Iran warns Trump against ground invasion as US troop presence surges Iranian media outlets have reported that the country has readied more than a million people fora possible ground conflict. Iran
Ukraine's Zelenskyy capitalizes on Iran war to ink security deal with Saudi Arabia Kyiv is using its domestic production of anti-drone technology and low-cost, AI-enabled interceptor drones to help Gulf states in countering Iranian drones. Saudi Arabia
Exclusive Israel suspects Trump betting on 3 Iran officials, including Ghalibaf, to end war White House calls to the Israeli prime minister have decreased as the war effort flounders, with critical Iranian infrastructure absent from target lists. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis In familiar standoff, US and Iranian demands leave little room for deal What were already difficult negotiations before the war have grown even more fraught under Iran's new hard-line leadership. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Newsletter: China-Middle East China hedges as US–Iran truce stalls By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Iranian media lauds Putin's restraint after assassination Following the assassination of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Iranian newspapers praised President Vladimir Putin for his “wise” decisions after the killing. Syria
Why Aleppo will serve to embolden Iran While having paid a steep price for standing by its regional allies, Iran increasingly appears to be achieving its objectives in Syria. Syria
Can Rouhani’s Citizens’ Rights Charter be enforced? After three years, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has unveiled one of his most important campaign promises — but his Citizens' Rights Charter has not escaped criticism. Iran
Animosity toward Iran reaches fever pitch in Turkey after Aleppo Agitation against predominantly Shiite Iran by Sunni Islamists has resulted in calls for attacks on Turkey’s Alevis for vengeance. Turkey
PMU seeks to secure Iraq-Syria border The Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units have requested to take control of the Iraqi-Syrian border, which raises concerns about Iran's interference in Syria. Iraq
Thousands flee Aleppo as regime regains control Three years after the opposition took control of Aleppo’s eastern neighborhoods, the Syrian regime’s army, with the help of foreign militias, entered the city and began evacuating civilians to the city’s countryside. Syria
The remilitarization of Iran's Basij The Iranian supreme leader’s recent string of new appointments in the upper echelons of the country’s military suggests an impending remilitarization of the Basij. Iran
Can shared disdain for US improve Russia-Iran ties? Although Iran and Russia are both fountains of anti-Western rhetoric and sentiments, it is for different reasons and will not necessarily bring the two countries closer together. Russia
Iranian conservatives unveil candidates ahead of 2017 presidential vote Despite striving to forge a consensus, Iranian conservatives appear to introduce their own separate candidates ahead of the country’s May 2017 presidential election. Iran
Will Egypt accept Iran’s offer to supply oil? Iran has found an opportunity to meet Egypt’s local market needs for petroleum products, but will Egypt seize this opportunity at the expense of its ties with the Gulf countries? Legacy: Gulf
Obama’s Aleppo defense US President Barack Obama says the brutality in Aleppo is solely the fault of "the Assad regime and its allies Russia and Iran." Does Israel benefit from Russia’s role in Syria? Bombings in Turkey spur an anti-Kurdish frenzy. Syria
Rouhani to Sunnis: Iran not seeking 'Shiite crescent' In a speech before the Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani sought to send a message of reassurance to the Arab world that Iran is not seeking a "Shiite crescent." Iran