After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
West Bank dash cams aim to cut accidents, improve driving The Palestinian Ministry of Transportation is equipping road safety patrol vehicles with cameras to monitor traffic in an attempt to reduce accidents. Palestine
Despite US pressure, expect regional players to phone in Manama meeting Several regional states will show up for the US-led conference in Bahrain, but none of them really believes it will promote Middle East peace. Saudi Arabia
Egyptian-Turkish trade: A love-hate relationship Egypt's free trade agreement with Turkey ends in 2020, but it is unclear whether it will be renewed in light of the political antipathy between the two countries' leaders. Egypt
Who will benefit from Qatar’s asylum law? Although Qatari-Egyptian ties have been strained since the ouster of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi, Qatar’s asylum law was followed with a ministerial decision that would not only protect Egyptian fugitives, but also ease their financial burden. Qatar
Barzani cousins assume top posts in Iraqi Kurdistan The new president and prime minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region have been sworn into office. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Can Russia plug through US sanctions to reconstruct Syria? Russia seeks to work around US sanctions to help reconstruct Syria, but some of Damascus' own policies may be unhelpful in this endeavor. Syria
Ankara plays down US ultimatum on S-400 Despite the US announcement that Ankara will be excluded from the F-35 fighter jet program if it goes ahead with its purchase of a Russian missile system, Turkish officials continue to behave as if Washington is bluffing. Turkey
Trump leaves Congress in dark on Mideast deployment to counter Iran The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says Congress has yet to hear back from the Donald Trump administration on how long a fresh rotation of troops, ships and planes sent to counter Iran will remain in the Middle East. Congress
US policy faces blind spots on China, Middle East The effects of US trade policy toward China may strike a blow on global markets and possibly affect US national security. Saudi Arabia
Tempered hopes for US-Iran breakthrough as Japan’s Abe travels to Iran Though President Donald Trump has encouraged the visit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has limited room to maneuver as he visits Iran this week to try to advance US-Iran dialogue. United States
Iran focuses on political solution while keeping military option open in Syria While Iran’s plan to overcome the current challenges in Syria focuses on diplomatic and political measures, Tehran is preparing for all scenarios, including military escalation. Syria
German FM arrives in Iran as race to save nuclear deal continues German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas arrived in Tehran to discuss ways to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States. Iran
