Analysis Araghchi’s Russia, regional tour tests path to breaking US-Iran deadlock Iranian officials say dialogue remains open, but negotiations are clouded by intensifying hard-line domestic messaging and conflicting signals over Tehran’s red lines. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
IEA delivers grim gas supply forecast as oil notches 15% weekly rise A wave of new LNG supplies will be delayed for at least two years due to war-related damage to Qatari energy infrastructure, according the International Energy Agency's latest market update. Qatar
Why did the Met Opera lose its Saudi funding deal? The deal, announced as a nonbinding memorandum of understanding last September, would have seen the PIF inject up to $200 million into the opera institution over the next eight years. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps Some Israelis worry the US president might force them to accept an unsatisfactory agreement driven by his inability to secure a tangible achievement in Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
How sanctions helped Iranian tech industry The sanctions both hurt and helped Iran’s high-tech industry. Iran
Why are Reformists criticizing Rafsanjani? Rafsanjani's criticism of the Guardian Council has brought about the criticism of two Reformist political figures in Iran. Iran
Selfies in Syria: How one Iranian religious singer is showing his support for fighters A famous Iranian religious singer who has a close relationship with Iran's hard-liners, says he did not intend for his controversial pictures in Syria to be published. Saudi Arabia
Qatar's precarious position between Saudi Arabia, Iran The recent decline in Saudi-Iranian relations has put GCC members in a bind, in particular Qatar, which for years has tried to maintain diplomatic and economic ties with Iran. Saudi Arabia
Will Saudi's cut to trade with Iran really matter? Saudi Arabia’s cutting of commercial ties with Iran appears to be having a far smaller impact than Riyadh’s parallel severing of diplomatic relations with Tehran. Saudi Arabia
New poll says Iranians like Zarif, dislike US A University of Maryland telephone survey of Iranians finds they like their president and foreign minister and are hopeful that the nuclear deal will provide economic rewards. Syria
Rafsanjani to Guardian Council: Who are you to judge? Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has stirred controversy in Iran over his defense of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's grandson, who was disqualified to run in the elections. Iran
You won't believe what this Saudi blogger has to say about Iran The Iranian-Saudi freeze claims collateral damage as a popular Saudi blogger studying in Tehran can’t go back to finish her degree. Saudi Arabia
Iran rewards IRGC leaders who captured US sailors Commanders of the IRGC received Iran's highest military medal for the detention of 10 US sailors. Iran
How one messaging app is changing Iranian media While news shared on Telegram allows Iranians to bypass restrictions and censorship faced by licensed Iranian media outlets, the impact of the smartphone app may not be entirely positive for Iranian society. Iran
Hezbollah's pick for president of Lebanon It seems Hezbollah is not giving up on Christian parliament member Michel Aoun’s candidacy for the Lebanese presidential elections, especially since Aoun now has the support of another major Christian leader in Lebanon, Samir Geagea. Saudi Arabia
Congress eyes Syrian refugee threat — from Canada A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Feb. 1. Israel