Newsletter: Business & Tech Trump pivots from Hormuz tolls as US-Iran fighting resumes Oil prices remain far below their early May peak of nearly $115 a barrel, but the renewed hostilities have pushed them well above the roughly $70 level seen before the war. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Ahmadinejad denies alleged Mossad plot to install him as Iran leader: What to know The former president, who was a virulent critic of Israel while in office, was reportedly part of a Mossad plan to replace the current Iranian leadership. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Why Iran, US are drifting back to conflict Trump hosts Iraqi PM Zaidi; Bahrain sentences 3 to life in prison over ties to Iran's IRGC; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Interview Why Strait of Hormuz no longer rattles oil markets as much: IMF The fund's Middle East director, Jihad Azour, told Al-Monitor that the big Gulf energy producers now have more capacity to absorb the shock. Jihad Azour Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund
Analysis How UK's IRGC designation raises stakes for Iran and Europe By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
US hits back at Iran in Iraq as tensions rise The United States is targeting pro-Iranian politicians and militants in Iraq. Iraq
Source: Iran FM met Rand Paul to feel out possible US-Iran talks US Senator Rand Paul reportedly spoke with Iran's foreign minister this week with the president's permission, and some experts believe the quiet meeting could be the beginnings of an effort to negotiate. United States
While the world focuses on Iran, a tragedy is ‘unfolding before our eyes’ in Idlib Trump asks Putin to protect Idlib; Putin seeks options to capitalize on impasse in Syria safe zone talks; Russia wins on S-400 sale to Turkey. Syria
Intel: US drone shootdown sparks more Gulf tension US President Donald Trump said today that the United States destroyed an Iranian drone that came within 1,000 yards of an American vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Defense officials told CNN the drone was brought down today by electronic jamming. Iraq
Iran says seized tanker was smuggling oil Tensions in the Persian Gulf have increased once again after Iran claimed the ship it seized was smuggling oil. Iran
Iran says missiles remain 'nonnegotiable' and vows more nuclear deal breaches Iran has dismissed US claims that it is ready to negotiate its controversial missile program, as the country's supreme leader defiantly says more nuclear deal commitments will be breached. United States
Iraq plans to launch pipelines to export oil through Jordan, Syria Iraq plans to diversify its oil exports via new pipelines through Jordan and Syria. Iraq
EU, Iran try to stand ground against Trump’s sanctions The countries working to save the Iranian nuclear deal have various reasons for doing so, and one could be concern that US President Donald Trump’s unilateral decisions won’t stop with Tehran. United States
Trump’s defense pick calls for US-led pact to deter Iran Army Secretary Mark Esper, auditioning for the Pentagon’s top job Tuesday, called on allies to join the United States in fighting Iranian malfeasance in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu to pass Ben-Gurion in time served, but not in stature Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, and its incumbent prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who will soon break the record set by the former as the country's longest-serving premier, represent opposing worldviews and aspirations. Israel
Tehran courts Kurds as Washington amps up rhetoric against Iran Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and Iran are conducting talks in Oslo, in what some see as an Iranian bid to safeguard against Kurdish collaboration with the United States. Iraqi-Kurdistan
