Explainer Saudi FM concludes China visit amid Trump-MBS friction: What to know Saudi Arabia is still absorbing the war’s security fallout and is widening its circle by leaning more on Beijing as a diplomatic counterweight to Washington and as a partner that can engage Tehran. China
Analysis Why Iran's Pezeshkian is facing an uphill battle in postwar diplomacy As President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration advances dialogue with Washington, its fiercer contest is in the corridors of power within the Islamic Republic itself. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis For Israel, Lebanon deal 'historic' despite fears Hezbollah will rebuild While the deal with Lebanon allows the Israeli military to maintain a presence there, security experts warn that it also gives the weakened Hezbollah the time it needs to recover. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
3 IRGC members killed in twin attacks as Iran intensifies Kurdish crackdown At least three members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in separate armed attacks across Iran, including one in western Iran near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan, where authorities have intensified their crackdown on Kurdish groups. Iran
Analysis How competing visions over Hormuz strait threaten fragile Iran-US deal By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Can Trump secure release of all US hostages in Iran? Another prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States seems possible after two in just six months, but the previous exchanges have not generated any mutual trust. United States
Intel: Democrats condemn US broadcasting CEO’s Middle East purges after expanding office’s powers President Donald Trump’s new CEO of the US Agency for Global Media on Wednesday fired the heads of at least three of its outlets who collectively oversaw its Middle East and Iran coverage. The move sparked immediate condemnation from key Democrats despite their previous bipartisan support for expanding the CEO’s powers. Congress
Intel: European countries set to rebuke Iran at UN nuclear agency Iran is facing a formal rebuke by the United Kingdom, France and Germany at the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency for refusing to cooperate with the agency’s inspection of two sites believed to have housed nuclear research in the past. Iraq
Three Katyusha rockets land near Baghdad’s airport The Iraqi military said no one was injured or killed in the attack near Baghdad's airport late Monday. Iraq
Iran's Rouhani warns other countries against following US arms sanctions Iran has warned other countries of the United Nations Security Council to not go along with US plans to continue the arms embargo. United States
US, Iraq look to continue strategic dialogue in Washington next month Following an initial round of talks in Baghdad, Iraq and the United States have agreed to maintain and expand cooperation in various realms. Iraq
Parliament speaker opens new conservative era in Iranian politics Parliament Speaker Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf starts his new job at a time when Iran faces great challenges, with the conservatives set to dominate Iranian politics in the near future. Iran
Rocket hits Baghdad as US-Iraq dialogue set to launch In order to reorganize the relationship between the two countries in various aspects, Iraq and the United States are negotiating over a new strategic agreement. Iraq
Intel: Trump’s Iran policy coordinator previews additional prisoner talks President Donald Trump’s Iran policy coordinator hinted today at ongoing negotiations with Tehran to secure the release of additional American prisoners following the release of Navy veteran Michael White last week. United States
Report: Iran builds fake aircraft carrier for drills The Associated Press obtained photos of the mock warship at a time of heightened US-Iran tensions. United States
Rocket lands near Baghdad International Airport, no casualties No group has claimed responsibility for the attack Monday. Iraq
Intel: US sanctions Iran shipping line after humanitarian deferral ends The Donald Trump administration sanctioned an Iranian shipping line and its Chinese subsidiary today after a six-month humanitarian deferral period ended. Iran
