Khamenei says Hezbollah's agenda 'strategic mandate' for Iran Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s comments come as Lebanon and Israel move forward with a US-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah in the south, though the Iran-backed group is resisting calls to turn over its weapons. Lebanon
On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to focus on Iran in his Tuesday meeting with President Donald Trump, while the US leader is more likely to want to discuss Lebanon and Syria. United States
Trump says Iran seeks talks after strikes halted An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the two sides have communicated only through intermediaries. Iran
Iran summons French ambassador after detaining 2 diplomats: What to know Last week, France’s foreign minister said that two French diplomats had been detained and interrogated, and that one had been physically assaulted by Iranian security services. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says it doesn’t seek to resume negotiations with Washington By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis What Iran's warning to Britain reveals about broader escalation strategy By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Shiite split heats up as Iraqi lawmakers fail to elect speaker Two Iraqi Shiite coalitions — one favored by the United States and the other by Iran — are competing hard to gain a majority in the parliament to form the next government. Iraq
Will Iran merge banks owned by military institutions? Though the merger of lenders affiliated with Iranian security institutions is an important step toward military divestment, the process faces many obstacles. Iran
Ahmadinejad squawks louder as Tehran cracks down on loyalists The Islamic Republic and its former president are caught in a feedback loop as his incessant attacks on top officials prompt further action against his remaining friends. Iran
Why Iran must legislate away rampant corruption To successfully tackle corruption, Iranian authorities should address the environment that enables graft and nepotism instead of merely detaining those who engage in such practices. Iran
Pentagon adjusts war games to cope with Iran threat The US military is making changes to its Middle East drills to respond to the Donald Trump administration’s fears of a growing military threat from Iran. Congress
Zarif: Even America’s allies not immune to US sanctions During an unannounced trip to Turkey, Iran’s foreign minister warned America’s allies that they are not immune to US pressure. Syria
Perplexed Iranians watch price of ‘moving coffin’ hit all-time high An Iranian-made vehicle notorious for its low safety standards has seen a price jump of around 50% in a matter of three weeks, sparking outrage. Iran
Iranian president under fire in heated parliament session Iranian lawmakers said they were not convinced by President Hassan Rouhani's responses to questions that centered mainly on economic grievances. Iran
NATO training mission faces challenges in Iraq NATO training mission is expanding in Iraq, but the mission could empower Iranian-backed elements in the Iraqi state. Iraq
US scrambles for Syria deal ahead of Idlib offensive The Donald Trump administration is pressing Russia for concessions before Bashar al-Assad’s regime finishes taking back the country. Syria
Erdogan set to meet Putin, Rouhani in Iran to weigh options on Syria Turkey, Iran and Russia are set to hold a three-way summit in September in Iran, where Erdogan will likely renew pleas for more time to work out a deal separating the “moderates” from the “terrorists” in Syria's Idlib. Syria
Saudi Arabia, Iran battle for influence in Pakistan As Iran and Saudi Arabia compete for influence in the Islamic world, Pakistan represents a crucial sphere of influence, but the country's new prime minister has been a critic of the Saudi-led war on Yemen. Saudi Arabia
