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
Saudis say Biden’s threats are ‘election talk' Although there are political tensions on human rights issues, the US-Saudi relationship could be vital for the United States to address Russian and Chinese influence in the Middle East region. Saudi Arabia
US envoy for Iran says Biden returning to Iran deal not a given Elliott Abrams told reporters that the United States will continue to sanction Iran as long as Donald Trump is president. United States
Iran’s supreme leader ridicules US over election ‘spectacle’ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously said Iran is not concerned about who wins the election. United States
Iran unveils new missile launching system Iran announces a new missile system in what seemed to be yet another message to Western leaders that the Islamic Republic will press ahead with its “non-negotiable” missile program no matter who is US president. United States
Iran calls US 'pirates' for selling seized oil The Justice Department announced Thursday the sale of 1.1 million barrels of Iranian refined petroleum. Iran
Pentagon chief visits Israel, Bahrain with little fanfare The quiet visit came less than a week after the defense secretary said the United States would like to see regional security cooperation with Israel to deter Iran. Bahrain
US sells seized Iranian fuel, seeks forfeiture of missiles The United States has sold and delivered the 1.1 million barrels of Iranian oil seized from four Venezuela-bound vessels in August. United States
Iranian plane sanctioned by US lands in Venezuela It is unclear what the aircraft brought. The United States maintains sanctions on both Iran and Venezuela. Iran
Would Mideast leaders prefer Trump or Biden to deal with Iran? Whoever wins the election, a new Iran deal would require a regional consensus and some tough diplomacy with Putin. United States
Iran desperate to maintain Iraqi financial lifeline Iran seeks to maintain the flow of hard currency from Iraq to help it overcome the US sanctions. Iraq
No more UN embargo on Iran, but no arms sales either Anyone who might seek to sell arms to Iran is likely in a holding pattern to see what happens in the US election and to see what Iran, in dire economic straits, can afford. United States
US rejects Russian proposal at UN on new Gulf security mechanism The US ambassador to the UN said the endeavor would not work until Iran meets its international obligations. Originals