Newsletter: Daily Briefing Araghchi warns Israel as US, Iran hold technical talks in Doha Syria unveils its transitional parliament appointees; Kuwait’s Zain plans a major telecom investment in postwar Syria; and North Africa’s World Cup teams make history. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Gulf Oman's Hormuz moment As US and Iranian negotiators continue technical discussions in Doha on implementing last month’s memorandum of understanding, Oman is emerging as Tehran’s principal Gulf counterpart on the future governance of the Strait of Hormuz By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Newsletter: Business & Tech The race to restore Hormuz US and Iranian negotiators are seeking a lasting agreement on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran pushes for long-term control over the strategic waterway. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis Why Iran's Pezeshkian is facing an uphill battle in postwar diplomacy As President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration advances dialogue with Washington, its fiercer contest is in the corridors of power within the Islamic Republic itself. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis For Israel, Lebanon deal 'historic' despite fears Hezbollah will rebuild By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: FutureVerse No ceasefire in cyberspace By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Qatar says no direct Iran-US talks in Doha By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Trump speaks with Netanyahu, Putin as Iran pressure campaign escalates President Donald Trump spoke by phone separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the situation in Iran and the possibility of extending the ceasefire. United States
Iranian rial hits new record low as blockade, war take toll: What to know The rial had another collapse in late 2025, triggering massive protests and riots in the country that were ended by a forceful government crackdown. Iran
Pentagon: Iran war has cost US estimated $25B so far A supplemental request won’t be delivered to Congress until the Pentagon fully assesses the war’s cost, a top budget official told House lawmakers. Iran
Analysis How long can Iran's economy withstand Trump's naval blockade? Iranian authorities are denouncing US seizures of the country's oil tankers as piracy, but mounting disruptions to maritime trade are exposing economic fragility beneath Tehran's claims of control and resilience. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis UAE’s OPEC exit rattles cartel as Gulf alliances shift OPEC's fourth-largest producer will leave the cartel on May 1, marking the most significant departure in the group’s history as the war changes Abu Dhabi's relationship priorities. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse MENA tightens control over online space New restrictions across MENA are reshaping access to the internet. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Iran floats ‘plan B’ to defuse Hormuz standoff, delay nuclear talks The proposal would postpone negotiations over Iran's nuclear program in an attempt to break the deadlock. Iran
Turkey’s military spending jumps to $30B, leads Mideast growth in 2025 Newly released data shows Ankara’s military spending hit $30 billion, while Saudi Arabia remained the region’s top spender and Israel’s outlays declined in 2025. Turkey
Pistachios reach highest prices in eight years amid Iran war Pistachio prices rose to around $4.57 a pound in March, their highest since 2018, according to data company Expana. Iran
Iran FM meets Putin, Russia’s military intel chief as talks stall: What to know Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi headed to Russia following visits to Pakistan and Oman over the weekend as talks with Washington are at a standstill. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran FM blames US for failed talks after landing in Russia Iran blames the United States for stalled talks as a fragile truce holds, while Palestinian voters head to the polls, strikes resume in Lebanon, and Syria opens its first trial tied to the former Assad regime. By Beatrice Farhat In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict