Israel fears US deal would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium Israel fears the US-Saudi civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia could pave the way for uranium enrichment not only by the Saudis but also by other countries in the region. Israel
Newsletter: Business & Tech Trump threats, Houthi blockade rattle oil markets Also this week, we look at how a landmark US-Saudi nuclear agreement could reshape the kingdom's civilian nuclear ambitions while raising fresh concerns over proliferation in the Middle East. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump threatens Iran bridges, power plants over Hormuz attacks US, Saudi Arabia to sign nuclear agreement; Lebanon PM says Beirut working for 'complete Israeli withdrawal'; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Trump threatens Iran bridges, power plants over Hormuz attacks The warning comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington remains open to negotiations with Tehran. Iran
Interview PJAK leader mocks Iran’s claim Turkey spiked US Kurdish-backed regime-change plan Siamand Moeini PJAK Executive Council Member
Analysis Israel draws line on Houthi attacks, hopes for Trump strike on Pickaxe Mountain By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran steps up Gulf attacks after 10 nights of US strikes By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
What made this Iranian TV host lose his job? A young state TV host is fired from his job after he criticized one of the most outspoken cinema critics of Iran. Iran
Iran faces budget deficit, but no shortage of means to cover it Having stabilized the Iranian rial in recent weeks, the Rouhani administration is poised to fill its projected budget deficit by reducing the flow of money going to the National Development Fund while pushing the official and open market rates closer to each other. Iran
Hard-liners attack Rouhani over outreach to Europe on JCPOA Iranian hard-liners show no sign of compromise with moderate President Hassan Rouhani, reigniting their attacks on him for his push to maintain the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran
Iran's energized conservatives move to unite ahead of upcoming polls Reinvigorated by the Trump administration’s harsh rhetoric against the Rouhani administration, divided Iranian conservatives appear to be coalescing around a new grouping. Iran
Iran media on Bashir trip to Syria: Arab states have accepted reality of Assad Iranian media believe that the Sudanese president's meeting with Bashar al-Assad is a sign that Arab countries are beginning to accept the reality on the ground in Syria. Saudi Arabia
Son of deposed shah urges US to back Iran regime change The son of the former shah of Iran urged the US administration to back Iran regime change rather than try to pressure the Iranian government to change its policies abroad and at home. Iran
Congress sees unprecedented opportunity to confront OPEC For the first time since OPEC’s formation, both the White House and Congress appear to be on the same page when it comes to suing the oil cartel for violating the US antitrust law. Saudi Arabia
Iranian Reformists clash with hard-liners in drive to restrict child marriage A parliamentary bill to restrict child marriage is pitting hard-liners against Reformists in Iran. Iran
Shrinking pie causes intense struggle over wages in Iran Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Rouhani administration is under pressure to increase salaries while facing the threat of spiraling inflation. Iran
Iran says US is ‘bragging’ about violating UNSC resolution While the United States has failed to receive European support for scrapping the nuclear deal, Europe is more sympathetic to concerns about Iran’s missile program. United States
On Iran, US allies fear ‘maximum pressure’ could provoke escalation While Iran continues to comply for now with the 2015 nuclear deal even after the reimposition of US sanctions, European allies fear that the US administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign could eventually lead to war. United States
Six factors shaping Iran’s missile decision-making calculus It would be folly to expect that Iran would dismantle the backbone of its defense doctrine without bearing in mind its security concerns, including the need for a broader regional arrangement to ban weapons of mass destruction. Iran