Analysis ‘A reckless act’: Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit Just as UAE-Israeli relations were deepening through cooperation against Iran, the Israeli prime minister publicly embarrassed Abu Dhabi by revealing his March visit. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says removing Iran’s uranium is more about optics Trump downplays Iran uranium removal after China talks, the UAE moves to bypass Hormuz and Iraq ends months of political deadlock. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
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 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 By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Turkey touts Iranian support for PKK offensive Ankara claims it has Iran's support for the operation rolling out against the Kurdistan Workers Party in northern Iraq, but Tehran has yet to respond officially. Iraq
'Authorized protest venues' approved in aftermath of Iran protests The administration of President Hassan Rouhani approved a list of locations for what it brands as "authorized rallies" in Iran's capital, drawing mixed responses. Iran
Iranian nationalism grows amid rising US pressure The US administration and its regional allies' policies toward the Islamic Republic appear to be fueling a rise in nationalist sentiment in Iran. Syria
Syria's not waiting for peace to rebuild, and Iran wants to help There's a lot of talk about reconstructing Syria, but at the moment, Iran seems to be the only country actively working toward that end. Syria
Iran could become collateral damage of OPEC decision If OPEC decides this month to increase oil output, it will probably be the result of a simple economic decision and not any desire by Riyadh and Moscow to cater to the United States. Saudi Arabia
Iran highlights ‘multilateralism,’ warns North Korea in Shanghai summit Iran highlights the role of multilateralism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, while a Foreign Ministry official warns North Korea to "be careful" when it comes to a deal with the US. Iran
Did hard-liners dupe Reformists in struggle for Iran's parliament? While the Reformists again failed to win the speakership in the Iranian parliament, their maneuvering displayed a willingness, for better or for worse, to forge a partnership with the hard-liners. Iran
Iran faces new threat as Kurdish jihadis join IS in Afghanistan The rise of the Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan poses a new challenge for the Islamic Republic, as it is becoming a magnet for Iranian Kurdish recruits. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Congress seeks to insulate Oman from Yemen instability As the 3-year-old proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran continues to destabilize Yemen, Congress seeks to shore up security in neighboring Oman. Saudi Arabia
Iran ups pressure on other countries to keep nuclear deal alive Iran’s foreign minister penned a letter to his counterparts around the world to call for a united stance against US unilateralism. United States
How Iran's Telegram ban will kill jobs The move by the Iranian authorities to ban Telegram impacts not just access to information but also top political priorities such as job creation. Iran
Russia finds navigating new development tricky in Syria Syria is slowly being seen less as a military liability and more as an investment opportunity, though there are still many potential challenges. Syria