Analysis Katz riles Iran, US as Netanyahu-Trump meeting raises questions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to settle for a brief meeting with President Donald Trump, while his defense minister, Israel Katz, appeared intent on provoking Iran by publicly disclosing sensitive intelligence. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to focus on Iran in his Tuesday meeting with President Donald Trump, while the US leader is more likely to want to discuss Lebanon and Syria. United States
Trump says Iran seeks talks after strikes halted An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the two sides have communicated only through intermediaries. Iran
Oil falls 9.5% in steepest drop in months as Iran, US pause attacks Iran says it is still in control of the Strait of Hormuz and not seeking to resume peace talks with the United States after President Donald Trump halted a two-week bombing campaign. Iran
Analysis Saudi nuclear deal adds new wrinkle if Iran talks resume By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Ahead of Trump meeting, Netanyahu lays groundwork for Israel to rejoin Iran war By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Islamic Jihad mulls military action to foil US peace plan As the United States gets closer to officially revealing details of its Middle East peace plan, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad says it and its allies are ready to do whatever is necessary to stop the lopsided deal. Palestine
Republicans rebuke Trump over Gulf arms sales Congress is going on offense against President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to arm Arab states. Saudi Arabia
Trump presses UAE on alleged human rights abuses in Yemen The Defense Department says in a new strategy that it has pressed the United Arab Emirates to investigate allegations of torture in Yemeni detention centers. Saudi Arabia
Trump, Pompeo give new priority to diplomacy with Iran While many see a shift in tone rather than substance, the diplomatic channel seems to be heating up. United States
Interview Sen. Van Hollen challenges Trump's bypass of Congress on Saudi Arabia, Iran In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen describes efforts to curtail the Trump administration’s Gulf policies. Chris Van Hollen US Senator from Maryland
New Israeli elections throw wrench in US peace plan With a new Israeli government unlikely to be formed until late October, as the US 2020 presidential campaign heats up, the Trump administration is increasingly unlikely to present the political component of its peace vision before a second term, analysts and diplomats said. Israel
Why Jordan is silent on Bahrain summit Jordan has yet to officially announce its position on the US-sponsored Bahrain economic conference that is to kick off the long-awaited US Middle East peace plan. Bahrain
Turkey squeezed between Russia, US in Syria Turkey, pressed between Russia and the United States, is headed toward a foreign policy crash in addition to an economic one. Syria
Congress forgoes Iran war restrictions to save anti-Assad bill In order to assure passage of a long-stalled Syria sanctions bill, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted down legislation restricting President Donald Trump’s ability to attack Iran. Syria
Contradictory moves to rescue Palestinian economy While the United States is pushing for an economic workshop to help Palestinians, the mood in Ramallah is defiant with ideas to build an alternative independent economy — a goal sought by the Shtayyeh government. Palestine
Iran, US trade tweets as talk of war dies down Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded to Donald Trump’s tweets in a sign that both sides want to reduce tension. United States
Why Saudi Arabia is focused on tensions with Iran The Saudis have called an Arab summit for May 30 in Mecca to likely brand Iran as a terrorist state, with the apparent hope that the United States will strike Iran. Legacy: Gulf
