US revokes Iran oil waiver after Hormuz attacks The United States had issued the two-month sanctions waiver as part of its preliminary deal with Iran. Iran
Analysis Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel Israel fears that Washington may be shifting its strategic options toward Turkey as the two rivals push for regional hegemony. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Trump says US will lift CAATSA sanctions on Turkey, consider F-35 sale The US president has announced that sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian missile batteries will be lifted. Turkey
Analysis As it hosts NATO, Turkey eyes France's SAMP/T system, F-35 progress with Trump Turkey is set to host NATO leaders as doubts over US commitment linger prompting Ankara to seeks its own defense deals with Paris and Washington. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran mourns Khamenei as questions swirl over Mojtaba’s absence By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis In Libya, maritime dispute could complicate Turkey’s backing of US unity push By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis As US-Iran talks falter, Israel views war outcome as 'total strategic failure’ By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Senate votes to constrain Trump on Gulf arms sales as Iran tensions heat up A bipartisan group of senators rebuked President Donald Trump for his Iran emergency declaration hours after Tehran shot down a US drone over the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia
US sanctions fail to bend Iran’s economy, expert says Al-Monitor contributor Bijan Khajehpour said at an Al-Monitor event in Washington today that the Donald Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign has not succeeded in crippling the country's economy. United States
Intel: What's next for US-Iran tensions after drone downing Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated further as both sides confirmed that Iran shot down a US military drone today. United States
IRGC: Drone downing 'message’ against foreign invasion Iran claims that the US drone it shot down was flying over Iranian territory when hit by a surface-to-air missile. United States
New Pentagon chief faces first test with Iran Army Secretary Mark Esper is set to take the helm as the Pentagon’s newest acting chief, but comes to the job with limited Middle East experience. United States
Intel: How Democrats are using John Bolton’s Iraq War baggage to push back on Trump’s Iran policy National security adviser John Bolton wasn’t on Capitol Hill today, but he still took center stage as Democrats grilled State Department Iran coordinator Brian Hook on the Donald Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy. United States
How will S-400 affair affect Turkish-NATO ties? Calls for Turkey to be expelled from NATO or for Turkey to leave NATO are not realistic, say experts. Turkey
Abbas wins: Israeli officials won’t attend Bahrain conference Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas managed to veto the participation of an official Israeli delegation at the upcoming Bahrain conference. Bahrain
Pompeo visits CENTCOM amid mixed messaging from US on Iran In a strange move for a top US diplomat, Mike Pompeo visited a US military command solo to avow that the United States doesn't want war with Iran. United States
As Jerusalem meeting nears, Russia seeks ways to ease US-Iran tensions Russia is urging the United States to cease provocations of Iran and also is seeking to persuade Tehran to stay in the nuclear deal. Israel
US lines up partners to protect oil tankers after Gulf attacks Gen. Paul Selva, the second-ranking US military officer, said today that the Donald Trump administration is asking for the help of Asian nations that import Gulf oil to help protect tankers from suspected Iranian attacks. United States
Trumps eats up Netanyahu's cynical 'Trump Heights' ploy Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes that naming a Golan Heights settlement after President Donald Trump will flatter the American leader into recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over parts of the West Bank as well. Palestine