Newsletter: Security Iran pushes war to new fronts As the US doubles down on Iran, new flashpoints from Iraq to the Red Sea are reshaping the conflict. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis No Iran commitment, no Trump endorsement: Netanyahu leaves US empty-handed The Israeli prime minister described Tuesday's meeting with US President Donald Trump was the "best ever," but diplomatic sources say he left the Washington with little tangibles. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran’s new calculus: Strike first, talk later An increasingly emboldened Tehran has put President Donald Trump in a bind. Iran
China cuts deal with Houthis, adjusts for long US war with Iran China is cutting its own deals and gaining wartime leverage as the Trump administration scrambles to contain the war and reopen Hormuz. China
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran kills one in Kuwait, targets Egypt for first time By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: China-Middle East China cuts deal with Houthis, adjusts for long US war with Iran By Joyce Karam
Iranians rally behind soccer player suspended over wife’s modeling The suspension of an Iranian soccer player over his wife’s modeling has led to a public and media outcry. Iran
The real reason Iran is pointing finger at Riyadh for IS attack Iranian officials have pointed the finger at Saudi Arabia as the culprit behind the attack by the Islamic State on Tehran. Saudi Arabia
Rafsanjani's son favorite in battle for Tehran mayorship Debate about who will succeed outgoing conservative Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has reached a fever pitch as the son of a former president emerges as the most likely candidate. Iran
Iran's central bank must regulate unlicensed actors The Central Bank of Iran’s failure to regulate a major segment of the financial sector is putting the country’s economic and social well-being at risk. Iran
Former IRGC commander warns US against attacking Iran A senior Iranian military official has warned the United States against contemplating an attack on Iran. Iran
Congress rebukes Trump over pro-Saudi stance The US Senate came close to passing a bill prohibiting bomb sales to Riyadh for its war in Yemen amid growing concern about sectarian entanglement. Saudi Arabia
Iran’s supreme leader voices pessimism about new talks with US Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expresses pessimism about the possibility of talks with the United States to lift non-nuclear sanctions. Iran
Iran maneuvers to capitalize on Qatar crisis Iran has so far cautiously stood with Qatar amid the Saudi-led confrontation with Doha, but there are indications of this caution's giving way to more assertive Iranian support. Legacy: Gulf
Erdogan tries to juggle Iran, Saudi Arabia amid Qatar crisis Retired diplomats say Erdogan’s Qatar policy is driven more by his survival instinct than a rational foreign policy and that Ankara has squandered an opportunity to play a positive role in this crisis. Saudi Arabia
Kurdish independence in Iraq will take more than a referendum The Kurdistan Regional Government has its work cut out for it to achieve an independent Kurdistan, as its plans would require the cooperation of some unlikely players. Saudi Arabia
Public fuss over KRG referendum gives way to private nods The regional players are buzzing after the Kurdistan Regional Government announced it will hold a referendum on independence, and signs point to tacit support from the United States and Turkey. Iraq
Second-term Rouhani likely to move closer to Russia Increasing multilateral and bilateral cooperation suggests that Iran and Russia may be on the path of eventually achieving a strategic partnership. Syria
