Third Turkish ship clears Hormuz as Ankara presses Tehran on safe passage Eight vessels are still waiting as Ankara negotiates with Tehran, which is allowing limited crossings. Turkey
Analysis Hostage to Hormuz, can Gulf rewire future energy flows to bypass Iran’s chokepoint? As the US-Israel-Iran war disrupts around 20% of global oil supply, experts point to opportunities and challenges facing a renewed push to develop alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Why Spain took Europe's lead in opposing US-Israel war in Iran Like with the Gaza war, Madrid has taken a vocal role in opposing the monthlong Iran conflict. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis Why Trump's infrastructure-focused strikes risk hardening Iran's war posture Targeting infrastructure has opened a new phase in the US-Israel-Iran war, hardening Tehran's stance and pushing the conflict toward attrition with fewer off-ramps. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Some Shiites link Saudi king's health to end-times Some Shiite scholars believe that the Saudi king's death will signal the resurrection of the Mahdi and the beginning of the end-times. Saudi Arabia
US House preps its own Iran sanctions bill The lower chamber says it won't just pass whatever bill the Senate comes up with. Iran
Action needed to reform Iranian banks Poor economic conditions have led to a crisis of non-performing loans for Iranian banks. Iran
Iran’s shallow influence in Yemen Iran believes its influence is spreading to a new country with the rise of the Houthis in Yemen in September 2014; however, Yemen is different from other Iranian-influenced countries (Syria, Lebanon and Iraq), where sectarian compositions differ. Saudi Arabia
Iran presents enrichment needs ahead of talks The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization has discussed the next step in nuclear negotiations and Iran's fuel needs on Iranian television. Iran
Dempsey says Iran’s role in Iraq might be 'positive' Americans consider Islamic State, not Iran, as top threat to US in Mideast; terrorists in Syria planning “mass casualty attacks” in West; Salafists in Gaza look to Islamic State. Palestine
Divisions in Iran stall nuclear deal, says ex-US negotiator Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Iran Foreign Minister Zarif in Geneva Jan. 14, ahead of a new round of nuclear talks. Iran
Iran's new group in Iraq: Saraya al-Khorasani Saraya al-Khorasani appears to have more direct contact and cooperation with Iran than other groups and militias it has ties with. Iraq
Iran condemns Paris shooting, with caveat Iran has officially condemned the attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo but also warned of "double standards" in dealing with terrorism. Iran
Iran's new budget to focus on privatization, subsidy reforms Iran's economic outlook remains uncertain amid fluctuating oil prices and continuing nuclear negotiations, while officials are looking to create a law that would make the country’s state budgets independent of oil export revenue. Iran
What's holding up Iran nuclear deal? The US Congress must give diplomacy a real chance and not hinder nuclear negotiations with Iran. Israel
EU: Iran nuclear talks set for Jan. 18 in Geneva Nuclear talks between political directors from Iran and the P5+1 will be held in Geneva Jan. 18, preceded by meetings of the United States, Iran and Russia. Iran