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Politics & Security

Turkey's servicemen stand at attention on a Turkish submarine as they participate in the live-fire phase of the Blue Homeland 2026 tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.

Turkey to begin surveys for planned northern Cyprus gas pipeline

The planned 63-mile link is intended to supply gas for electricity generation but has drawn condemnation from the Republic of Cyprus amid rising rivalries in the eastern Mediterranean.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) welcomes Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia during an arrival ceremony at the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the crown prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

US, Saudi Arabia sign landmark nuclear power agreement

The multibillion-dollar agreement will now undergo congressional review, with expected provisions on uranium enrichment likely to draw scrutiny from some lawmakers.

US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands as they arrive to speak to journalists during a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 29, 2025.

Israel fears US deal would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium

Israel fears the US-Saudi civilian nuclear deal could pave the way for uranium enrichment not only by the Saudis but also by other countries in the region.

Latest News

Explainer

Why US-Saudi nuclear deal could encounter hurdles in Congress

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (2nd L) is escorted by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) through Statuary Hall as they head to a meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Analysis

Why Mamdani concluded he can’t arrest Israel’s PM Netanyahu

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a primary-night watch party for NYC Congressional candidate Claire Valdez at 99 Scott Studio on June 23, 2026 in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

US, Saudi Arabia set to sign nuclear agreement: What to know

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Is China playing long game against dollar in Middle East?

Chinese spokesperson says "the internationalization of the [yuan] is a natural process, and the goal is not to replace the dollar or other international currencies."

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L), Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (C) and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (R) in Beijing on April 6, 2023. - SPA

Iran media hails thaw with Saudi Arabia as top diplomats meet in China

Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers met in Beijing on Thursday as China's role expands in the Middle East.

Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers in China

Iran, Saudi Arabia FMs meet in China, agree to expand ties

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have agreed to reinstate diplomatic offices and resume flights between the two countries.

Smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City as Israel launches air strikes in Gaza

Israel launches airstrikes in Lebanon, Gaza following rocket attacks

In the most serious escalation since 2006, Israel has carried out airstrikes inside Lebanon following a barrage of rockets that was launched from southern Lebanon earlier in the day.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd-L) meets with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2nd-R) at Great Hall of the People on March 17, 2017 in Beijing, China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, King Salman Bin Abdul-Aaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pay a state visit to China from March 15 to 18, 2017. (Photo by Lintao Zhang - Pool/Getty Images)

China's emergence as Saudi-Iran broker signals multipolar diplomacy in Middle East

As China hosts on Thursday the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers in Beijing, the Gulf states have an opportunity to capitalize on its growing role.

Flags of Arab League nations are set up at the convention center slated to host the league's Heads of State summit, in Algeria capital Algiers, on October 30, 2022. - Arab leaders are to meet in the Algerian capital on November 1 for their first summit since a string of normalisation deals with Israel that have divided the region. (Photo by Fethi Belaid / AFP) (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

US softens rhetoric on Arab outreach to Syria’s Assad

The Biden administration says "real steps to improve the situation for the people in Syria" should be part of any engagement with the long-boycotted regime.

Turkish soldiers walk past a destroyed building in Hatay, on Feb. 11, 2023.

Turkey’s earthquake victims face torture and abuse by security forces, rights groups say

The lack of government oversight in areas destroyed by the earthquakes has only worsened the abuse committed by security forces.

Pedestrians walk past a political mural at Palestine Square in the Iranian capital Tehran on September 7, 2019. - Iran said Saturday it has fired up advanced centrifuges to boost its enriched uranium stockpiles, in the latest scaling back of commitments under a crumbling 2015 nuclear deal. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran rules out interim nuclear deal

Iranian official dismisses talk of a "less for less" deal as "the outcome of some think tank brainstorming."

This picture taken on Jan. 26, 2019, shows journalists filming outside the departure lounge and control tower of Sulaimaniyah International Airport.

Turkey shuts airspace to Sulaimaniyah flights, citing Kurdish militants

The move is likely retaliation against ties between Kurdish militants and the Iraqi Kurdish Patriotic Union Party.

Saudi-Iran-China

China to host Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers as detente moves forward

The Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers are meeting in Beijing on Thursday to advance the deal announced last month to restore ties between the two countries.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli forces storm Al-Aqsa, arrest over 300 as clashes resume with Hamas

Violent clashes at the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound led to heavy rocket fire overnight from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli localities.

Ali Shamkhani with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed

Iran appoints first ambassador to UAE in 8 years as Gulf thaw continues

Reza Ameri previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Algeria, Sudan and Eritrea.