Uptick in Chinese tankers transiting Hormuz amid Trump-Xi summit President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, a meeting closely watched in Iran. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump, Xi discuss Hormuz, but no Iran breakthrough expected Trump and Xi opened talks in Beijing with the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz high on the agenda, while Lebanon and Israel prepared for a new round of US-mediated negotiations. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Business & Tech Oil supply fears deepen as Hormuz traffic stays thin Trump meets Xi in Beijing as Gulf shipping disruptions, oil supply fears and Syria’s reconstruction efforts reshape the regional economy. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis Iran looms large over Trump’s China visit, but breakthrough unlikely Analysts say China is cautiously looking to de-escalate the US-Iran war while limiting its direct involvement. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump arrives in China with Iran war looming over talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Ahead of Trump-Xi summit, Iran looks to China as guarantor — but with reservations By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Billion dollar debt, heat wave push Iran to cut electricity to Iraq Iran has cut off electricity supplies to Iraq amid increased consumption during a hot spell and reports of massive accrued debt by Baghdad, sparking a wave of protests in central and southern Iraqi regions. Iraq
Why Putin won’t throw Iran under the bus in Syria Despite speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin may sacrifice Iran's interests in his upcoming summit with US President Donald Trump, Russian policy appears geared toward gaining concessions from the Americans without going beyond Iran’s red lines in Syria. Syria
Israel prepares for Assad’s return to the border Israeli security experts claim that the return of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Golan Heights is not necessarily bad news for Israel. Israel
How Trump is uniting Rouhani and Iran's Revolutionary Guards In a dramatic move, Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani has publicly praised Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over his toughened rhetoric against the United States and Israel. United States
Iranians outraged by Instagram dancer's forced confession In solidarity with arrested Instagram dancer Maedeh Hojabri, Iranians have begun to post their own videos dancing online. Iran
Can Russia deliver on Trump’s hope of ousting Iran from Syria? In the run-up to the Putin-Trump summit, Russia weighs a possible deal with the United States on Syria, but can it deliver on Washington's vision of an Iran-free Syria? Syria
Rouhani goes on offense against critics, shady interests and ‘culture of opacity’ Iranian president presses ahead with anti-corruption agenda in response to political dissent and widening protests. United States
Iranian women's movement pushes for more rights, at its own pace Faced with calls for radical change from abroad, Iran's activists for women’s rights keep pushing their own agenda at home at their own pace. Iran
Iranian media claim MEK member behind Paris terror plot Iran says the couple arrested in Belgium for an alleged bomb plot are members of the group they were attempting to bomb. Iran
5 reasons Rouhani’s rivals want him to stay put Despite loud calls for President Hassan Rouhani’s resignation, Iranian conservatives are unlikely to genuinely seek his ouster. Iran
Iran’s retaliation plans worry Israel Israel fears that Iran may target senior security officials on visits abroad, and thus is expected to approve security details for former premiers. Israel
Assad critic seizes chairmanship of key Iran parliament commission Far from a game of musical chairs, the shift in the leadership of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission is set to alter the stances of the body. Syria