Trump faces three paths ahead in Iran war as Hormuz standoff intensifies As the Hormuz standoff intensifies, Trump must choose between military escalation, a limited diplomatic deal, or continuing a pressure campaign against Iran. Iran
In defiant message, Iran’s Khamenei threatens US but appeals to Gulf The address was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s third since coming to power and included a pledge to rid the Gulf of the US. Iran
US blockade tests Iran's limits, but will global pain force Trump’s hand? President Trump is doubling down on economic warfare against Iran, betting a naval blockade and sanctions can force a nuclear deal and end the war. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran defies Trump's blockade as oil prices soar Turkey advances gas pipeline plan to northern Cyprus; Iran-linked group claims London attack; and more. By Beatrice Farhat In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict
Hezbollah parliamentarian: We will defend Lebanon from IS In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said Lebanon was under direct threat from the Islamic State and that Hezbollah stood ready to confront it. Saudi Arabia
Drought triggers protests in Iran Climate change, drought and decades of mismanagement have led to serious water shortages in Iran, leading to protests in a number of cities. Iran
Iran ministry accused of targeting conservative news sites Iran's Culture Ministry has been accused of enforcing licensing requirements only for conservative news sites, ignoring Reformist and pro-administration outlets. Iran
US-Iran cooperation on IS makes Israel uneasy Although Israel is increasingly uneasy about the possibility of US-Iran cooperation in fighting the Islamic State, Israeli security officials say the emergence of a regional Islamic caliphate would be a strategic disaster. Palestine
Ayatollah Khamenei’s media team live-blogs his surgery The decision to publicize the Iranian supreme leader's prostate surgery appears to prevented the spread of rumors regarding the supreme leader's health. Iran
Rouhani speaks out against harsh enforcement of veil During speeches in the Iranian city of Mashhad, President Hassan Rouhani has criticized the strict enforcing of veiling laws. Iran
Iranian-Saudi agreement on Iraq may be near While key issues remain, Iran and Saudi Arabia are reportedly close to agreeing on the formation of an Iraqi government, clearing the way to focus on another regional crisis. Saudi Arabia
Ayatollah Khamenei urges Iran to prepare for 'new world order' Iran’s supreme leader has said that Western influence in the world is waning and Iran must “prepare ourselves to play a role” in the new order that emerges. Iran
Reformists lose Tehran city council chairmanship Reformists have lost the chairmanship of Tehran city council, an important position, in a possible indicator for future elections. Iran
Despite limitations, Iranian Kurds support Iraqi Kurds Iranian Kurds have been moved by images of Iraqi Kurds fleeing the Islamic State and have attempted to contribute and help. Iraq
Reformist cleric skips Assembly of Experts session The 16th session of Iran's Assembly of Experts, which supervises and chooses the supreme leader, has convened without its speaker due to illness and one member who abstained in protest over Basiji persecution. Iran
Fighting on Golan border puts Israel on the spot Israel has intercepted a drone over the Golan Heights, but turned a blind eye to a Syrian warplane near its border, highlighting the complex reality of the war in Syria and the difficulty in calculating what is in Israel's best interest. Israel
