Analysis Israel braces for Iran attack as Trump’s economic squeeze on Tehran intensifies Skeptical about the effectiveness of the American economic blockade on Tehran to weaken the regime, Israel is preparing for the possibility that Iran could decide to strike the Jewish state during the upcoming high holidays. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Lebanon says at least 12 killed in Israeli strikes as tensions rise in south The escalation in southern Lebanon casts a shadow over upcoming Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome. Lebanon
Analysis Could Trump’s oil push in Venezuela upend OPEC’s energy order? Washington’s growing role in controlling the Latin American country's crude riches could help reshape an energy order centered on OPEC as the Hormuz crisis pressures Gulf exports. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Who is Amir Yaryab, IRGC’s cyber commander in US crosshairs? The US State Department has offered up to $10 million for information on Amir Yaryab, who oversees a key part of Iran’s cyber operations. Iran
Analysis Playing for time: Despite US pressure, Israel stalls Lebanon talks until after election By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Israel favors status quo as tensions in Iran's leadership fuel escalation risk By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Confiscated $2 billion could spell legal trouble for Ahmadinejad After Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to Barack Obama asking for the return of $2 billion, Hassan Rouhani asked the judiciary to investigate why the funds belonging to Iran were never pulled out of the United States. United States
Ahmadinejad wants Obama to give back Iran’s $2 billion Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written US President Barack Obama another letter. United States
Was Israel's Iran deal-Nazi agreement comparison step too far? Amid an effort to quickly conclude a US military aid deal, the Israeli Defense Ministry issued a statement comparing US President Barack Obama to Neville Chamberlin and the Iranian deal to the Munich Agreement. Israel
Why Russia doesn't want Aleppo to fall Could Russia be seeing a stalemate in Aleppo as playing to its advantage? Syria
Obama: no safe haven for al-Qaeda in Syria The United States to continue "intense fire efforts" against terrorist group as US-Russia talks appear stalled; Is Muqtada al-Sadr losing the Iraqi street? Nouri al-Maliki plots his return. Iraq
US election 2016: Is Trump trying to lose? Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of Aug. 1. United States
Obama chides Russia, but will 'test' cooperation to curb Syria war US President Barack Obama on Aug. 4 criticized Russia for backing the Syrian regime’s advances on Aleppo, as US-Russian negotiations on possible deeper cooperation on Syria drag on without agreement. Syria
Iranian wrestlers go for the gold in Rio Iranian official says Iranian wrestlers’ “biggest challenge” at the Olympics will come from Russians and Americans. Russia
How to kick-start Iran-US regional cooperation Opponents of the nuclear deal in the West should understand that efforts to undermine the JCPOA only serve to reinforce in the minds of Iranians the notion that the United States cannot be trusted or engaged with on regional or other issues. United States
Turkish legislators press case for Gulen extradition A group of parliamentarians from Turkey visited Washington to try to ease tensions with the United States following a failed July 15 coup attempt. Turkey
Khamenei calls negotiation with US 'lethal poison' Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has again criticized the nuclear deal, saying due to US-made obstacles, there have been no tangible effects for the people of Iran. United States
Al-Qaeda affiliate’s desperate 'switch' validates US Syria policy Fear of US and Russian airstrikes on eve of Syrian offensive a sign that Jabhat al-Nusra may be feeling the heat; Turkey’s de-Gulenification campaign in context; retired Saudi general probes Israeli commitment to peace settlement. Saudi Arabia