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
Pompeo dismisses Rouhani’s terms for talks as Iran admits ‘no plan B’ for Syria Israel, Iran and the United States are all not backing down in Syria, but US-Iran prisoner talks may still have a chance. Iraq
Iran to hand over to France black boxes from downed Ukrainian plane Iran is ultimately promising to loosen its hold on the black boxes from the Ukrainian plane it shot down with two missiles in January. Iran
General Electric helps increase electricity generation in Iraq Power stations that General Electric helped develop and improved exploitation of natural gas boost Iraq's energy infrastructure as the country seeks alternatives to imported energy from Iran. Iraq
Iranian food ship docks in Venezuela It is the latest example of cooperation between the two countries in the face of US opposition. Iran
Can Trump secure release of all US hostages in Iran? Another prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States seems possible after two in just six months, but the previous exchanges have not generated any mutual trust. United States
Intel: Democrats condemn US broadcasting CEO’s Middle East purges after expanding office’s powers President Donald Trump’s new CEO of the US Agency for Global Media on Wednesday fired the heads of at least three of its outlets who collectively oversaw its Middle East and Iran coverage. The move sparked immediate condemnation from key Democrats despite their previous bipartisan support for expanding the CEO’s powers. Congress
Intel: European countries set to rebuke Iran at UN nuclear agency Iran is facing a formal rebuke by the United Kingdom, France and Germany at the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency for refusing to cooperate with the agency’s inspection of two sites believed to have housed nuclear research in the past. Iraq
Three Katyusha rockets land near Baghdad’s airport The Iraqi military said no one was injured or killed in the attack near Baghdad's airport late Monday. Iraq
Iran's Rouhani warns other countries against following US arms sanctions Iran has warned other countries of the United Nations Security Council to not go along with US plans to continue the arms embargo. United States
US, Iraq look to continue strategic dialogue in Washington next month Following an initial round of talks in Baghdad, Iraq and the United States have agreed to maintain and expand cooperation in various realms. Iraq
Parliament speaker opens new conservative era in Iranian politics Parliament Speaker Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf starts his new job at a time when Iran faces great challenges, with the conservatives set to dominate Iranian politics in the near future. Iran
Rocket hits Baghdad as US-Iraq dialogue set to launch In order to reorganize the relationship between the two countries in various aspects, Iraq and the United States are negotiating over a new strategic agreement. Iraq
