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
Nuclear scientist's assassination puts Tehran at crossroads As Iran investigates the assassination of a top nuclear scientist, fingers are already pointing at Israel and the United States, whose outgoing administration clearly wants to minimize the chances of reviving the nuclear deal. Iran
Iran's president says post-Trump de-escalation with US can be 'easy' President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran could ease tensions with the new US administration, only one day after Iran’s supreme leader expressed disappointment at negotiations. Iran
Talks ‘got us nowhere’: Iran’s supreme leader casts doubt on future negotiations Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments come as the Trump administration ramps up its maximum pressure campaign on Iran. Iran
Iran taps into emergency fund to compensate Ukraine flight victims The Islamic Republic is to pay families of the victims of the Ukrainian flight it downed earlier this year. But the payment has been secured not from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for the missile attack but from an emergency fund meant for the public interest. Iran
Iran to pursue legal action against US over medical sanctions Tehran has struggled to contain the spread of the disease and accused Washington of cutting off access to a life support system. Iran
Rouhani, Zarif face criticism for suggesting talks with US While Iran seeks the removal of sanctions, some officials are not keen to reenter direct talks with the US. Iran
US unveils new round of Iran sanctions, Pompeo pledges more to come Targets in the latest round of sanctions include an Iranian charitable organization and Iran's intelligence minister. United States
The Takeaway: Iran’s mixed messages include diplomatic opening for Biden Iran escalates tensions in Trump’s final days, while Zarif opens window to diplomacy; Israel, Palestinians, Gulf ready themselves for Biden; Woman coaches Egyptian men’s soccer team; More mummies in Egypt! Iran
Iran fed uranium gas to prohibited centrifuges at underground site, says UN US President Donald Trump proposed attacking the site in a meeting with advisers last week. Iran
Iran’s Zarif says Biden could lift Iran sanctions in no time Iran’s foreign minister expressed optimism about Joe Biden’s presidency, noting that Washington’s return to the Iran nuclear deal could take place without preconditions. United States
Biden transition, Gulf leaders should start talking about Iran Saudi Arabia and the UAE should reach out to the Biden team now, creating a back channel to promote both Gulf and US security interests in the final months of Trump's presidency. Iran
Iran expects US to return to nuclear deal without conditions Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said the era of maximum pressure is over. Iran
