Analysis How far will Iran push Houthis against Saudi Arabia amid raging conflict? As Iran-backed Houthis broaden attacks on Saudi Arabia, Tehran's delicate calculation is exploiting the current conflict without being dragged into an escalation of its own making. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Newsletter: FutureVerse Middle East confronts AI risks In the Middle East, governments are pouring billions into AI ambitions as Anthropic’s own Claude chatbot comes under scrutiny for creating national security risks. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Why Saudi Arabia's balancing act with US, Iran, Houthis risks collapse Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Tuesday, triggering alerts around the holy city of Mecca, Taif and the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Exclusive Houthi top diplomat says no intention to shut down Red Sea shipping, group open to talks In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Acting Foreign Minister of the Houthi-led administration Abdulwahid Abu Ras said concerns over a potential closure of the Red Sea are being fueled by Saudi Arabia. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis Saudi pipeline shutdown exposes shrinking global oil-supply buffers By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Iran FM: Trump ‘repeating the same mistakes’ Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Donald Trump administration is repeating the same mistakes that led to the US invasion and occupation of Iraq and growing chaos and instability in the Middle East. Iraq
Iran launches missile, drone attacks on militants in Syria Using missiles and armed drones, Iran said it sought to send a message to terrorist groups and their sponsors. Syria
How the Rouhani administration can contain excess liquidity In the absence of genuine reforms that will allow the adoption of more prudent fiscal, monetary and foreign currency policies, the Iranian economy will remain structurally crisis-ridden. Iran
Zarif: US 'obsession' with Iran is backfiring everywhere In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed several topics from this week's UN General Assembly session. United States
Will Shiite militias become Iraq’s Basij? The Popular Mobilization Units are expanding their presence in the strategic city of Basra by forming a Voluntary Reserves force, similar to the Iranian Basij forces. Iraq
Netanyahu masters another show-and-tell at the UNGA Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed in a speech at the UN General Assembly meeting that he continues to lead a multiple-front campaign against Iran, and with intense squabbling among the leadership in Tehran, Israeli leaders sense that victory is near and possible. Israel
Iran's metal bands inch toward acceptance Metal musicians in Iran have achieved several breakthroughs in the past three years, but they still have a long and uncertain way to go. Iran
Hamas raises eyebrows with condolences to Iran Hamas offered its condolences to Iran after an attack on a military parade killed dozens of people, including members of the Revolutionary Guard, and some see the gesture as an attempt to cozy up to the Islamic Republic. Palestine
Iranian civic rights activists challenge authorities with hunger strikes Iranian authorities are increasingly challenged by a wave of hunger strikes conducted by civic rather than political activists. Iran
Intel: Congress wants to sanction Iran’s allies in Iraq. Here’s why the State Department thinks it’s a bad idea. Iraq
How Rouhani may be destroying his own Moderation camp If Iran’s president continues to focus on his future rather than the present, his continued failure to fulfill his campaign promises is likely to herald the end of his political career. Iran