Shiite militias react angrily to decree integrating them into Iraqi forces

Pro-Iran Shiite militias in Iraq reacted with displeasure to the prime minister's decree to integrate the Popular Mobilization Units into the Iraqi military forces, but the majority of the PMU are pledging allegiance to Baghdad.

Iraq

Palestinian Authority woos Iraq, says Iran is no enemy

Nabil Shaath, an adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, traveled to Iraq to galvanize Baghdad's support for the Palestinian cause and perhaps make new connections with Iran along the way.

Bahrain

Houthis taking battle to Saudis with upgraded weapons cache

It's unclear whether Iran is providing weapons to the Houthis in Yemen, but whatever the source, the rebels are making good use of bomb-laden drones and even missiles.

Saudi Arabia

Iran's president warns of increased enrichment but says measures reversible

Amid near-zero progress between Tehran and the European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, President Hassan Rouhani is sounding the alarm that reinstatement of uranium enrichment at pre-deal levels is only a few days away.

United States

Iraq throws Turkey curveball in bilateral trade

Baghdad’s recent restrictions on imported goods have badly bruised Turkey’s food exporters, calling into question the target of $20 billion in bilateral trade.

Iraq

Is Iran bargaining chip for Russia in relations with the US?

Russia has a lot less incentives to bargain over Iran than the United States believes.

Russia

Will new chairman of Iranian foreign policy panel set fire to nuclear deal?

The election of Mojtaba Zonnour as chairman of Iran’s parliamentary foreign policy commission has led to speculation about possible moves he may make to force the government to leave the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran

World powers implore Iran to stick with nuclear deal

European nations expressed regret that Iran had exceeded a 300-kilogram cap on its stockpile of low enriched uranium, but diplomats said they were seeking ways to keep Iran in the nuclear deal.

Russia

Israel’s Mossad chief spearheads campaign against Iran in Syria

Mossad head Yossi Cohen delivered an aggressive speech against Iranian entrenchment in Syria, reflecting the forceful policy adopted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel

Iraq orders militias to fully integrate into state security forces

In an important move amid US-Iran tensions, the Iraqi prime minister issued a decree ordering the Popular Mobilization Units to come under the full control of the state.

Iraq

Gulf states divided in approach to Iran-US escalation

Not having faced a direct threat from Iran in the last few decades, the position of Oman, Kuwait and Qatar in the current tensions with Iran is that of peaceful negotations, rather than military intervention.

Legacy: Gulf

Iran exceeds enriched uranium limit set by nuclear deal

Iranian sources have informed the media that Iran has exceeded a stockpile of 300 kilograms of 3.67% enriched uranium as a step toward reducing its commitments under the nuclear deal.

United States