Explainer Qatar blast underscores challenges in race to restart Gulf energy flows The deadly explosion marks an early test of Gulf efforts to revive oil and gas production following a historic energy supply shock caused by the US-Israel-Iran war. Qatar
Explainer What’s the status of Strait of Hormuz after US-Iran talks? Oil tankers continued to transit the strait in both directions, but many turned off their transponders over the weekend after Iran's military declared Hormuz closed once again. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Vance says Switzerland talks laid 'good foundation' for final deal Early US-Iran talks in Switzerland point to cautious progress By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
US, Iran to form 'deconflicting cell' on Lebanon, sidelining Lebanese state The agreement came during talks between Iran and the United States following a preliminary deal reached last week to end the war across the Middle East, including in Lebanon. Lebanon
Analysis Why Gulf defense firms are betting on Europe in wake of Iran war By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Will Homs truce be repeated in Aleppo? Hezbollah sources indicate that efforts are underway, including interventions by Iranian and Turkish authorities, to repeat the truce reached in Homs last month in Aleppo. Syria
Khamenei rep: Revolutionary Guard media needs to be accurate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's representative to the Revolutionary Guard has said that some media outlets with ties to the armed forces should tread more cautiously in their coverage. Iran
Rouhani, critics debate 'path to heaven' President Hassan Rouhani's public battle with hard-line clerics over Iranians' route to heaven is symptomatic of the broader war he faces over his reform efforts. Iran
Culture minister likens Iran's fear of Internet to fear of fax machine Culture Minister Ali Jannati has told Iran's Chamber of Commerce that the country needs to open up culturally and must accept new technologies as they are introduced. Iran
Liberman: Arabs 'must come out of the closet' Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman outlines his vision for a regional arrangement with Arab Gulf states. Palestine
Hamas sees Russia visit as means to end regional isolation Hamas political bureau leader Khaled Meshaal will visit Moscow in the coming weeks, where he is expected to ask Russia to help restore Hamas' ties with Iran and to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to soften his opposition to the Islamist movement. Palestine
Rouhani accused of trying to separate religion, administration Iranian President Hassan Rouhani continues to be criticized for saying that the administration should leave religious direction in the hands of experts and the clergy. Iran
Liberman outlines vision for 'regional arrangement' with Arab states Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman offers a plan for open contacts with "moderate" Arab states to deal with the threat from Iran and in pursuit of an agreement with the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia
'Bad veiling' a protest against government, says Iran cleric Traditional conservative politician Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri has called "poor veiling" a form of protest against the government and said that the causes of the issue should be studied rather than confronted by police. Iran
Leaked video renews accusations of 2009 election fraud In a video leaked online, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps said that the return of the Reformists during the 2009 elections was a "red line" for the organization. Iran
Obama ramps up on Syria The US president is giving new priority to the threat from terrorists in Syria, while calling for increased military support for opposition forces. Syria
Rouhani mocks his critics, reactionary clerics Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked critics who have publicly reprimanded him for saying that “heaven cannot be forced” onto people, comparing other clerics to the reactionary clerics who were once opposed to private showers and daylight savings on the grounds that it would harm religion. Iran