Interview UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable' Abdulla Balalaa, UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, spoke to Al-Monitor about the situation in the Gulf along with the UAE's focus on promoting privatization in the water sector and the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Oil fires, toxic air and water risks: Environmental cost of Iran war expands to region The bombing of oil facilities in Iran and critical water infrastructure in the Gulf threatens the Middle East with long-lasting environmental destruction, as have similar tactics employed in previous conflicts. Iran
Iran currency dips to new low of 1.2M per dollar as sanctions bite: What to know Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, the rial has plummeted. Iran
Turkey, Iraq sign oil-for-water deal: What to know The landmark deal between Ankara and Baghdad sets out a finance mechanism to direct Iraqi oil proceeds into Turkish-built water infrastructure. Turkey
Analysis Water for influence: Turkey moves to ease Iraq's water shortages ahead of elections By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Jordan’s water security caught between $5B megaproject, frayed Israel ties By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Egypt weighs stance on Ethiopian Tigray conflict As conflict rages in Ethiopia, Egypt welcomes a delegation from Eritrea stressing its support for regional peace and stability while being keen on resuming the GERD talks amidst concerns over its water security. Egypt
Ethiopian armed conflict may affect Nile Dam dispute The armed conflict in Ethiopia could affect the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam file and slow down construction of the dam, which Egypt sees as a big threat to its water security. Egypt
Egypt to build world’s largest water desalination plant amid deadlock in Nile dam talks Egypt announced the building of the world’s largest water desalination plant, in a bid to meet the country’s growing water needs. Egypt
Biden's election victory draws mixed reactions in Egypt News of Biden's election victory has been met with both elation and dismay in Egypt. Pro-democracy activists are hoping a Biden presidency would ease the repression in Egypt while government supporters fear Biden will push for inclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
Egypt hopeful Congo AU presidency will help in Nile Dam crisis Egypt stressed its support for the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the presidency of the African Union to lead joint African action next year, most notably in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis. Egypt
Talks resume on Ethiopia's Nile River dam Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt will continue their negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam throughout the week after not talking for months over a filling disagreement. Egypt
Nile dam negotiations back on track after Trump remarks Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia resume AU-sponsored negotiations on the controversial dam Addis Ababa is building on the Nile River, days after US President Donald Trump warned that Egypt has the right to blow up the dam. Egypt
Talks on Nile River dam to resume on Tuesday The African Union-led talks begin amid continued tensions Sudan and Egypt have with Ethiopia over the massive hydroelectric dam. Negotiations have been on hold since August. Egypt
Eritrea shifts course on Egypt-Ethiopia dispute over Nile dam The visit of the Eritrean president to the site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam shows a change of position in Eritrea, which had always backed Egypt in the Nile dam issue. Egypt
Egypt embarks on new project in Congo amid faltering Nile dam talks Congolese media announced that Egypt’s Armed Forces Engineering Authority is in the process of implementing a project to make the Congo River navigable, while the negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam falter. Egypt
How Egypt perceives Ethiopia’s ban of flights over Nile dam Ethiopia has decided to ban flying over the Renaissance Dam that it is building on the Blue Nile in a move thought to deepen the years-old conflict. Egypt
Why Nile Renaissance Dam talks are on hold for now The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have been in a state of calm since the last session that was held under the auspices of the African Union and completely failed to reach a binding agreement between all parties. Egypt
