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
Road map for Iran-EU trade and investment relations Europe is making efforts to set up a special purpose vehicle to uphold legitimate trade with Iran, but there is a need for a more comprehensive action plan for such trade and political relations. United States
Saudi-Iran conflict threatens to flare in Pakistan Recent Saudi investments in a Pakistani port near the border with Iran are likely to irk Tehran, but Islamabad’s strategic ties to both Tehran and Riyadh make it a prime contender to ease the tensions. Saudi Arabia
France bans flights operated by Iran's second-largest airline Iran's second-largest airline, Mahan Air, has to stop flights to Paris for what has been reported as sanctions imposed by the French government. United States
Turkish intervention could trigger Syria's 'second great war' Mazlum Kobane, the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, talks to Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview about how the Kurds in northeastern Syria have maintained a complicated network of alliances and why the prospect of Turkish intervention in the region could trigger another war. Syria
Erdogan’s government in panic over risk of electoral defeats President Erdogan and his party are waging an election campaign of unprecedented vitriol and polarization, including a strong dose of religion, the main driver of which is the fear of losing big cities amid the country’s economic crisis. Turkey
Turkey tightens the screws on Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi murder Interpol has issued “red notices,” on Ankara’s request, for a total of 20 Saudi citizens suspected of involvement in the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia
Israeli court closes holy site flashpoint, goads Jordan to respond An Israeli court has temporarily closed an embattled Al-Aqsa site in an effort to relieve the simmering tension there and pressure Jordan into engaging with it. Palestine
Is Tehran trying to distance Qasem Soleimani from Iraq? The recent visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Iraq has been read as attempt to distance Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani from Iraq, replacing him with the Foreign Ministry. Iraq
Politicization of the anti-corruption campaign in Lebanon As Lebanon’s political parties, namely Hezbollah, are leading anti-corruption efforts by going after high-level former ministers, questions are raised about these efforts’ seriousness and effectiveness. Lebanon
Sisi taps military chum to reform Egypt's railways Egypt's fourth transportation minister in eight years vows to transform the country's dangerously dilapidated rail system, but some Egyptians wonder why a man with such a strong military background was selected for the job. Egypt
How exploitation of Crimea benefits Syria Over Crimea's five years under the Russian rule, the peninsula has been used in a number of ways to support various Russian activities in Syria. Syria
Erdogan uses New Zealand terror video at campaign rallies International and Turkish actors criticize President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for using New Zealand mosque massacre video at his campaign rallies for the March 31 local elections. Turkey
