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
Iraqi Kurdistan’s Silent Revolution The KRG is becoming more, not less, dependent upon Baghdad to finance its social welfare programs through oil rents. Iraq
Al-Qaeda Looks to Build Support Among Iraq's Sunnis In Iraq's highly polarized sectarian climate, al-Qaeda has presented itself as the "defender of the Sunnis" to increase its support and influence. Iraq
Iraqi Women Face Workplace Discrimination In light of conservative social traditions and an unfavorable legal system, Iraqi women struggle to find work. Iraq
Iraqi Youth Seek New Direction For Failed Politics Disaffected Iraqi youth are increasingly doubtful of the country’s potential for democracy. Iraq
Iraqi Activists Seek to End Pensions for Parliament Post-retirement pensions for members of Iraq's Council of Representatives has provoked a heated debate among Iraqi civil activists. Iraq
Rebuilding Bridges to Iraq's Jewish Heritage Iraq's Jewish community is remembered with both nostalgia and tragedy. Iraq
Friday Sermons Used to Incite At Iraqi Mosques With the liberation afforded by the fall of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein’s regime, Friday sermons at Iraq’s mosques have become platforms for oftentimes escalatory political discourse. Iraq
Iran on Quest to Legitimize Velayat-e Faqih in Iraqi Seminaries Iran has always tried to secure religious legitimacy for its velayat-e faqih doctrine by supporting loyalists in the Qom and Najaf Shiite seminaries. Iraq
Baghdad Nightlife Cloaked in Fear Amid curfews and an unstable security environment, Iraqis in the nightlife business live in constant fear of militia attacks, security raids and customer brawls. Iraq
Syria Splits Shiite Clergy in Iraq, Iran While Shiite authorities in Iran and Iraq have historically had a close relationship, Iran has been dismayed by Najafi clerics's refusal to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war. Iraq
Kurdish National Congress Seeks Unity Amid Divisions The Kurdish National Congress, to be held in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region on Aug. 24, will seek a common agenda for Kurds divided over the war in Syria. Iraq
