Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump threatens Iran bridges, power plants over Hormuz attacks US, Saudi Arabia to sign nuclear agreement; Lebanon PM says Beirut working for 'complete Israeli withdrawal'; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Trump threatens Iran bridges, power plants over Hormuz attacks The warning comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington remains open to negotiations with Tehran. Iran
Iran war to cost US $37.5B by end of September, Hegseth tells Senate Pentagon’s conservative estimate includes military pay and "operations and maintenance" costs, but does not factor in damage to military bases in the region. Iran
Interview PJAK leader mocks Iran’s claim Turkey spiked US Kurdish-backed regime-change plan The PJAK co-leader says he does not believe Washington or Israel would abandon a strategic objective as significant as toppling Iran's government because of Turkish objections. Siamand Moeini PJAK Executive Council Member
Analysis Israel draws line on Houthi attacks, hopes for Trump strike on Pickaxe Mountain By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran steps up Gulf attacks after 10 nights of US strikes By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Iran's art community wades into coronavirus fight The Iranian artistic community is going the extra mile to boost the nation’s morale as it battles through the coronavirus epidemic. Iran
Iraqi prime minister-designate faces challenges in gaining political support Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi is struggling to secure the needed parliamentary votes for his Cabinet. Iraq
Iran enlists Pakistan for support against sanctions as pandemic spreads Iran’s inability to contain the spread of the coronavirus within its borders is endangering the Middle East region and beyond. Iran
US issues fresh Iran sanctions targeting IRGC’s ‘web of front companies’ The US Treasury Department places sanctions on more companies, officials and individuals affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force and Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Iraq
Iran to restrict travel to stop coronavirus Iranian authorities said that starting tomorrow they will restrict travel and implement more restrictive measures to stop the spread of coronavirus. Iran
Intel: Timeline of CIA contractor Robert Levinson missing for 13 years in Iran The family of Robert Levinson, a CIA contractor who disappeared on Iran’s Kish Island in 2007, confirmed Thursday that the US government informed them that the former FBI agent had died at some point prior to the coronavirus pandemic. United States
Is Syria unable, or unwilling, to fend off Iran coronavirus contagion? While close links between Damascus and Tehran put the former at great risk of an influx of COVID-19 cases, Syria's reliance on Iran for political and military support may make stemming the spread more difficult. Lebanon
Iranians look to each other, not government, for solidarity amidst COVID-19 Iranians attempt to lift each other's spirits with comedy, online cooking shows and by writing off debts, among other ways. Iran
Intel: Pompeo urges Europe to join Iran pressure campaign in G-7 teleconference Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used a teleconference of leading industrialized nations' foreign ministers to urge tougher international action on Iran and its regional proxies in line with the US maximum pressure campaign. United States
Intel: Why Moscow is dispatching its military to fight coronavirus in Syria, Italy On March 25, the first Russian navy cargo ship transited Turkey’s Bosporus strait en route to Syria. The ship was reportedly carrying three ambulances and a shipping container on its deck — equipment to be used to help fight the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Syria. Syria
Iran hopes for partial sanctions relief amid epidemic President Hassan Rouhani claims Iranian assets abroad could soon be unfrozen, but US has no plans to lift sanctions. Iran
Iran expert says corruption 'No. 1 national security threat in Iran' Al-Monitor contributor Bijan Khajehpour discusses impact of coronavirus on Iran’s economy. United States