Analysis Mediators scramble to avert US-Iran fighting after Trump's midterm restraint fades Tehran has little incentive to make concessions that the Trump administration could tout as a win before next week’s election. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
CENTCOM chief briefs Trump on Iran strike options It was not immediately clear following Trump’s meeting with top defense officials whether he had decided to restart the war. Iran
Iran arrests 16 in connection with alleged US-Israel-linked cells: What to know Iran claimed that some of the 16 people it had arrested had entered Iran from abroad. Iran
Analysis How wartime urgency pushed Iran to court Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Tehran's push for a regional security order independent of Washington could be gaining diplomatic momentum, but the Islamic Republic has competing, if not conflicting, strategic priorities with the countries it hopes to engage. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis From Hormuz to data centers: How Iran’s threats are raising stakes of renewed war By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis How Netanyahu could attack Iran to force Israel into unity government after elections By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Deal with Iran boosts Turkey’s hopes of trading in national currency Turkey has long sought to increase the use of its national currency in trade with Russia, China and Iran, but due to significant trade imbalances with the others, only Iran appears to offer a viable prospect. Turkey
Khamenei: Iran won’t be first to abandon nuclear deal Despite US President Donald Trump’s threat to kill the nuclear deal, Iran’s supreme leader said that Tehran won’t abandon the deal before the other side does so. United States
Trump’s new Iran policy seeks perennial conflict The Trump administration’s new Iran strategy not only shuts the door to diplomacy with Iran but also alienates ordinary Iranians. United States
How Iran helped Baghdad seize back Kirkuk The Iraqi government’s rapid recapture of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces was made possible by Iranian intervention. Iraq
Iran denies role in recapture of Kirkuk Iranian officials and media throw their support behind the Iraqi government’s operation to retake Kirkuk, but deny that the IRGC played any role. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Israel's center-left fears opposing Netanyahu on Iran The center-left's flaccid leadership on security and diplomatic issues is once again on display, with pronouncements in line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's agenda. Israel
IRGC's popularity gets 'Trump bump' After US President Donald Trump's speech, Iranians tweeted in support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. United States
Assessing impact of shifting Iran-KRG relations While Iran’s important trade with Iraqi Kurdistan could temper tensions, Iranian geostrategic concerns in the aftermath of the Kurdish independence referendum are driving government policy. Iran
Iran Quds commander pays respects at Talabani's tomb as Kirkuk crisis escalates Qasem Soleimani in Iraqi Kurdistan; Turkey looks to Syrian tribes for allies; UN Syria envoy seeks to build on cease-fire progress with "realism." Saudi Arabia
Trump speech sparks outrage in Iran US President Donald Trump’s speech on his new Iran strategy angered both Iranian officials and regular citizens. United States
Trump, Congress play game of chicken with Iran After refusing to certify that the Iran nuclear deal is in the US interest, Trump has called on Congress to unilaterally eliminate the deal’s sunset provisions. Congress
Trump punts fate of Iran deal to Congress President Donald Trump's announcement that he will not be certifying the Iran nuclear accord was met with domestic and international criticism. Congress