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
Trump hosts Iraqi PM Zaidi as Iran war intensifies President Donald Trump emphasized Iraq’s “tremendous oil reserves” and possible deals with US companies. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran strikes tankers, US bases as Gulf conflict escalates Lebanon, Israel hold talks in Rome; Iraqi PM Zaidi to meet Trump; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis On first foreign trip, Iraqi PM Zaidi woos Trump but Iran casts long shadow Iraq's new prime minister is in Washington promising business deals and closer ties with the United States, but convincing the Trump administration he can rein in Iran-backed militias may prove his toughest challenge. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Can a UAE-backed Syria-Iraq corridor become Gulf's next trade route? By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Qatar says no direct Iran-US talks in Doha By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Iraqi PM’s anti-corruption drive comes as US pressure mounts on Iran-backed militias By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Saudi Arabia Vies For Influence in Iraq Riyadh has reached out to tribal sheikhs in southern Iraq in what some see as a continuation of the ongoing Saudi-Iranian competition for influence in the region. Saudi Arabia
Clerics Play Crucial Role In Iraq’s Sectarian Conflict As sectarian violence continues to plague Iraq, the government must focus on bringing together Sunni and Shiite preachers to reconcile their views and calm the tension among their followers. Iraq
Iraqi Youth Strike Balance Between Conservatism, Modernity Iraqi youths have eagerly embraced aspects of Western culture and style while remaining committed to the rituals and teachings of their religious traditions. Iraq
Iran Looks to Iraq for Syria Support Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Qods Force, has been seeking assistance from Iraqi Shiite forces to provide support to the Syrian regime but without much apparent success. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Minister Addresses Syria, Refugee Crisis An exclusive interview with Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq. Iraq
Iraq’s Faw Port Project Faces Continued Setbacks Iraq’s Grand Faw Port, planned to be one of the largest maritime ports in the gulf region, has been stalled due to political disputes. Iraq
Iraqi Women Victimized By Tribal Marriage Customs In patriarchal and tribal Iraq, thousands of women are forced into unwanted marriages with little to no legal recourse. Iraq
New Iraqi Protest Movement Targets Corrruption Overall dissatisfaction with the Iraqi government promises to overcome sectarian, ethnic and political rifts and pave the way for the emergence of a potentially effective protest movement. Iraq
KDP May Run Alone In Iraqi Kurdistan Elections The two major parties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have shared power since 2005, but some believe that President Massoud Barzani and his party are planning to go it alone following upcoming parliamentary elections. Iraq
Iraqi Sheikh Faces Divisions Within Sunni Community Sheikh Abdul-Malik al-Saadi seeks to balance support for protests with opposition to a Sunni federal region in Iraq. Iraq
Middle East Alliances More Tangled Than Ever The alliances of regional countries are based on seemingly contradictory interests. Iraq
Traumatic Memories Mar Baghdad Neighborhoods Violence and terrorism have left many Iraqis with post-traumatic stress associated with specific areas of Baghdad they continue to associate with a violent event. Iraq