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
Is a water crisis brewing between Turkey and Iran? Discord over transboundary waters and dam construction emerges as a major factor underlying the strains in Turkish-Iranian ties. Turkey
Iran's supreme leader warns Qatari emir about Israel The Iranian state media coverage of the meeting made no mention of the Iran nuclear deal, which was widely speculated to have topped the agenda of the emir's visit to Tehran. Iran
Iran says it will execute Iranian-Swedish scientist Iran’s judiciary still plans to execute Ahmad Reza Jalali, an Iranian-Swedish citizen convicted of espionage. Iran
EU envoy, Qatar emir arrive in Tehran amid final push for Iran deal The Iran nuclear deal may be facing "last bullet" with no deal in sight on IRGC. Iran
Top EU diplomat says offer may be 'last bullet' to pull off Iran nuclear deal Tehran has dismissed expectations of a breakthrough as a top EU diplomat makes a last-ditch effort in Tehran. Iran
Syria's Assad makes rare visit to Tehran Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders. Iran
Analysis Sinjar becomes latest flashpoint for Iran-Turkey tensions in Iraq New Pentagon IG report says that the Turkey-PKK conflict and Iranian militias are contributing to instability in Iraq. By Week in Review
Iranian decision to execute Swedish dual national sparks backlash Reports that the Islamic Republic is set to execute the scientist came as a Swedish court prepares to sentence a former Iranian official in connection to the killing of thousands of political prisoners in his country in 1988. Iran
Iranian minister threatens Afghan refugees over census Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban have faced hardship in Iran. The Islamic Republic wants to have friendly relations with the Islamist group next door. Iran
Reed’s release from Russia raises optimism for Iran-US exchange Following the release of Marine veteran Trevor Reed from Russia, Americans with family members wrongfully detained by Iran are ramping up their pressure on the Biden administration to cut a deal with Tehran. Iran
Iran engages neighbors as nuclear talks falter As Iran and Saudi Arabia work to resolve disputes, Iran's president spoke with the Kuwait emir and expressed his desire for a return to "previous friendly relations.” Iran
Iran denies impasse in nuclear deal diplomacy Even as a break from Vienna talks over the revival of the Iran nuclear deal continues to linger, Tehran said communication was still in progress with the American side. Iran