Why US strikes on Iran rail bridge signal shift in Hormuz conflict A US missile strike on the railway bridge linking Iran to Central and East Asia suggests the White House is once again flirting with politically coercive tactics after the June agreement failed to halt Iran's attacks on Hormuz shipping. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran hits Gulf, warns Hormuz will reopen on its terms Lebanese president meets US envoy; Russia eyes Tartous logistics hub in Syria; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Lebanon's Aoun to meet Trump in first presidential summit in US since 2009 The visit by the Lebanese head of state will coincide with ongoing US-sponsored Lebanon-Israel talks. Lebanon
Oil soars more than 6% as Trump rules out Iran deal, threatens more strikes Oil prices had been recovering following a memorandum of understanding signed last month to end the war, but they rose by more than 6% early on Wednesday. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Iran deal is ‘over’ By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
After Syria, Pentagon ramps up electronic warfare efforts A new team at the US Defense Department is addressing the growing Russian threat to American military technology after Moscow's jamming complicated the Syrian battlefield. Russia
Pro-Iran events fizzle as Iraqis steer clear of regional drama Iraqis are making it clear that they want no part in the regional conflict surrounding Iran while their leaders offer mediation to avoid war. Iraq
Iraq’s oil sector caught in crossfire between US, Iran US-Iran tensions have hit Iraq's oil industry, with ExxonMobil announcing an evacuation of its staff in Iraq to Dubai. Iraq
Why Khamenei’s 'no' on talks with US could lead to 'yes' Expect chatter of Iran-US dialog to pick up in the coming weeks, even though Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he adamantly refuses to negotiate with the Trump administration. Saudi Arabia
New Israeli elections throw wrench in US peace plan With a new Israeli government unlikely to be formed until late October, as the US 2020 presidential campaign heats up, the Trump administration is increasingly unlikely to present the political component of its peace vision before a second term, analysts and diplomats said. Israel
Saudi Arabia’s new 'freedom' gas Saudi Arabia has partnered with a US company to export LNG from Texas, and is looking for more LNG deals. Saudi Arabia
Pentagon fears China’s growth in Middle East arms market The Donald Trump administration is worried that China is capturing a larger role in a Middle East arms market that the United States has traditionally dominated. United States
Intel: Why Russia is teaming up with China against US peace plan Russia officially rejected participation in next month’s US-sponsored peace summit in Bahrain, a day after Chinese ambassador to Palestine Guo Wei announced that Beijing and Moscow had struck a deal to boycott it. Russia
Egypt boosts ties with Gulf countries amid Iranian threats Egypt has expressed concerns over the growing Iranian threats in the region, fearing it might affect navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Saudi Arabia
Why Jordan is silent on Bahrain summit Jordan has yet to officially announce its position on the US-sponsored Bahrain economic conference that is to kick off the long-awaited US Middle East peace plan. Bahrain
US 'maximum pressure' changing Iranian attitudes toward nuclear program Amid rising anti-Americanism in Iran, attitudes are hardening, even among moderate elites, with some now espousing the use of the nuclear program as a deterrent. United States
Palestinian Authority gearing up for unrest amid financial crisis Israel has approved the transfer of light armored military vehicles to the West Bank amid fears of the Palestinian Authority's economic collapse. Palestine