Analysis How a new Baluch militant coalition raises pressure on Iran-Pakistan border Iran's military standoff with the US may be creating opportunities for Baluch groups to launch operations from the mountainous, sparsely populated frontier region with Pakistan. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Analysis As Iran regime marks 200 days of war, is it also preparing for dissent? Seven months into the war with the US, Iranian authorities staged a pro-government mobilization in Tehran, combining patriotic spectacle with a carefully calibrated demonstration aimed for domestic internal security capacity. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments The US government says the exchange was used to channel payments from an Iranian maritime-insurance scheme to the regime. Iran
China presses Iran, US to reopen Hormuz as disruptions threaten oil supply Conflicts in the region are disrupting two key routes for oil bound for China, with Iranian crude affected by the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi shipments facing growing risks in the Red Sea. Iran
Newsletter: Business & Tech Saudi oil squeeze deepens By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Exclusive Lacking deterrence, Israel’s security establishment opposes attacks on Houthis By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How far will Iran push Houthis against Saudi Arabia amid raging conflict? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Newsletter: FutureVerse Middle East confronts AI risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Iran Frees Political Prisoners Before Rouhani Comes to UN Beyond a public-relations gesture in advance of President Hassan Rouhani’s US trip, the release of political prisoners could ease the divisions in Iran following the disputed 2009 presidential elections. Iran
Rouhani Should Give Priority To Religious Freedom in Iran Religious minority communities still face repression in Iran. Iran
Iran Increases Aid to PFLP Thanks to Syria Stance Iran has rewarded the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's pro-Assad stance with an increase in financial and military assistance. Palestine
Netanyahu to US: Iran for Palestine? The Israeli right fears that Netanyahu might agree to an interim arrangement that will include a settlement evacuation in exchange for US guarantees on the Iranian file. Palestine
Saudi Arabia Vies For Influence in Iraq Riyadh has reached out to tribal sheikhs in southern Iraq in what some see as a continuation of the ongoing Saudi-Iranian competition for influence in the region. Saudi Arabia
Iran Rethinks Facebook Under Rouhani Iranian ministers are implementing a social media strategy, which is being challenged in some conservative quarters. Iran
Land Mines From Iraq War Continue to Plague Iran Though there is a lack of official data, Iran remains the second-most mine-polluted country in the world, with eradication no simple task. Iran
Iran’s Foreign Minister Backs US-Russia Plan for Syria Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif says that if there is a chance for peace in Syria, “we have to grab it.” Syria
Iran’s Household Economics The Iranian government looks to control inflation, which is now surpassing 39%. Iran
Obama’s Syria Policy Has Potential For Breakthrough on War Al-Monitor’s analysis and coverage of US policy toward Syria. Syria
Rouhani’s Central Asia Policies In Spotlight at SCO Summit Iran’s Central Asia policies under Iranian President Hassan Rouhani come into focus at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrzygstan. Iran
Is Ayatollah Khamenei Ready for Change? The influence Iranians have on the views of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei should not be underestimated. Iran