Analysis ‘A reckless act’: Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit Just as UAE-Israeli relations were deepening through cooperation against Iran, the Israeli prime minister publicly embarrassed Abu Dhabi by revealing his March visit. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says removing Iran’s uranium is more about optics Trump downplays Iran uranium removal after China talks, the UAE moves to bypass Hormuz and Iraq ends months of political deadlock. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Uptick in Chinese tankers transiting Hormuz amid Trump-Xi summit President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, a meeting closely watched in Iran. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump, Xi discuss Hormuz, but no Iran breakthrough expected Trump and Xi opened talks in Beijing with the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz high on the agenda, while Lebanon and Israel prepared for a new round of US-mediated negotiations. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Business & Tech Oil supply fears deepen as Hormuz traffic stays thin By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis Iran looms large over Trump’s China visit, but breakthrough unlikely By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Why Iranian authorities failed to minimize flood damage While the extent of the recent floods in Iran would have been difficult to manage for most countries in the world, the impact of mismanagement on the part of the Iranian authorities has been so extreme that the disaster has been referred to as “man-made.” Iran
Debate emerges as Iraqi forces enter Iran to aid flood relief The presence of Iraqi forces in Iran set off an online debate about the role of foreign fighters inside Iran. Iraq
Trump’s pick for top Middle East post set to advance President Donald Trump’s long-delayed pick to serve as the top US diplomatic official for the Middle East is set to clear the Senate Foreign Relations panel. Syria
Iraq struggles to distance itself from US-Iran tensions As the conflict between the United States and Iran intensifies, Iraq insists on remaining impartial in the conflict. Iraq
Powerful Iranian shrine endowment gets moderate custodianship The appointment of a moderate as custodian of the wealthy Astan Quds Razavi could be a boon to the Rouhani administration — but only if the powers of the hard-line Mashhad Friday prayer leader are curtailed. Iran
IRGC terror designation: Trump's election gift to Netanyahu The US president's decision to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization could allow Israel to better justify action against the group in Syria. Israel
Fall of Iran’s former ally in Sudan sparks online reactions Iranian journalists and social media users closely watch events in Sudan, as the former ally transitions to a new era. Iran
Zarif reshuffles key envoys in push for active diplomacy In an effort seemingly meant to step up diplomacy, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reshuffled key ambassadors, signaling plans for a more active engagement with the world. Iran
Iran signals change to FX regime, crackdown on profiteering The Iranian authorities said renewed turbulence on foreign exchange markets will be short-lived as signals were sent that a crackdown on profiteering is ahead. United States
Will Iraq reemerge as battleground between the US, Iran? Iraq is primed to emerge as an area of mutual Iranian and American influence, although Tehran does not appear keen to initiate a direct confrontation. Iraq
Iranian elites rally behind IRGC after US terrorist designation Iranian elites from across the fray expressed solidarity with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after the US administration branded the military organization a terrorist organization. Iran