Analysis Araghchi’s Russia, regional tour tests path to breaking US-Iran deadlock Iranian officials say dialogue remains open, but negotiations are clouded by intensifying hard-line domestic messaging and conflicting signals over Tehran’s red lines. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Why did the Met Opera lose its Saudi funding deal? The deal, announced as a nonbinding memorandum of understanding last September, would have seen the PIF inject up to $200 million into the opera institution over the next eight years. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps Some Israelis worry the US president might force them to accept an unsatisfactory agreement driven by his inability to secure a tangible achievement in Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks President Trump said the second meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese envoys went "very well." Lebanon
Congress pushes Trump to reopen US Consulate in Iraq’s Basra province The State Department closed the US Consulate in Iraq’s Basra province nearly a year ago. Now Congress is laying the groundwork to reopen it. Iraq
Zarif: Attack on Iran would mean 'all-out war' Iranian officials have said that if the United States or Saudi Arabia strikes Iran over the recent attack on Saudi oil facilities, it is prepared to defend itself. Saudi Arabia
Trump, Europeans push to keep space for Iran diplomacy after Saudi attacks Following strikes on Saudi oil facilities, Donald Trump stated his desire to avoid escalation with Iran. Saudi Arabia
Suspected Iranian strikes raise US concerns over Chinese missile proliferation The Donald Trump administration is concerned that US adversaries such as China are abetting Iran’s growing missile arsenal, which US officials believe was used in strikes against Saudi oil facilities over the weekend. Saudi Arabia
Iraq works to distance itself from US-Iran tension after Saudi Aramco attack Baghdad is worried that the Sept. 14 attack on Saudi Arabia will affect Iraq's stability and relationship with neighboring countries. Legacy: Gulf
Sanders warns Trump against illegal Iran strike Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is warning Donald Trump that he does not have the legal authority to strike Iran. Saudi Arabia
Iran sends a powerful signal to counter Iraqi nationalist trend Iraqi populist Muqtada al-Sadr’s trip to Iran presents opportunity for the United States. Iraq
Pompeo, Mnuchin say no preconditions for Iran meeting as Trump ousts Bolton After President Donald Trump announced that he had fired his national security adviser John Bolton over very strong policy disagreements, Trump’s top diplomat and treasury chief reiterated that Trump has no preconditions to meet with Iran. United States
Rouhani dismisses bilateral talks with US, claims economic recovery Iran's president has dismissed any bilateral dialogue with the US government, saying Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign has failed to bring Iran to its knees. United States
Rouhani says he doesn’t want photo-op with Trump — but maybe he should French President Emmanuel Macron, the man in the middle, is appealing to both sides for compromise. Russia
Will Iran retaliate after recent Israeli attacks? Israel seems to be provoking Iran by striking the latter's proxies in Iraq and Lebanon. But Tehran is not showing willingness to directly engage in an all-out war with Tel Aviv. Iraq
Despite heightened regional tensions, UAE seeks de-escalation with Iran The UAE government has been taking steps toward easing tensions with Iran as a safety precaution in the event of a major military conflict between Tehran and Washington. United Arab Emirates
