US hits major Russian bank VTB with Iran-linked sanctions State-controlled VTB becomes one of the most prominent global names yet caught up in Washington’s ongoing effort to squeeze Iran's economy. Iran
Third Sunni cleric killed in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan Province: What to know Iran says it is stepping up its crackdown on armed groups in the impoverished province as Sunni clerics have been reported killed there and in the predominantly Kurdish northwest. Iran
Analysis Saudi pipeline shutdown exposes shrinking global oil-supply buffers Oil prices have climbed to their highest since May as disruptions to flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the temporary shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline tighten global supply. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Oil tops $109 after Houthi strikes, Saudi pipeline shutdown The Houthi militia said on Monday that it fired dozens of drones and ballistic missiles at military targets in Saudi Arabia in retaliation for airstrikes by Riyadh in Yemen. Iran
Analysis As Houthis seize Bab el-Mandeb, Iran appraises value of new Red Sea card By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis Could Iran’s nuclear ambitions harden as war escalates? By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Iran’s Pickaxe mountain tests limits of Trump’s military options By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Zarif: Iran never pinned hopes on Europe Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Islamic Republic has not and will not pin its hopes on Europe to save the JCPOA and will focus instead on working with countries in the region. Iraq
Iraq fears bevy of levees will mean parched years ahead Although the water level is high this year in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Turkey's imminent filling of the Ilisu Dam reservoir is raising concerns about Iraq's water flow next year and for years to come. Iraq
Iranian MPs debate parliamentary elections at provincial level Iranian parliamentarians are debating legislation that could see parliamentary elections held at provincial levels, provided that the Guardian Council won’t strike down the idea yet again. Iran
Khamenei calls on Iran to learn from devastating floods As Iran continues to grapple with the devastating flooding that has ravaged the country, its supreme leader has urged officials to learn from the calamity. Iran
Pompeo blames Iran flooding on regime mismanagement, offers US help While the Trump administration said that it was prepared to help Iran following extensive flooding, at the same time it blamed the disaster on "regime mismanagement." United States
Controversial Iranian rapper reignites clash between Reformists, hard-liners An Iranian rapper's weed-smoking at a concert in Georgia has given Reformists another chance to attack rival conservatives, who once idolized the controversial singer. Iran
Separate and parallel: Why are Iranian conservatives creating ‘safe havens’? The Iranian state appears to be increasingly funneling its resources into preserving and satisfying its loyal base rather than toward all-out efforts to win the hearts and minds of the broader public and enforce ultraconservative practices. Iran
Iranian Red Crescent says US sanctions impeding flood relief The Iranian Red Crescent complained that US sanctions are impeding the collection of international aid to help its response to disastrous floods. Iran
5 obstacles to Khamenei’s call for ‘boost in domestic production’ While the Iranian supreme leader’s emphasis on domestic production in the face of external sanctions makes a certain amount of sense, the question is how such a strategy should be implemented — and in which sectors of the economy. Iran
Hamas leadership seeks to restore ties with Syria Hamas sees an opening to rebuild ties with Damascus. Palestine
Syria's Kurds increasingly isolated as Arab tribes cut deals with regime As Damascus recovers more territory, Arab tribes throughout Syria are increasingly open to working with Damascus to restore security. Syria
Iran continues to struggle to keep workers content The Iranian government, members of parliament, employers and labor activists have finally agreed on wage increases to alleviate the burden on workers. But much more remains to be done to shield Iranian workers from rising prices. Iran