With Trump's goals unmet, can strikes on Iran's economy force a deal? Ordering the US military to destroy Iran's road transit system and electrical grid risks war crimes that may harden Iranian resistance after five weeks of bombing has failed to deliver Trump’s strategic objectives. United States
From France to India: Who is Iran allowing through the Strait of Hormuz? Ships from Qatar turned around on Monday after sailing toward the Strait of Hormuz, while a growing number of countries have received permission to traverse the waterway. Iran
‘No bridges, no power plants’: Trump ups threats against Iran if deal fails President Trump said he wasn't worried that striking civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes. Iran
Analysis How the Iran war can help Syria manage Turkey and its regional rivals Rising regional tensions and disrupted oil flows are giving Damascus leverage to balance Ankara and other neighbors while exploring alternative energy corridors. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Hostage to Hormuz, can Gulf rewire future energy flows to bypass Iran’s chokepoint? By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Iran Foreign Ministry casts doubt on US coalition against IS Iran's Foreign Ministry said that the US-led coalition to fight the Islamic State includes countries that had helped fuel terrorism in the region. Iran
Hezbollah parliamentarian: We will defend Lebanon from IS In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said Lebanon was under direct threat from the Islamic State and that Hezbollah stood ready to confront it. Saudi Arabia
Drought triggers protests in Iran Climate change, drought and decades of mismanagement have led to serious water shortages in Iran, leading to protests in a number of cities. Iran
Iran ministry accused of targeting conservative news sites Iran's Culture Ministry has been accused of enforcing licensing requirements only for conservative news sites, ignoring Reformist and pro-administration outlets. Iran
US-Iran cooperation on IS makes Israel uneasy Although Israel is increasingly uneasy about the possibility of US-Iran cooperation in fighting the Islamic State, Israeli security officials say the emergence of a regional Islamic caliphate would be a strategic disaster. Palestine
Ayatollah Khamenei’s media team live-blogs his surgery The decision to publicize the Iranian supreme leader's prostate surgery appears to prevented the spread of rumors regarding the supreme leader's health. Iran
Rouhani speaks out against harsh enforcement of veil During speeches in the Iranian city of Mashhad, President Hassan Rouhani has criticized the strict enforcing of veiling laws. Iran
Iranian-Saudi agreement on Iraq may be near While key issues remain, Iran and Saudi Arabia are reportedly close to agreeing on the formation of an Iraqi government, clearing the way to focus on another regional crisis. Saudi Arabia
Ayatollah Khamenei urges Iran to prepare for 'new world order' Iran’s supreme leader has said that Western influence in the world is waning and Iran must “prepare ourselves to play a role” in the new order that emerges. Iran
Reformists lose Tehran city council chairmanship Reformists have lost the chairmanship of Tehran city council, an important position, in a possible indicator for future elections. Iran
Despite limitations, Iranian Kurds support Iraqi Kurds Iranian Kurds have been moved by images of Iraqi Kurds fleeing the Islamic State and have attempted to contribute and help. Iraq
Reformist cleric skips Assembly of Experts session The 16th session of Iran's Assembly of Experts, which supervises and chooses the supreme leader, has convened without its speaker due to illness and one member who abstained in protest over Basiji persecution. Iran