Analysis As Trump confirms US-Iran meeting, can Pezeshkian find at UN path to a deal? In New York, Pezeshkian will be seeking leverage, not reconciliation, as Iran scrambles to balance military defiance, economic crises and tentative mediation against the costs of prolonging the conflict. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Explainer Turkish carriers halt Iran flights as US sanctions bite: Who could follow? On Monday, three major Turkish carriers canceled flights to and from Iran ahead of new US sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector. Iran
Iran seizes assets of 394 people accused of spying for 'hostile enemy' The crackdown comes amid heightened tensions in the region as the US and Iran trade threats. Iran
Analysis Why Netanyahu is distancing himself from Trump ahead of Israeli election No meeting has been announced between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
What did Saudi Embassy attackers want? Some in Iran suspect the "rogue elements" who attacked Saudi Arabia's embassy intended to sabotage the administration's foreign policy goals of improving relations with foreign countries post-nuclear deal. Saudi Arabia
Brother of executed Saudi cleric says Nimr is 'martyr against injustice' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Mohammed al-Nimr, the brother of the Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who was executed by Saudi Arabia, speaks about his family’s reaction, responses inside and outside Saudi Arabia and the fate of his brother’s body. Legacy: Gulf
What are the real goals of Riyadh’s new Islamic coalition? The Saudi-led Islamic coalition was not formed to only combat IS, but also to determine the future of Sunni areas in the conflict areas in Syria and Iraq. Saudi Arabia
Hard-liners take aim at Khomeini's grandson Hard-liners' attacks against the grandson of the Islamic Republic's founder may prove futile in their effort to derail his candidacy for the Assembly of Experts. Iran
Congress sets up first showdown of the year over Iran deal The Obama administration says it "strongly opposes" sanctions bill scheduled for an initial vote Jan. 7. Congress
Will missing text message disqualify Khomeini’s grandson? Confusion over how Hassan Khomeini was informed about taking an exam may lead to his disqualification to run in the Assembly of Experts elections. Iran
Tehran’s smog problem unlikely to clear up anytime soon Both as public servants, a father and daughter have sought to address Tehran's air pollution for decades, but Iran's highly politicized environmental crisis is a tangled issue. Iran
Congress seeks to punish countries that fail to hinder foreign fighters The House Foreign Affairs panel will vote this week on a plan to combat international travel by terrorists. Jordan
Will Iran suspend hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia? After Riyadh severed diplomatic relations with Tehran and suspended direct flights between the two countries, some are wondering if Iranian pilgrims will be banned. Saudi Arabia
Saudi-Iranian crisis complicates Ankara’s regional plans Islamists and secularists alike want Turkey to stay out of the Iranian-Saudi conflict. Saudi Arabia
Why are Iranian investors shrugging at nuclear deal? Despite the signing of the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, the Tehran Stock Exchange is still far below its levels before negotiations began under President Hassan Rouhani's rule. Iran
How will Saudi-Iranian crisis affect the region? As relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran reach their worst levels yet following the Saudi execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the United States, Russia and the European Union are exerting all possible efforts to avoid a spillover to other countries where these parties wield influence. Saudi Arabia