Iran gives 2-day window for Hormuz deal as US mulls strikes: What to know An Iranian spokesperson said on Monday that a revised proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could take effect within two days if Washington meets its demands. Iran
Will Iran take up Vance lifeline to avoid another US attack? Vance’s letter comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline; Jordan and Syria move to deepen security ties following a terrorist attack. Iran
Analysis How Netanyahu is trying to discredit Arab parties in bid to block Eisenkot Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to discredit the Arab parties' unprecedented electoral breakthrough by casting their victory as illegitimate. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Israel’s deadlock: Could Trump broker Netanyahu-Eisenkot deal? With most of the votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, find themselves in a political stalemate that may only be resolved if the US president pressures them into forming a unity government. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Corruption trial, ICC warrant: Why Netanyahu will stay in politics even if he loses By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Feature 50,000 Israeli expats fly home to vote in potential boon to Netanyahu rivals By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Global oil prices at highest since March following OPEC cuts Oil prices have fallen significantly this year as a result of the coronavirus and the Saudi-Russia price war, but Brent crude has now risen past $36. Saudi Arabia
New York court orders Gilgamesh tablet returned to Iraq The US Department of Justice said a past seller of the tablet, infamously purchased by the US company Hobby Lobby, misrepresented how it had been acquired. Iraq
Venezuela military will escort Iranian fuel tankers to shore Venezuela feels threatened by US opposition to its economic ties with Iran. United States
Intel: US rescinds ban on British defense firm implicated in Saudi weapons fraud The US State Department is rescinding a 9-year-old policy that barred it from doing business with the Saudi subsidiary of a British defense firm, which pled guilty to fraud in a multibillion-dollar arms deal in 2010. Saudi Arabia
Intel: Top adviser signals Biden would keep troops in Syria as leverage Under a Joe Biden presidency, the United States would retain a military presence in northeast Syria as leverage against the regime, the presumptive Democratic nominee’s top foreign policy adviser suggests. Syria
Intel: US sanctions Iran’s interior minister over deadly protests The United States slapped fresh sanctions and visa restrictions on 12 Iranian officials and entities, most accused of serious human rights abuses, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Wednesday. United States
Intel: Pompeo refused interview on Saudi arms sale investigation before firing Linick Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to give an interview for State Department Inspector General Steve Linick’s investigation into a massive Saudi arms sale deal before asking President Donald Trump to fire the watchdog, Al-Monitor has learned. Saudi Arabia
Israel’s new foreign minister has other, higher ambitions For Gabi Ashkenazi, his appointment as Israel’s new foreign minister is just the first step in his expected political soar. Israel
Israeli-Chinese ties scrutinized by US Washington might soon demand that Israel pick a side in the security and trade conflict between the United States and China. Israel
Intel: Biden warns against West Bank annexation as Israel lobbies Trump for green light Former Vice President Joe Biden told campaign donors today that any Israeli annexation of the West Bank would “choke off any hope for peace,” according to a transcript of the presumptive Democratic nominee’s remarks seen by Al-Monitor. Palestine
Intel: China tangled in US sanctions web for ties to Iran’s Mahan Air The United States sanctioned a China-based company today for providing “general sales agent services” for Iran’s Mahan Air. United States
Intel: Pompeo, Cavusoglu discuss US-Turkey coronavirus cooperation Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed US-Turkish COVID-19 cooperation during a phone call with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday. Turkey