Analysis How a new Baluch militant coalition raises pressure on Iran-Pakistan border Iran's military standoff with the US may be creating opportunities for Baluch groups to launch operations from the mountainous, sparsely populated frontier region with Pakistan. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Analysis As Iran regime marks 200 days of war, is it also preparing for dissent? Seven months into the war with the US, Iranian authorities staged a pro-government mobilization in Tehran, combining patriotic spectacle with a carefully calibrated demonstration aimed for domestic internal security capacity. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments The US government says the exchange was used to channel payments from an Iranian maritime-insurance scheme to the regime. Iran
China presses Iran, US to reopen Hormuz as disruptions threaten oil supply Conflicts in the region are disrupting two key routes for oil bound for China, with Iranian crude affected by the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi shipments facing growing risks in the Red Sea. Iran
Newsletter: Business & Tech Saudi oil squeeze deepens By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Exclusive Lacking deterrence, Israel’s security establishment opposes attacks on Houthis By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How far will Iran push Houthis against Saudi Arabia amid raging conflict? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Newsletter: FutureVerse Middle East confronts AI risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Kurdish referendum a double-edged sword for Russia Although Russia says it respects Iraqi Kurds' desire for self-determination, their independence is probably not in Russia's best interest. Iraq
Iran abandons hope for WTO accession Although many thought Iran might finally be able to join the World Trade Organization following the nuclear deal, the Islamic Repubic appears to have lost hope of becoming part of the influential body. Iran
Thousands turn out in Iran for burial of soldier beheaded by IS An Iranian soldier who was killed in Syria in August received a large public funeral in Iran. Iran
Palestinians react to opening of first US military base in Israel The Sept. 18 announcement of the establishment of the first permanent US-Israeli military base in the Negev desert, in southern Israel, is evidence of the strategic military cooperation between the Americans and Israelis. Palestine
Iran’s judiciary files lawsuit against Telegram founder Iran’s judiciary has filed a lawsuit against the Russian founder of the most popular messaging app in Iran. Iran
Iranian media say Barzani fixer for West, Israel Iranian officials accuse the West and Israel of being behind the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Iranians rail against Apple, Google over pulling of apps US tech giants Apple and Google have removed Iranian-developed apps from their online stores, sparking a backlash. United States
Netanyahu’s outdated Iran agenda Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu campaigns for the breakup of the Iran deal, ignoring the fact that a US withdrawal from the pact won’t be in Israel’s interest. Israel
Europeans: Trump can win on Iran without ending nuclear deal Envoys to Washington say trans-Atlantic cooperation against Tehran needs to build on the 2015 nuclear accord, not undermine it. United States
Can Iranian threat shield Netanyahu from police investigations? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a master at using his UN speeches to convince his Israeli electorate that he is the only person capable of defending the country from the Iranian threat. Israel
What's next after Kurdish independence vote? Millions in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region voted in today's independence referendum, despite threats by Iraq, Turkey, Iran and the United States. Iraq
Iran’s oil minister has big plans for likely last term Having begun yet another — and likely his last — term as Iran’s minister of petroleum, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh faces surmountable challenges in pushing the country’s energy sector into the 21st century. Iran