Newsletter: Business & Tech Trump pivots from Hormuz tolls as US-Iran fighting resumes Oil prices remain far below their early May peak of nearly $115 a barrel, but the renewed hostilities have pushed them well above the roughly $70 level seen before the war. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Ahmadinejad denies alleged Mossad plot to install him as Iran leader: What to know The former president, who was a virulent critic of Israel while in office, was reportedly part of a Mossad plan to replace the current Iranian leadership. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Why Iran, US are drifting back to conflict Trump hosts Iraqi PM Zaidi; Bahrain sentences 3 to life in prison over ties to Iran's IRGC; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Interview Why Strait of Hormuz no longer rattles oil markets as much: IMF The fund's Middle East director, Jihad Azour, told Al-Monitor that the big Gulf energy producers now have more capacity to absorb the shock. Jihad Azour Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund
Analysis How UK's IRGC designation raises stakes for Iran and Europe By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Iran should take up Trump’s offer to talk If not directly, at first, then there might be a channel through trusted partners. Oman
Why Netanyahu's so quiet on US-Iran conflict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being cautious about engaging Israel in the US-Iran tensions, though he would surely not object to an American attack on Iran. Israel
Republicans rush to extinguish Iran war talk GOP lawmakers insist that Trump’s show of force is the best way to prevent an immediate Iranian attack, even as a long-term solution to tensions remains elusive. Congress
If Rouhani’s Europe outreach fails, nuclear deal could collapse The Rouhani administration has pinned its hopes on Europe to save the nuclear deal, and the stakes couldn't be higher. United States
Iranian FM calls military action against Iran 'political suicide' Iran’s foreign minister traveled to Japan to discuss how to reduce tensions in the region and responses to "bullying" from the United States. Iran
Iraqi factions a wild card in US-Iran blame game Armed militias in Iraq will have to determine whether their loyalties lie with their neutral government or against the United States in a standoff with Iran. Iraq
Could Iraq play a role in easing US-Iran tensions? Iraqi political leaders, alarmed by the escalating proxy war between Iran and the United States taking place in their country, are trying to serve as mediators between the two. Iraq
'Neither talks nor war,' Khamenei says of US-Iran tensions Despite recent heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, Iran's supreme leader said a war will not erupt between the two sides. United States
Will the Trump administration abort Iran’s land bridge to the Mediterranean? As tensions between the United States and Iran are at their height in the Gulf region, there are talks about Iran pushing for the opening of al-Bukamal crossing between Syria and Iraq. Iraq
Why Iranians doubt the seriousness of Trump's latest offer of talks US President Donald Trump's latest offer of talks with Iran has grabbed more attention than his previous overtures, but Iranian political elites agree that the offer is not sincere. United States
Students rally against hijab crackdown at Iran's largest university Iranian students at Tehran University held protests after what they claim was a new clampdown on dress codes. Iran
Frustrated European allies warn Pompeo against US-Iran escalation European foreign ministers did little to hide their distress that Secretary of State Pompeo abruptly decided to consult them on rising Iran tensions, which they had warned would be a consequence of quitting the nuclear deal. United States
