Analysis As Houthis seize Bab el-Mandeb, Iran appraises value of new Red Sea card Iran is celebrating the Houthis' rapid advance toward Bab el-Mandeb, but appears reluctant to act on the win. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Claude AI used for missile, influence projects in UAE, Iran, Yemen: Anthropic Military and government actors across the Middle East — from Iran to Yemen to the United Arab Emirates — have used Anthropic's Claude AI model for war planning and influence campaigns. Yemen
Analysis Could Iran’s nuclear ambitions harden as war escalates? A new report has raised alarm about the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site that President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Iran’s Pickaxe mountain tests limits of Trump’s military options A secretive Pentagon innovation agency has hastened to test munitions that may penetrate deeper than the GBU-57 bombs dropped on Iran’s two main enrichment facilities. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis What Houthi setbacks in Yemen mean for Iran's regional influence By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Does Hezbollah seek Israel’s elimination? 'Not so,' says Nasrallah Hezbollah leader says group will not open new front against Israel; Turkey’s two-front war; battles for Aleppo “unlike any others”; Saudi military exercise provides distraction. Saudi Arabia
Kerry sells foreign aid budget A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Feb. 22. Iraq
Among Iranian Reformists, hope goes hand in hand with pragmatism How do Iranian Reformists see the future of their country — including the prospect of change — in the aftermath of the nuclear deal? Iran
How Iran's supreme leader prepares for election day The website for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published a number of fatwas about the elections. Iran
Hamas and Iran: New era, new rules After a cooling of ties following the outbreak of the Arab Spring, Hamas appears to be moving to restore its relations with Iran. Palestine
Iran struggles with border security An IRGC commander says the elite Saberin Unit has provided Iran with security on its borders. Iraq
Is Iran really ready for foreign investment? Despite President Hassan Rouhani’s touting of foreign investment as the savior of the Iranian economy amid low crude prices, the country might not be able to handle the necessary capital inflow. Iran
Iran denies US gave money in exchange for prisoners The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry has denied accusations by conservative figures and media that the prisoner swap in January was related to the release of $1.7 billion. Iran
Iran MP: We’ve created artificial red lines on free speech While official campaigning has not yet begun, Iranian candidates have begun speaking at universities. Iran
Iranians gear up for parliamentary elections Hard-liners have managed to seize control of the conservative camp, but their victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections is not guaranteed. Iran
7 things to consider before sending troops to Syria By supporting a Saudi ground invasion of Syria, the United States would be aiding and abetting the expansion of terrorism as well as pushing Iran and Russia toward threatening the very viability of the House of Saud. Saudi Arabia
How Tehran plans to crack down on property speculators Iran has a plan to tax languishing building projects and vacant homes in an effort to curb rampant speculation and raise revenue. Iran