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
Turkish-Arab ties marked by fear and loathing A senior Turkish diplomat says Ankara misread the Middle East and ended up relying on Iran and its backer Russia, the two countries that Arab regimes fear the most. United Arab Emirates
Life sentence hangs over US pastor as Washington sizes up Ankara Though Congress was reportedly deterred by the State Department from imposing sanctions on Turkey, the indictment of pastor Andrew Brunson may alter the mood as Mike Pompeo replaces Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. Turkey
Outspoken Iranian pro-reform professor sentenced to jail A prominent pro-reform professor is sentenced to jail in Iran as two ministers survive impeachment votes in parliament. Iran
Russia warns against attacking Damascus, says West is lying Moscow accuses the United States of wanting to interfere in Russia's presidential election and of concocting fake news about a pending Syrian chemical strike against civilians, and it says it's being falsely blamed for the spy poisoning in the UK. Syria
Iran says IS resurgence could hamper oil deal with Iraq An Iranian official warns that numerous attacks in Iraq have created security concerns that are preventing the countries from completing their oil deal, but some Iraqis think the Kurdistan Regional Government has engineered the situation because it no longer controls the oil. Iraq
European pressure over missiles unites Iranian hardliners, moderates Iran appears impervious to the increasing pressure from the United States and Europe to negotiate over its regional policies and missile program. Iran
New Italian government brings uncertainty for Libya After the March 4 elections in Italy, a new government could be formed with new policies on migration and Libya. Libya
The topsy-turvy world of Jewish-Arab relations Despite evidence of a serious deterioration in relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel, one researcher contends that Israeli Arabs continue to show a strong link to a Jewish and democratic Israel. Palestine
Are Egypt’s clerics key to solving water crisis? Mosques and churches in Egypt are raising awareness of the rationalization of water use, but Egyptians are divided over their involvement. Egypt
Senate fissure opens up over ending Yemen war Traditional centrists are pushing back against bipartisan efforts to stop US support for the Saudi coalition. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan menaces Afrin as YPG digs in As Turkish troops head for Afrin, will Turkey commit to the next-level battle it will face there if the People's Protection Units stay and fight? Syria
One ‘spark’ could reignite protests, warns Iran’s interior minister Iran’s interior minister discussed the findings of a report dissecting the reasons for the Iranian protests in December and January. Iran
