UAE president heads to Russia to meet Putin as ties grow: What to know UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan is heading to Moscow on Thursday for an official visit, his second in less than a year as Russian-Emirati relations continue to develop rapidly. United Arab Emirates
As Trump warms to Syria, US pushes UN to lift Sharaa sanctions The move comes as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa prepares to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next month. Syria
Mysterious fires, alleged cyberattack hint at escalating Israel-Iran shadow war Amid a shadow war with Israel that appears to be escalating, Iran's foreign minister has said that nuclear negotiations are still possible, but will require overcoming rising "anti-negotiation" sentiment in Iran. Iran
US hits Palestine officials with visa bans amid growing statehood recognition The sanctions are expected to have limited effect, as Palestinian officials generally avoid traveling to the United States due to restrictions imposed by a 2019 anti-terrorism law. Palestine
Analysis Trump’s Syria gamble tested by unrest in Suwayda By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Iran exports to Russia hit high of $2B as sanctions strengthen alliance The significant jump in Iranian exports to Russia is indicative of the two states' increasing focus on joint solutions to circumvent international sanctions that have squeezed their economies. Iran
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline gets a reset, can it overcome sanctions? As Tehran and Islamabad work to make progress on the Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline that has been decades in the making, the threat of US sanctions and financing challenges still remain. Iran
US sanctions target Russia’s production of Iranian attack drones On the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration has rolled out new measures meant to counter Russia’s drone partnership with Iran. Iran
Congress pushes White House to toughen anti-Assad policy The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation meant to combat the normalization of Syria's long-shunned regime. Syria
Analysis France leads EU in sanctioning violent Israeli settlers France has become the first European Union member state to enact sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Who are the four Israeli settlers sanctioned by UK for West Bank violence? The sanctions follow US designations of settlers enacted on Feb. 1, with the European Union and France also preparing sanctions. Israel
Meet Lebanon's Nawaf Salam, new ICJ president Salam, Lebanon’s former ambassador to the UN, becomes head of the UN’s top legal body at a critical time amid the Gaza war. Lebanon
US Treasury sanctions ISIS facilitators in Egypt, Turkey The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a pair of cybersecurity experts in Egypt and a Turkey-based individual involved in transferring funds to individuals associated with the Islamic State. Egypt
Who are the Iranians sanctioned by US, UK for murder plots against dissidents? One of the plots culminated in the 2019 assassination of Iranian government critic Mas’ud Vardanjani in Istanbul, according to a statement by the US Treasury Monday. Iran
How significant is Niger's PM visit to Iran post-coup and amid Africa push? Iran wants better economic and political relations with sub-Saharan African states, including the sanctioned military junta in Niger. Iran
EU sanctions Hamas' Yahya Sinwar and Somalia's al-Shabab top leader The European Union Council announced Tuesday it was taking restrictive financial measures against the Gaza-based group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar. Israel
What is behind Iran-Russia de-dollarization deal as sanctions bite? The long-awaited agreement was one among several solutions the two countries have sought to salvage their battered economies, which remain cut off from key international banking systems. Iran
