US extends Russian oil sanctions waiver as Iran war squeezes supply The waiver temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian oil for 30 days. Iran
Oil swings as UAE nuclear plant strike, Iran diplomacy push roil markets International benchmark Brent crude futures whipsawed on Monday as markets digested a dangerous new escalation alongside signs of diplomatic progress. Iran
Iran confiscates assets of 129 alleged ‘traitors’ in West Azerbaijan province Iranian authorities have cracked down on people accused of collaborating with the US and Israel since the war erupted in February while fears of renewed fighting remain high amid stalled peace talks. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran revises proposal as Trump ramps up warnings Tehran revised its response to the US as Trump warned Iran to “get moving” after a strike on a UAE nuclear plant. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Pakistan’s six corridors offer Iran a trade lifeline, could outlast Hormuz crisis By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Analysis From hoarding to unemployment: Iran's economy buckles under US pressure By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis How the Iran war is exposing a growing Saudi-UAE divide By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Analysis ‘A reckless act’: Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran’s supreme leader voices pessimism about new talks with US Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expresses pessimism about the possibility of talks with the United States to lift non-nuclear sanctions. Iran
Iran maneuvers to capitalize on Qatar crisis Iran has so far cautiously stood with Qatar amid the Saudi-led confrontation with Doha, but there are indications of this caution's giving way to more assertive Iranian support. Legacy: Gulf
Erdogan tries to juggle Iran, Saudi Arabia amid Qatar crisis Retired diplomats say Erdogan’s Qatar policy is driven more by his survival instinct than a rational foreign policy and that Ankara has squandered an opportunity to play a positive role in this crisis. Saudi Arabia
Kurdish independence in Iraq will take more than a referendum The Kurdistan Regional Government has its work cut out for it to achieve an independent Kurdistan, as its plans would require the cooperation of some unlikely players. Saudi Arabia
Public fuss over KRG referendum gives way to private nods The regional players are buzzing after the Kurdistan Regional Government announced it will hold a referendum on independence, and signs point to tacit support from the United States and Turkey. Iraq
Second-term Rouhani likely to move closer to Russia Increasing multilateral and bilateral cooperation suggests that Iran and Russia may be on the path of eventually achieving a strategic partnership. Syria
Rouhani to domestic critics: Peace more daring than war After the first-ever attack by the Islamic State against Iran, President Hassan Rouhani will have a difficult time pushing for compromise with regional countries and reducing tensions. Iran
Mixed messages since US-Saudi-Islamic summit prove costly Is the United States missing an opportunity with Iran in the war against the Islamic State? Turkey, Hamas deal with fallout from Qatar dispute; Al-Monitor had the jump on “secret” US-Russia talks on Syria. Saudi Arabia
How Moscow-Riyadh rapport fits into the Mideast scene With all that’s going on in the Gulf right now, some players are re-examining their alliances and shoring up support. Saudi Arabia
Iran wakes up to Salafi recruitment in Kurdish regions Will the terrorist attacks in Tehran be a wake-up call about the rise of Salafism in Iranian Kurdistan? And will they be the beginning of a sectarian war at home? Iran
Road ahead unclear in aftermath of Tehran attacks After having thwarted numerous plots to strike Iran, the country has finally been hit by its first Islamic State attack; the question now is what Iran may do next. Saudi Arabia
Iran says IS attackers fought in Syria and Iraq Iranian authorities linked the Islamic State attackers to a larger cell whose leader was killed by security forces last year. Saudi Arabia
