Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hezbollah commanders killed as renewed strikes test Lebanon-Israel talks Israeli strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon raise new doubts over a fragile ceasefire ahead of expected talks in Washington. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Business & Tech Brent dips on Hormuz, Iran deal optimism Energy markets swing on Iran deal hopes as Hormuz disruption drives global costs higher. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Iran, China discuss Hormuz reopening amid potential US-Iran talks China’s foreign minister told his Iranian counterpart that “persisting in negotiations is particularly important.” Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US pauses Hormuz escort mission as Trump cites progress on Iran talks A tentative diplomatic opening with Iran emerges as the US sustains its pressure campaign. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Iran's Gulf gambit: Attacking the UAE to shift US calculations By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Iran’s Private Sector Weighs Its Options Iran’s business community considers the presidential candidates and the future of Iran’s economy. Iran
Is Rafsanjani’s Disqualification A Signal to US? The disqualification of former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani as a candidate in this year’s election may be about more than Iranian domestic politics. Iran
Iranian Puppet Show Lampoons Societal Woes "Red Hat" circumvents restrictions on freedom of speech to critique Iranian government policies that have led to serious economic problems. Iran
Iran’s UN Ambassador Welcomes Geneva II Conference on Syria Mohammad Khazaee, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, discusses Iran’s position on Syria in an email interview with Al-Monitor. Turkey
Iran Follows 2012 Election ScriptTo Avoid 2013 Election Surprise The Iranian government in 2012 staged calm parliamentary elections that resulted in victory for loyal supporters of the supreme leader; it hopes to do the same during this year’s presidential vote. Iran
Khomeini's Daughter Asks Khamenei: Let Rafsanjani Run Ayatollah Khomeini's daughter Zahra Mostafavi has written to the supreme leader to ask him to intervene after the Guardian Council disqualified Hashemi Rafsanjani for the presidential race. Iran
Iran Elections: Where an Old KIA Beats a Mercedes-Benz Iran’s Guardian Council nixes both former president Hashemi Rafsanjani and Rahim Meshai, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's acolyte and adviser. Iran
Iran Induces Internet 'Coma' Ahead of Elections As Iran's June 14 presidential elections near, Internet users are turning to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass censors, accepting the risks that come with them. Iran
Iran Key to Success of Geneva II Talks on Syria The United States should invite Iran to the Geneva II talks on Syria and consider it a start for a more expansive regional dialogue. Israel
Turkish Ties With Iraq, Iran Worsen Over PKK Peace Plan Iraq is protesting the relocation of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters from Turkey to Iraq. Turkey
Why Iran’s City Council Elections Matter City council elections in Iran are important amid the nation's upcoming presidential elections. Iran
Iran's Government Subsidies Are Incentives for Poor Voters Cash handouts as part of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s subsidy reform programs have a constituency among Iran’s lower classes. Iran