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US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gesture as they pose for a photo during a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war on Oct. 13, 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Analysis

Trump-Erdogan ties pay off for Turkey in 2025 as Ankara pushes for F-35s

Leader-level diplomacy between Ankara and Washington produced selective gains but failed to break the deadlock over defense sanctions imposed for Turkey’s S-400 purchase.

Ezgi Akin

מאת Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Guests stand at the booth of Saudi AI company Humain during the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on Oct. 29, 2025.

Analysis

Middle East adapts to Trump’s tech agenda as Gulf AI gamble grows in 2025

This year saw a wave of dealmaking across data centers, chips, critical minerals and AI collaboration as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE eagerly aligned with President Trump’s tech agenda amid sharp swings in US foreign policy.

Samuel Wendel

מאת Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

What's next for Yemen as UAE withdraws, rift with Saudi Arabia grows?

The escalating conflict in Yemen poses challenges to both the Saudi-backed government and the UAE’s position in the country, but may benefit the Houthis.

Adam Lucente

מאת Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

A woman walks past a currency exchange office in Tehran on Sept. 28, 2025, as Iranians feel economic strain deepen, with prices soaring and the rial sinking to new lows.

Analysis

Iran rocked with new protests as economic anger meets mounting foreign pressure

The latest wave of protests is moving beyond markets and into universities, as Tehran trades warnings with Washington and Israel.

A correspondent in Tehran

מאת A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Latest News

Analysis

Iran threats, flattery, unresolved gaps: What Trump really gave Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

מאת Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

UAE to pull forces out of Yemen as 24-hour deadline set

Members of the Sabahiha tribes of Lahj gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council in Aden on December 14

Agence France-Presse

Somalia’s president heads to Turkey as Israel’s Somaliland recognition rattles region

This aerial view shows residents waving Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's announcement recognizing Somaliland's statehood in downtown Hargeisa, on Dec. 26, 2025.

Tehran shopkeepers shut stores over economic conditions

Shopkeepers and traders in Tehran protest against the economic hardships and sharp swings in Iran's embattled currency

Agence France-Presse

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Panahi won the Cannes Film Festival's top prize this year for his film 'It Was Just an Accident'

Filmmaker Panahi says Iran protests 'to move history forward'

Agence France-Presse

After two years of war between Hamas and Israel, most Gazans have been displaced, with huge numbers living in tents

Hoping for better year ahead, Gazans bid farewell to 'nightmare' of 2025

Agence France-Presse

Shopkeepers and traders protested in Tehran against economic hardship and Iran's embattled currency

Iran prosecutor pledges 'decisive' response if protests destabilise country

Agence France-Presse

Supporters of the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) wave flags of the United Arab Emirates and of the STC, during a rally in Aden, Yemen, December 30, 2025. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman

Analysis-Yemen strike shows depth of distrust between Saudi Arabia and UAE

Reuters

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Adam Lucente, Amberin Zaman and Joyce Karam

The Al-Monitor Brief

Middle East 2025 in review: Iran & Israel go to war as UAE-Saudi tensions, Syria challenges come to a head

Adam Lucente interviews Amberin Zaman, Joyce Karam, Rina Bassist and Daoud Kuttab

17:53

Adam Lucente, Sam Wendel and Jack Dutton

The Al-Monitor Brief

2025 Middle East business review: Gulf AI and mineral races heat up as startups, Red Sea shipping bounce back

Adam Lucente interviews Sam Wendel and Jack Dutton

27:24

Adam Lucente and Ezgi Akin

The Al-Monitor Brief

Turkey’s year 2025 in review: Progress abroad, challenges at home?

Adam Lucente interviews Ezgi Akin

18:03

ALM Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

See All

Interview

התחזית של אולמרט: ישראל תלך לבחירות שלישיות

Interview

איראן שלחה הודעות בערוץ האחורי של ארה"ב על סיכון למלחמה אזורית רחבה יותר, אומר שר החוץ

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Foreign Minister of Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian listens to a question during a press conference with his Saudi counterpart (not pictured) in Tehran, on June 17, 2023.

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

השב"כ נדיר, מפגש פלסטיני כאשר החשש מפני מתיחות הרמדאן גובר

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Rina Bassist

מאת Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

ראש ההגנה של צרפת דוחק ל-3 שערים בביקור ישראל

Shahar Yorman/Israeli Defense Ministry

Rina Bassist

מאת Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

האם ארה"ב יכולה ללחוץ על נתניהו לקבל את המדינה הפלסטינית לנורמליזציה ישראל-סעודית?

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they meet on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 20, 2023.

מאת Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Analysis

מה עומד מאחורי שלל התקפות דאעש באירופה?

Adam Lucente

מאת Adam Lucente , Rosaleen Carroll

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses media after a visit at the site of a knife attack in Solingen, Western Germany, on August 26, 2024.

Amberin Zaman, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Danny Makki, Joyce Karam in a virtual discussion on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Washington

Syria's Sharaa in Washington

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1:00:44

Joe Snell

Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

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1:34

Amberin Zaman in Damascus

Amberin Zaman Reports from Damascus

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Elizabeth Hagedorn at UNGA in New York

Elizabeth Hagedorn Reporting from UNGA in New York

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1:07

Our Journalists

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Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

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In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

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In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

דאוד כותאב

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In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

רשא אבו ג'לאל

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict