In shift, Lebanon grants Iranian ambassador residency extension Mohammad Reza Sheibani’s visa was set to expire early Tuesday morning and he was first ordered to leave in March. Iran
China holds second air drill with Egypt: What to know China is seeking to strengthen ties with Egypt and Gulf states, including via joint air drills. Egypt
Explainer SDF chief Kobane’s Damascus visit a high wire act for Syria’s Kurds The SDF says its integration with Damascus is complete, but major questions remain over its fighters, weapons and the future of Kurdish self-rule. Syria
Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran Traders are awaiting details about new US measures sure to further disrupt Iranian oil flows. Iran
Analysis Can Trump's economic war ultimately force Iran to compromise? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
US threatens response after Houthi missiles hit cargo ships in Red Sea Iran-backed factions across the Middle East opened a new volley of attacks targeting Israeli-linked cargo vessels in the Red Sea and US troops in Iraq and Syria since Israel's truce with Hamas collapsed on Friday. Legacy: Gulf
What is scope of Iran-Oman joint military drill near Hormuz? The drill was held only days after the Pentagon dispatched one of its largest aircraft carriers to the strategic waters, causing unease in Tehran amid risks of potential confrontations stemming from the Israel-Hamas war. Iran
US Navy shoots down Iran-made drone fired from Yemen The shooting follows a separate incident in the Persian Gulf in which an Iranian drone came within 1,500 yards of the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier. Legacy: Gulf
Gaza truce brings halt in Iran-linked attacks on US troops in Iraq, Syria Pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas coincides with tentative reprieve for US troops hunting down the remnants of the Islamic State group as Iran-backed militias hold their fire. Syria
Iran unveils new Deylaman warship capable of launching cruise missiles The new warship is part of Iran’s efforts to increase its military presence in the Caspian Sea. Iran
How risky is US-Houthi escalation after Navy thwarts tanker hijacking? The Iran-backed rebels are risking new levels of escalation as they jockey for clout in talks with Saudi Arabia as Israel's war in the Gaza Strip grinds on. Legacy: Gulf
Pentagon expands strikes on Iran-backed groups amid Iraq backlash Iraq's government slammed US airstrikes that targeted Kata'ib Hezbollah command centers as 'an unacceptable violation of sovereignty' as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani seeks to balance his support base with Baghdad's ties with Washington. Iraq
US gunship strikes Iran-backed militias in Iraq after ballistic missile attack US commanders ordered lethal strikes in quick response to a missile attack on the Ain al-Asad air base, in a sign the military is taking matters into its own hands to defend its personnel in Iraq. Iraq
Iraqi FM says unless US stops Israel, conflict in Gaza will 'burn all of us' Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein worries that the conflict in Gaza will drag on and expand beyond Israel’s borders. Iraq
Iran’s UN envoy: US military boost leaves it 'exposed' to attacks, Saudi-Israel normalization derailed by war Saeid Iravani told Al-Monitor that Saudi Arabia’s normalizing relations with Israel in the foreseeable future has reached an impasse following war in Gaza. Iran
Gaza war tests Arab Gulf influence as GCC tries to avert regional escalation Although the UAE and Bahrain have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and Saudi Arabia was considering such a move, Arab states in the region have their own reasons to be cautious. Legacy: Gulf
How far will Iran go to support Hamas in war with Israel? Forty days into the Israel-Hamas war, the commander of Iran's Quds Force promised the militant group that Iran "will do anything required." Yet questions linger over Iran's willingness to risk direct involvement. Iran
