Erdogan thanks Trump for ‘historic’ Syria decision during Sharaa meeting The Turkish president also said his country was ready to support Damascus in the fight against the Islamic State and in maintaining the security of ISIS camps. Turkey
Trump to Syria's Sharaa: Recognize Israel, expel foreign fighters During their 30-minute meeting in Riyadh, the two leaders also discussed combating the Islamic State and future American investment in Syrian oil and gas. Syria
Analysis Trump wants to lift all US sanctions on Syria: Can he? Removing some sanctions on Syria could require congressional action, and one expert warned that rescinding all the measures could decrease the US’ leverage with the new government in Damascus. By Rosaleen Carroll , Adam Lucente
Trump to lift Syria sanctions, meet with Sharaa in Saudi Arabia President Donald Trump said his administration would take steps to normalize relations with Syria’s fledgling government. Saudi Arabia
Exclusive Syria's Sharaa pledges to form task force for missing Americans By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Iran calls new European special payment mechanism ‘first step’ Iran called a new European initiative to establish a payment mechanism to facilitate trade a “first step” and hopes it will expand. Iran
Senior Polish diplomat in Iran to mend ties amid Warsaw conference row Poland's deputy foreign minister visited Tehran to assure Iranians that an upcoming controversial conference in Warsaw will not turn into an anti-Iran event. United States
How US sanctions intensify rent-seeking in Iran’s pharma sector As US sanctions hit Iranian patients, it is becoming clear that the impact of the sanctions — including renewed opportunities for rent seeking — are also intensifying turf wars in the country’s pharmaceutical sector. Iran
US sanctions hit Iranian students seeking bank accounts in Europe While Europe says it remains committed to the nuclear deal with Iran, the US withdrawal from the accord has created overcompliance with sanctions among banks that has made life difficult for Iranian students in Europe; however, Iranian students in the United States tell Al-Monitor they have not experienced such difficulties. United States
Iranians slam new EU sanctions as JCPOA hangs in balance Iran has condemned new EU sanctions targeting its Intelligence Ministry over alleged assassination plots, especially as they are imposed at a time when Tehran is still awaiting a long-stalled European payment mechanism to circumvent US sanctions. United States
Why Iranian teachers are protesting Iranian teachers are raising their voices to demand better conditions both for themselves and their students, and the struggle is moving forward with both protests and engagement with the authorities. United States
US sanctions and the dynamics of Iran’s petroleum sector While US sanctions are hitting Iran’s key energy sector hard, the industry remains set to advance, albeit at a slower pace and with a lower level of technology. Iran
House Democrats prepare to take on Trump over Iran sanctions Democrats and advocacy groups are preparing to confront the Donald Trump administration about obstacles to humanitarian exemptions in the Iran sanctions regime. United States
Iran faces budget deficit, but no shortage of means to cover it Having stabilized the Iranian rial in recent weeks, the Rouhani administration is poised to fill its projected budget deficit by reducing the flow of money going to the National Development Fund while pushing the official and open market rates closer to each other. Iran
On Iran, US allies fear ‘maximum pressure’ could provoke escalation While Iran continues to comply for now with the 2015 nuclear deal even after the reimposition of US sanctions, European allies fear that the US administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign could eventually lead to war. United States
