In shift, Lebanon grants Iranian ambassador residency extension Mohammad Reza Sheibani’s visa was set to expire early Tuesday morning and he was first ordered to leave in March. Iran
China holds second air drill with Egypt: What to know China is seeking to strengthen ties with Egypt and Gulf states, including via joint air drills. Egypt
Explainer SDF chief Kobane’s Damascus visit a high wire act for Syria’s Kurds The SDF says its integration with Damascus is complete, but major questions remain over its fighters, weapons and the future of Kurdish self-rule. Syria
Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran Traders are awaiting details about new US measures sure to further disrupt Iranian oil flows. Iran
Analysis Can Trump's economic war ultimately force Iran to compromise? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Hillary Clinton says Trump playing 'dangerous game' with Iran The former secretary of state's warning follows other criticism of a Trump administration show of military force to dissuade Iran from potential attacks. United States
US announces sanctions on Iran metals industry The latest of several recent sanctions from the Trump administration includes designations of companies based in the United Kingdom, Germany and China. United States
Iran seeks Interpol red notice for Trump, US officials The Iranian government wants President Donald Trump arrested for ordering the drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. Iran
Iran uses domestically made drones in large military exercise Iran's military training and exercises regularly focus on potential conflict with the United States. Iran
Zarif says US setting up ‘pretext’ for war As tensions between Iran and the United States escalate, Iran’s foreign minister claims the United States is trying to fabricate evidence for war. Iran
US again sends B-52 bombers to deter Iran as tensions peak The deployment is the third flight of nuclear-capable Stratofortresses to the region in less than two months Israel
Rouhani: Iran reserves right to avenge Soleimani death President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will avenge the US assassination of its top commander Qasem Soleimani and will continue to seek the ouster of American forces from the region. United States
US show of force in Persian Gulf ahead of anniversary of Soleimani killing A guided-missile submarine and two cruisers are the Pentagon's latest warning to Iran. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi government arrests suspects after rockets aimed at US Embassy As the one-year anniversary of the killing of Iranian general Qasem Solaimani approaches, several rockets have again been shot at the US Embassy in Baghdad; suspects have been arrested. Iraq
Can the US force Iran out of Syria? Not likely, former officials say The outgoing Trump administration appears to have made little if any progress in achieving its goal. Syria
US sanctions companies in UAE, China over Iranian petrochemical sales A slew of new sanctions in Trump administration's final weeks could complicate Biden's pledge to rejoin the Iranian nuclear agreement. Iran
Iran’s Khamenei vows ‘definite’ revenge for US killing of Soleimani Iran’s supreme leader said revenge for the killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani is a definite plan, as he called on regional nations to push for the ouster of US forces. United States
![A general view shows the US embassy across the Tigris river in Iraq's capital Baghdad on January 3, 2020. - The US embassy in Baghdad urged American citizens in Iraq to "depart immediately", for fear of fallout from a US strike that killed top Iranian and Iraqi commanders. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [2020] instead of [2019]. Please immediately remove the erron](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/12/GettyImages-1191358629.jpg/GettyImages-1191358629.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=dAlkQp_Q)
