? By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Feature Families of Americans missing in Syria urge Caesar sanctions relief By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
US aircraft carrier returns to Middle East as Suez Canal opens The USS Eisenhower arrives in the Gulf region as the Biden administration kicks off indirect talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Iran
Iran: no direct or indirect talks with US officials in Vienna Heading into talks in Vienna on the JCPOA, Tehran maintains its position that Washington must remove sanctions first. Iran
Will Iran’s supreme leader allow Rouhani’s last wish to come true? As Washington and Tehran make small progress on resolving their dispute over the 2015 nuclear deal, it remains unclear whether Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will support President Hassan Rouhani's efforts to negotiate. Iran
Iran, China sign long-term economic deal The deal between Iran and China is more of a “road map” than a specific deal. Iran
Iran begins phase one of domestic vaccine production Iran says it has begun the first phase of production for a domestic coronavirus vaccine. Iran
EU: No Syria reconstruction aid until Assad leaves Josep Borrell marked the 10th anniversary of Syria's civil war by doubling down on US-led policy to isolate Assad Syria
Iran says there have been no secret talks with US Iran says the United States must correct its path to return to nuclear deal. Originals
Lebanon's Salameh threatens to sue Bloomberg over sanctions report Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the United States is considering sanctions on Lebanon’s central bank chief, Riad Salameh. Business
Iran criticizes IAEA censure from European countries Iran says the plan by some European countries to censure Iran at the IAEA will have a negative effect on nuclear negotiations. Iran
UN’s highest court to hear Iran sanctions case against US The Hague-based International Court of Justice will consider an Iranian lawsuit filed after the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed economic sanctions. Iran
Erdogan calls for 'positive steps' with Biden on F-35 program The Turkish president called Turkey's suspension from the F-35 program a "serious wrong" from a NATO ally. Turkey
US labels deputy head of Iraq’s PMU a terrorist The United States accused Abu Fadak of involvement in kidnappings and of attempting to align Iraq's security institution's with Iran's foreign policy. Iraq