Why Israel is keeping a close eye on Iran’s parliamentary elections

Some Israeli security experts view the Iran nuclear deal and lifting of sanctions with cautious optimism, and consider upcoming elections a test case to see what path the Iranian people will choose.

Israel

Former Israeli minister calls removal of Iran sanctions a 'black day'

Former Minister Ephraim Sneh argues that the US administration was so keen to sign the nuclear deal that it ignored Iran's true nature and global aspirations.

Israel

Obama, Rouhani hail diplomacy as Americans fly home

President Barack Obama heralds his administration’s multichannel diplomacy with Iran for freeing detained Americans and implementing the nuclear deal and says there is an "opportunity" to pursue a new path with Iran.

Iran

Fed-up Iranian women organize to take more seats in parliament

Only 3% of incumbent Iranian members of parliament are female, but Iranian women are campaigning to drastically change the parliament's huge gender imbalance through the ballot box.

Iran

Syrian endgame could begin with Aleppo

Aleppo could begin healing in Syria; Syrian armed group backed by US allies seeks caliphate; FSA leader says US “moving toward being a partner in crime” in Syria; Hagel says US Syria policy was paralyzed over "Assad must go."

Syria

Iran frees five Americans as nuclear deal goes into effect

Iran has released five American prisoners including Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, in an apparent swap with Iranians jailed in the United States for sanctions violations.

Iran

Will US retaliate against Iran for detaining sailors?

The Obama administration has repeatedly challenged Iranian restrictions on freedom of navigation. Will that continue after the nuclear deal?

Iran

Why Sudan wants to stop the 'spread of Shiism'

In the past year, Sudan has joined the Saudi-led war in Yemen, shut down Iranian centers and finally cut diplomatic relations with Iran, but has Khartoum really turned pro-Saudi — or just anti-Shiite?

Saudi Arabia

Facing oil slump, Iran moves to tax its way out of crisis

Faced with plummeting oil revenues, the Iranian government is taking measures to make up the smaller amount of petrodollars coming in with increased tax revenue.

Iran

Iran deal implementation day ‘very, very soon’

Iran said it has taken a key final step to disable its plutonium reactor, making way for implementation of the Iran nuclear deal in the next few days.

Iran

Iran's hard-liners: Just say no to diplomacy

While diplomacy helped secure the release of US sailors held by Iran, some hard-liners believe the countries are becoming too close for comfort.

Iran

Iran-India energy cooperation opens new horizons

While the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline may sound the death knell to the Iran-Pakistan-India project, the Middle East to India Deepwater Pipeline may deliver Iranian gas to India through an undersea pipeline.

Oman