Analysis As Iran’s grip on Hormuz weakens, what leverage does Tehran have left? Six months into the war, Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz is weakening. The world is slowly learning to live with it, oil flows are recovering, alternative routes are expanding and Tehran's own economy is bearing the cost of keeping the waterway under pressure. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis Despite fanfare, Xi shows Trump no sign of breaking with Iran Beijing has significant leverage over Tehran, but little incentive to use it for Washington’s benefit, given its reliance on Iranian oil. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Analysis In Yemen, China exploits US security gap while seeking to curb Houthis The Houthis’ advances around Bab al-Mandab point to another crack in the US-led Gulf security architecture—one China could gain from diplomatically and economically, even as it seeks to prevent a wider regional escalation. By Joyce Karam
China presses Iran, US to reopen Hormuz as disruptions threaten oil supply Conflicts in the region are disrupting two key routes for oil bound for China, with Iranian crude affected by the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi shipments facing growing risks in the Red Sea. Iran
Analysis As Israeli settler attacks mount, Trump avoids public pressure on Netanyahu By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Egypt seeks to attract Chinese mobile companies fleeing India Egypt is trying to take advantage of the crisis between Chinese smartphone companies and India by providing incentives to such companies to lure them into investing in the Egyptian market. Egypt
Why Erdogan’s Shanghai ambitions are risky business President Erdogan’s statement that NATO-member Turkey is targeting membership in the Shanghai club is more geared toward domestic consumption than reality, particularly after a top Russian diplomat said NATO and the SCO are incompatible. Turkey
China’s NWTN to build electric vehicle facility in Abu Dhabi The deal represents the UAE’s push toward green technology, as well as China’s growing influence in the wider region. Legacy: Gulf
Egypt-Chinese consortium to run terminals in Red Sea, Mediterranean ports The Egyptian government signed new concessions with a Chinese alliance to build and operate two world-class container terminals in the ports of Sokhna and Dekhila, as part of a container logistics project to link the Red and Mediterranean seas. Egypt
Iran, Russia use own currencies for trade Saudi Arabia and India have also signaled moving away from the US dollar. Iran
Egypt-China ties strengthen with recent deals China is also getting closer to Saudi Arabia, Iran and other countries in the region, primarily through economic cooperation. Egypt
Saudi Arabia-China relations strengthen with Aramco-Sinopec deal The ties between China and Saudi Arabia are largely based on trade and energy cooperation. Saudi Arabia
Iranian trade with China on the rise China is focused on improving its economic ties with Iran as opposed to security cooperation. Iran
Nile dispute absent from first peace conference led by China to settle conflicts in Horn of Africa China avoided the controversial GERD dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia during the first peace conference held in Addis Ababa to settle the disputes plaguing the Horn of Africa. Egypt
Will Iran look east if nuclear deal talks fail? The European Union’s deputy foreign policy chief was in Tehran this week, but there are indications that Iran may be preparing backup options. Iran
Egypt considers issuing bonds in China’s yuan Saudi Arabia may also price oil sales in the Chinese currency. Egypt
