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
Iraq parliament approves government of Prime Minister Zaidi Ali al-Zaidi, a prominent businessman with limited political experience, has backing from both the US and Iran. Iraq
Iraq’s Sadr says 'exclude' armed groups from next government as pressure builds The cleric's call comes as Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi tries to form a government amid political divisions and US demands to curb the influence of Iran-backed actors. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hormuz clashes cloud diplomacy as US awaits Iran response US strikes and renewed exchanges in Hormuz cast doubt on the ceasefire as the Trump administration awaits Tehran’s response to a new proposal. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
'Baghdad Belt' Deals With New Sectarian Tensions Once a paradigm of multi-sectarian coexistence, the towns in the area circling the Iraqi capital known as the "Baghdad belt" have been some of the first victims of increased security measures and sectarian incitement in a turbulent Iraq. Iraq
Iran Divides Iraqi Politicians Iran’s long-standing and deep involvement in Iraqi politics has recently witnessed a backlash. Iraq
Sadr Reconsiders Political Role, Mahdi Army Tensions have boiled over between the Mahdi Army and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq near Baghdad, as the Sadrist movement re-evaluates its military wing and vies for greater political sway. Iraq
Kurdish Jihadists Fight Kurds in Syria Some young Iraqi Kurdish men are being lured by al-Qaeda's call for jihad in Syria, even if it puts them into combat with their Kurdish brethren. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Elections Could Be Turning Point The legislative elections on Sept. 21 could bring new political alliances to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iraq
Iraq to Reinstate Sahwa Forces The Iraqi government is trying to revive the Awakening Movement — the Sahwa forces — among Sunni tribes to combat the rise in terrorism. Iraq
Iraqi Dinar Exchange Rate Linked To Oil Exports, Federal Reserves Experts estimate that Iraq’s federal reserves have reached $80 billion, and are likely to grow given an expected increase in oil output. Iraq
Reports of Syria Chemical Attack Split Iraqis The alleged chemical attack in Syria has revealed a sectarian rift in Iraq, with some Sunnis accusing Syria’s Alawite regime, while some Shiites blame the massacre on the opposition. Iraq
Iraq’s Missing Parliament Iraq’s parliament appears to play a largely superficial role, while political blocs and alliances make the decisions that matter. Iraq
Ongoing Political Deadlock Spurs Iraqi Civil Activists Iraqis headed to the polls six times in 10 years, and they continue to live in a society that is insecure and has an inadequate infrastructure and deepening gap between the different groups. Iraq
Maliki's Own Party Urges Him Not to Run Leaders in the State of Law Coalition, led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, are trying to convince the prime minister not to run in the upcoming legislative elections, fearing that it could spell the end of the coalition itself. Iraq
Tensions Mount Between Iraqi Government, Najaf Though influential, Iraqi politicians claim Najaf religious scholars have no right to influence the state of affairs in the country. Iraq
