Analysis Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan The proposed framework faces major hurdles and fault lines, ranging from NATO constraints to Israeli opposition and weak military integration. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
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 By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Why Kerry is prioritizing Syria over Israeli-Palestinian peace Calming Israeli-Palestinian tensions is seen as limited mission as US Secretary of State John Kerry embarks on a new round of international diplomacy on Syria. Palestine
Why Iran doesn't want to stay in Yemen Despite hopes of expanded Iranian assistance, Yemen's Houthis are unlikely to receive the kind of help Tehran extends to Lebanon's Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia
As popularity rises, Iran tries to control Telegram messaging app Iranian authorities have asked Telegram messaging service to block "immoral" content. Russia
No breakthrough in Syria possible without Iran Russian foreign minister dismisses rumors of a deal on Assad ahead of Syria talks; Hezbollah takes casualties in Hama; Turkey’s headache over US support for Syrian Kurds; days of rage in Gaza. Palestine
Has Iran entered 'new era' of economic policies? Iran's supreme leader backs the establishment of a new paradigm of economic management and shuts the door to a resumption of past economic policies. Iran
Rouhani thanks Khamenei for nuke deal 'stamp of approval' In a letter, President Hassan Rouhani says the supreme leader's letter provided a "stamp of approval" for the nuclear deal, though others believe Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's "conditions" provide the antidote to a bad deal. Iran
Tehran tries to make its addicts go to rehab Iran's policy of forcibly transferring street addicts to government-run rehabilitation camps appears to falter. Iran
How will hajj stampede impact Iran-Saudi relations? The implications for Saudi-Iranian relations of the deadly hajj stampede, in which hundreds of Iranians were killed, appear far from over. Saudi Arabia
Can Iraq meet US, Russia halfway? As political forces have called for Russia to intervene in Iraq, as it has in Syria, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has been cautious about what steps to take regarding Russia and the United States. Iraq
What’s so special about Iran’s latest missile? Just days before the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 entered the implementation phase, Iran test-fired a new precision-guided ballistic missile. Iran
German FM: Iran, Saudi tensions strengthen terrorists Germany's foreign minister encourages Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to work to reduce Iran-Saudi tensions. Saudi Arabia
Iran's $40 million movie, is anyone watching it? The most costly film in the history of Iran's cinema has been on the silver screen for just over a month, but what do Iranian viewers think of it? Iran