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
Republican rebels block restrictions on Saudi nuclear deal A handful of Republicans are holding up a GOP resolution calling for a "gold standard" civil nuclear deal with Riyadh despite a Saudi lobbying blitz. Saudi Arabia
Iran hard-liners warn Rouhani, Zarif to avoid Trump in New York Iran's conservatives are keeping a close eye on President Hassan Rouhani's UN General Assembly visit, warning him not to engage with American officials. United States
Erdogan warms to Germans ahead of trip, but Berlin visit may disappoint Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hopeful talk en route to Berlin via New York this week is premature, as his visit has sharply divided Germany and the large Turkish population that lives there. Turkey
Intel: Why Trump is putting OPEC on notice In a speech at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump assailed OPEC for "ripping off the rest of the world" — seeking lower oil prices before the crucial 2018 mid-term elections. Saudi Arabia
Powerful Shiite trio agrees on Iraqi prime minister candidate A Beirut meetup of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah and Iran's Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani appears to have produced a compromise candidate for Iraq's next prime minister. Iraq
Dozens of Basra activists arrested Shiite militias in Basra arrested dozens of civil rights activists for participating in demonstrations and accused the US Consulate of instigating the demonstrations. Iraq
Turkey, Germany try to turn new page in name of mutual interests The atmosphere is positive going into the Turkish president's visit to Berlin, though the path to fully normalized Turkish-German ties remains strewn with pitfalls. Turkey
Why Turkey’s new economic program failed to impress The Turkish government’s hallmark rejection of self-criticism affects consistency and realism in its diagnoses of economic woes and the remedies it plans. Turkey
Palestinians expand Gaza protests The commission of the Great March of Return announced a sixth gathering point for daily protests at the border with Israel after talks between Israel and Hamas failed. Palestine
Netanyahu's one-man show leaves no room for foreign minister Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who does not trust anyone to market his government’s policies, will address the UN General Assembly this week himself as Israel's top diplomat. Israel
Lebanese FM: US attacks on Palestinians destabilizing entire region Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, in a wide-ranging interview in New York, says aid cuts for Palestinian refugees are damaging countries such as his own. Palestine
Congress takes aim at pro-Iran election winners in Iraq US lawmakers are preparing sanctions as Tehran presses Baghdad to form a government friendly to its interests. Iraq
