China, Russia veto scaled-back Hormuz resolution at UN Security Council The vote came hours before the US deadline for Iran to reopen the global chokepoint. Bahrain
Ukraine's Zelenskyy capitalizes on Iran war to ink security deal with Saudi Arabia Kyiv is using its domestic production of anti-drone technology and low-cost, AI-enabled interceptor drones to help Gulf states in countering Iranian drones. Saudi Arabia
Russia evacuates 160 staff from Iran's Bushehr plant: What to know The Kremlin says it is committed to maintaining energy cooperation with Iran amid strikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Iran
Analysis Unclear chains of command in Iran complicate Russia’s diplomatic play Multiple power centers in Tehran and the rising influence of the IRGC could complicate Moscow’s ties with Iran and its hopes of playing a mediating role in the conflict. By Anton Mardasov
Russian FM, Blinken discuss reviving Iran deal Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed prospects for resuming talks over the landmark nuclear deal, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. Iran
Intel: Turkey talks expanding defense ties with Russia, snubbing NATO Erdogan's boasting about future defense projects with Moscow comes after he failed to get a meeting with President Joe Biden in New York. Russia / Mideast
Putin, Erdogan hold closed-door summit in Sochi Few details were released about the substance of the relatively brief meeting, but progress on Syria will be difficult to achieve. Russia
Russia bombs Turkey's allies in Syria ahead of Putin-Erdogan summit Russian jets shelled a camp for the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army in Afrin, north of Aleppo, and intensified its airstrikes against the areas controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib ahead of the meeting between the Turkish and Russian presidents on Sept. 29. Syria
Syria to be key topic in Erdogan-Putin summit The Turkish and Russian presidents are expected to discuss Syria in Sochi, as well as Ukraine, anti-missile batteries and natural gas. Turkey
Iran's Raisi to meet Putin as states mull Taliban recognition In his first foreign visit as Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi will sit down with Russian and Pakistani leaders amid new regional dynamics triggered by the US departure from Afghanistan. Iran
Lebanese energy plan includes Syria A meeting of Jordanian, Egyptian, Lebanese and Syrian ministers seems to have cracked Syria's isolation. Jordan
The Takeaway: Iran nuclear diplomacy creeps forward in Moscow and Paris Also: Taliban’s success inspires Syrian jihadis; Russia’s delicate diplomacy in Syria and Turkey; Nile dam parley peters out; IDF snared in political rift; Egypt’s Avenue of the Sphinxes; and more … in only about 1,500 words. Iran
Humanitarian aid entering via conflict lines stirs controversy among Syrian opposition The Syrian opposition fears the cross-border humanitarian aid mechanism will be replaced by cross-line aid deliveries amid accusations leveled at Hayat Tahrir al-Sham of trying to normalize ties with the Syrian regime and its allies. Syria
Is Moscow using the S-400 against Turkey? Ankara denies the suggestion from Moscow that a second batch of S-400s is headed for Turkey and says it is an effort to stall Turkey’s talks with the United States and Europe. Turkey
Russian rebuke of Turkey for Crimea support highlights Ankara's delicate balancing act Turkey's support for Crimea also highlights the growing value of Ukraine and Crimea for Ankara. Turkey
Russian, UK envoys ignite fury in Iran with 'inappropriate' restaged photo A restaged version at the Russian Embassy in Tehran of the historic 1943 photo showing Soviet, American and British "Big Three" leaders at the then-Soviet Embassy angered many Iranians, who have historically seen the 1943 Tehran Conference as a bitter symbol of subordination to world powers. Iran
