Analysis Looking East: How Iran is leveraging Asia ties to offset Western pressure With sanctions still in place and nuclear talks stalled, Iran is using its SCO membership to forge economic and strategic ties across Central and South Asia. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Iran oil exports to China fall sharply amid US sanctions, weakened demand China is by far Iran’s largest customer for oil, snapping up around 90% of the Islamic Republic’s shipments. Iran
China expands visa-free policy to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait During a landmark summit in Malaysia, China announced an exemption for nationals from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait from the need for entry visas. China
Gulf states court China, ASEAN at landmark Malaysia summit: What to know The Gulf Cooperation Council’s summit with the Southeast Asia bloc was expanded to include China, bringing the emir of Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat to Malaysia. Qatar
Analysis Trump promises arms sales to the Gulf, but can he deliver? By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis With US-Saudi defense pact stalled, Trump eyes civilian nuclear deal By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Three reasons behind rare China-Hamas meeting in Qatar From the location to the timing and the messaging, the China-Hamas meeting on Sunday underscored Beijing's messaging and approach to the Gaza war without, however, elevating its role to a broker in the conflict. Palestine
China’s Middle East diplomat meets Hamas' Haniyeh in Qatar China confirmed a meeting between a Foreign Ministry official and Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Doha as Beijing seeks a wider role in the region. Palestine
Are Iran-Russia-China naval drills 'symbolic' or security tilt to East? While this marked the fifth consecutive year the three nations held joint naval exercises, current regional dynamics lent this edition "much deeper symbolism" than a routine drill. Iran
Analysis India courts Israel while calling for Gaza cease-fire and expanding Gulf ties In Jerusalem, Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval expressed his country’s support for Israel while also calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
What to know about MGX, UAE’s latest AI investment firm The launch of the AI-focused firm follows the UAE’s largest company appointing an AI bot to its board, as Abu Dhabi seeks to become a world player in artificial intelligence. United Arab Emirates
Iran, Russia, China conduct new military drills, defying Western pressure The exercise brought together the three countries' lead warships for the stated purpose of bolstering maritime security, while Tehran-backed Yemeni rebels continued to target international navigation in the wake of the Gaza war. Iran
A year on, China's Saudi-Iran deal endures by virtue of low expectations Whether China’s involvement symbolizes a rejection of US hegemony in the Middle East remains up for debate, but what matters more is the normalization of Saudi-Iranian relations that has materialized. Legacy: Gulf
How UAE fits into China’s electric vehicle push The United Arab Emirates’ electric vehicle ambitions and restrictions from the United States make the Gulf state an attractive partner for Chinese firms, but Abu Dhabi has a way to go before it meets its electric vehicle ownership targets. Legacy: Gulf
What message is Turkey signaling to China over Uyghurs' espionage arrests? Turkey has sent a clear message to China through the latest bust against the suspected individuals working on behalf of Chinese intelligence, a prominent former Turkish intelligence officer says. Turkey
Turkey detains 6 people suspected of spying on Uyghurs for China The suspects were rounded up in simultaneous raids in Istanbul for allegedly “collecting information” about prominent members of the Uyghur diaspora and their institutions based in Turkey. Turkey
A year on from Iran-Saudi thaw, little to show beyond photo ops Despite the detente, the two sides appear to have adopted few tangible measures to narrow their long-standing differences over regional influence, while their covert divergence on the Gaza war has only added to the complications of their fragile rapprochement. Iran
Back to roots: India, the Arabian Gulf and the reemergence of West Asia Building personal connections with Gulf leaders has proven instrumental for Modi in fostering stronger ties between India and the region. Legacy: Gulf
