Analysis How far will Iran push Houthis against Saudi Arabia amid raging conflict? As Iran-backed Houthis broaden attacks on Saudi Arabia, Tehran's delicate calculation is exploiting the current conflict without being dragged into an escalation of its own making. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Newsletter: FutureVerse Middle East confronts AI risks In the Middle East, governments are pouring billions into AI ambitions as Anthropic’s own Claude chatbot comes under scrutiny for creating national security risks. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Why Saudi Arabia's balancing act with US, Iran, Houthis risks collapse Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Tuesday, triggering alerts around the holy city of Mecca, Taif and the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Exclusive Houthi top diplomat says no intention to shut down Red Sea shipping, group open to talks In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Acting Foreign Minister of the Houthi-led administration Abdulwahid Abu Ras said concerns over a potential closure of the Red Sea are being fueled by Saudi Arabia. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis Saudi pipeline shutdown exposes shrinking global oil-supply buffers By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Zionist Camp MK: Israel can maximize benefits from Iran deal In an interview with Al-Monitor, Zionist Camp Knesset member Eyal Ben-Reuven says that the Iranian framework agreement does establish some limits on the nuclear project, and calls to focus on effective deterrence and tight control on Iran. Israel
Khamenei criticizes Saudi airstrikes, nuclear agreement In addition to opposing recent Saudi strikes on Yemen, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced dissatisfaction with the recent Iran nuclear talks milestone, expressing skepticism that coming talks will result in adequate sanctions relief. Saudi Arabia
Rouhani eyes parliamentary elections Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has deemed the coming year "the year of elections," referring to the country's parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections. Iran
Iranian analyst questions policy toward Israel In a debate about the Lausanne nuclear framework, an Iranian professor questioned the cost Iran has paid for its nuclear program and the country's destructive policy toward Israel. Iran
How Nespresso and a whiteboard sealed the Iran deal An inside look at the marathon negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran that led to the provisional nuclear accord. Iran
Building on Iran deal to stem nuclear proliferation Nonproliferation experts hope that an Iran agreement won’t encourage other countries to seek the nuclear fuel cycle and that a decade or more of restrictions on Iran’s program can be used to promote other measures to stem the spread of dangerous technologies and materials. Iran
Erdogan focuses on trade during Iran visit Despite a red-carpet welcome to Tehran, where meetings between the Turkish president and Iranian officials focused on economic ties, the uproar around Recep Tayyip Erdogan's incendiary remarks about Iran continued unabated. Turkey
Iran official: framework deal welcomed Senior officials in Iran told Al-Monitor that Iran and the United States ensured the framework deal was one that served their own interests first and foremost. Iran
Will Iranian nuclear deal impact Lebanon? Although historically a change in regional dynamics has aided the political stalemate in Lebanon, it remains unclear whether this latest breakthrough will help the country elect a president. Saudi Arabia
Differences emerge in US, Iran interpretations of nuclear deal The statements issued by Iran and the United States after the Lausanne agreement have important discrepancies on key issues that need to be resolved before the June 30 deadline. Iran
Turkey reluctantly welcomes Iran deal Observers say Iran deal will increase Tehran’s regional influence at a time when Ankara’s influence has waned. Turkey
IRGC supports nuclear framework deal The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has thrown his support behind Iran's nuclear negotiators and the framework deal announced on April 2, despite expressing doubts about the United States. Congress