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
Who Are We? Iraq Struggles With Its National Identity Iraq is struggling to establish a modernized national identity, a problem which is most readily apparent in debates over public school and university curricula. Iraq
Money Laundering in Billions, Iraqi Official Estimates Conflicting reports by Iraqi officials bring attention to allegedly rampant money-laundering operations in Iraq. Iraq
Reconciliation, Decision-Making In Iraq As the security situation continues to deteriorate, Iraqi political groups must reconcile and work together to ensure all players have a say in the decision-making process. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Struggles With Influx of Syrian Refugees Like other countries in the region struggling to take in the huge influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the war at home, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has not received the international support needed to do so. Iraq
Lebanon Risks Becoming More Like Iraq Than Syria The nature of back-and-forth Shiite-Sunni fighting in Lebanon more closely resembles the conflict raging in Iraq than the one in neighboring Syria. Iraq
Assyrians Discuss Possible State in Iraq Diasporan Assyrians, descendants of one of Iraq’s oppressed and scattered historic minorities, are examining establishing an autonomous or independent state in Ninevah province. Iraq
After Bombing, Basra Governor Sees 'Political' Price to Pay A truck bomb explosion on the Basra docks exposes the tenuous security situation, and Basra's governor says, "The city is paying the price for the political differences in the country." Iraq
Najaf Seminary Plays Role Of Iraqi Opposition The multiple failings of the Iraqi government have given Najaf the opportunity to play the opposition’s role. Iraq
Despite New Security Measures, Violence Persists in Iraq Although the Iraqi government has developed new plans to address the deteriorating security situation, violence continues to strike throughout the country. Iraq
Khamenei’s Controversial Fatwas Iran’s supreme leader employs traditionalist fatwas to establish his political and religious authority. Iraq
Iraqi Official: Rouhani 'Means Serious Business' With US Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says the Iranian leadership could have prevented Hassan Rouhani from becoming president if it wanted to continue hard-line policies toward the United States. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi Kurdish Forces Help Defend Baghdad The increase of terrorist bombings in Baghdad has been a catalyst for more consultation between Iraqi federal and Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces. Iraq
