How deployment of 4,000+ US Marines could change war in Iran Two flotillas bearing thousands of US Marines will give Trump more options to open the Strait of Hormuz, but deploying them to the Gulf will necessitate expanding a war that's already widely unpopular at home. Iran
Iran’s Hormuz choke hold leaves West divided as energy markets reel Between March 1 and March 19, there were only 114 crossings of the strait, according to analytics firm Kpler — 95% less than prewar traffic. Iran
Why a Kharg Island blockade could be Iran’s greatest economic threat The island is an energy hub that accounts for 90% of Iran's oil exports and is home to key Iranian military installations. Iran
Qatar-based Al Jazeera commentators go dark on social media: What to know Saeed Ziad, who offered a pro-Iran perspective on the war, has not posted on X in days, and the account of Fatima al-Smadi was deleted, though their exact status is not known. Qatar
Analysis Narrow opening: Can Lebanon’s push for talks shift Israel’s war calculus? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Iran expands energy targets beyond Gulf as Red Sea and East Med come into play By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis In Hormuz standoff, Trump struggles to rally allies By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Will Iran, Russia find solution to Caspian dilemma? Russian talk of progress aside, Iran and other Caspian Sea states appear locked in a dispute over the world’s largest inland lake. Russia
Iran calls Haley's missile claim 'ridiculous' Iranian officials view UN Ambassador Nikki Haley’s speech accusing Tehran of sending missiles to the Houthis in Yemen as politically motivated. Saudi Arabia
Houthis broach talks after Saleh slain, but war continues Yemen's civil war demonstrates that despotism leads to more of the same, no matter who's in power. Saudi Arabia
Is Trump’s Jerusalem decision winner for Iran? Islamic Jihad gains momentum in the Gaza Strip, US-Jordan relations are shaken, US-Turkey relations worsen and Iran reaps the benefits without lifting a finger. Palestine
Will Bahrain, Israel establish formal relations in 2018? Bahrain could become the first Gulf Cooperation Council member to establish official diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, though this may largely depend on the GCC states' response to the Jerusalem crisis. United Arab Emirates
Iran moves to tax its frequent travelers The Rouhani administration has come under fire for proposing higher departure taxes for Iranians who travel frequently. Iran
US envoy to the UN points finger at Iran in Yemen war Ambassador Nikki Haley vowed a tough US response after displaying what she called “concrete evidence” that Iran provided missiles that Houthi rebels used to target Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Congress advances bill imperiling Iran nuclear deal The House today passed a bill that could undermine the Iran nuclear deal by complicating civilian aircraft sales to Iran, but its future in the Senate remains murky. Congress
The genesis of a new Iranian nationalism The wave of nationalist sentiment in Iran is far from merely a reaction to outside threats such as the Islamic State and the Trump administration’s rhetoric. Iran
EU foreign policy chief reveals Iran deal 'secret' While EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini said a part of the nuclear deal's preamble hinting at more engagement was added the request of Tehran, the latter denies the accord was intended to open the door to other talks. Iran
Baghdad could take oil in new direction — away from Turkey Now that Iraq's central government in Baghdad has reclaimed oil-rich Kirkuk from the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq is considering changes that could hurt Turkey's standing in the oil market there. Iraq
