Trump congratulates Iraq PM-designate Zaidi in call: What to know President Donald Trump was openly critical of previous nominee Nouri al-Maliki, who was seen as close to Iran, but is now welcoming the new candidate put forward by Iraq’s leading Shiite bloc. Iraq
Trump faces three paths ahead in Iran war as Hormuz standoff intensifies As the Hormuz standoff intensifies, Trump must choose between military escalation, a limited diplomatic deal, or continuing a pressure campaign against Iran. Iran
Newsletter: China-Middle East UAE's OPEC exit offers China long-term gains, not immediate relief While the UAE’s exit points to looser supply ahead, China’s near-term energy outlook remains constrained by regional turmoil. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
In defiant message, Iran’s Khamenei threatens US but appeals to Gulf The address was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s third since coming to power and included a pledge to rid the Gulf of the US. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran defies Trump's blockade as oil prices soar By Beatrice Farhat In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict
Iran’s president denies making concessions in nuclear talks As the world waits to hear the results of the nuclear talks, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has denied that his country made any major concessions. Iran
Palestinians working in Israel strike to protest salary payments in banks Palestinian construction workers are suspicious about a new mechanism agreed upon by Israeli and Palestinian Authority administrations, for salaries to be paid directly into Palestinian bank accounts and not in cash. Israel
Shin Bet chief talks security in Egypt Egypt was hoping that after mediating between Israel and Islamic Jihad, the Israel Defense Forces would tone down its operations in the West Bank — but this did not happen. Israel
Egypt army makes gains against Islamic State in western Sinai Egyptian Army troops and tribal fighters are working to liberate the northwestern Sinai village of Gilbana from IS control as the terrorist group tries to move its command center there. Egypt
Tunisian police unions clash with president's plan to unify security forces Human rights organizations in Tunisia are increasingly concerned about the police unions’ encroachment on politics. North Africa
Oil smuggling in Syria worsens pollution in Euphrates River The residents living near the Euphrates River in northeast Syria are suffering the consequences of water pollution mainly caused by oil spills resulting from smuggling operations between the areas held by the Kurdish forces and the Syrian government. Syria
Syrian jihadist group in Idlib purges hard-liners A prominent Egyptian resigned from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Shura Council as the group sidelines hard-line members. Syria
Islamic Jihad denies rift with Hamas Hamas' lack of participation in the last round of fighting has further cracked the shaky relationship between it and Islamic Jihad, although the two movements deny being on bad terms. Palestine
Deadly church fire prompts wide-scale safety inspections in Egypt After a blaze in a Giza church killed dozens, the Egyptian government says it will systematically review the safety conditions of churches across the country. Egypt
Analysis Turkey’s economic crisis coincides with new diplomatic initiatives Finding solutions: Turkey and the UN are pursuing diplomacy to end Ukraine war while Ankara is considering rapprochement with Syria and mending ties with Israel. By Week in Review
Will Iraq's Sunnis, Kurds support early elections? Iraq’s Sunni and Kurdish forces are closely watching developments between the Sadrist movement and the Coordination Framework, so as to take a political position on whether to dissolve parliament and hold early elections. Iraq
Iran nuclear deal: The devil remains in the details The White House denies any concessions beyond the 2015 deal. Iran