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
Iran’s role in Qatar’s new foreign policy Rather than forcing Qatar to sever ties with Tehran, the Saudi-led boycott on Qatar has instead pushed the emirate closer to Iran. Saudi Arabia
Iran-Israel soccer row apparently much ado about nothing The reported suspension of two Iranian soccer players from the national team for having competed against Israelis appears to have vanished into thin air. Palestine
Rouhani: Trump lacks means to pressure Iran Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the United States is no longer able to isolate and pressure Iran. Saudi Arabia
Russia weighs in on Bannon-free White House Analysts examine what foreign policy changes Washington might make concerning the Mideast now that Steve Bannon is gone, and what that could mean for Moscow. Syria
New chapter in Iran-Turkey ties could have major impact on Syria While the closer Turkey-Iran alignment on regional issues is not likely to fully mean the same thing in Iraq as in Syria, the broader picture is closer Iran-Turkey-Russia cooperation on the ground. Syria
Iranian FM who opposed US embassy takeover dies Iranian officials and newspapers across the spectrum expressed their condolences on the death of former Foreign Minister Ebrahim Yazdi. Iran
Will Zarif, Tillerson meet for session on nuclear deal? A possible Iranian request for a meeting about the nuclear deal would set up the first talk between the Iranian and American foreign ministers since the election of President Donald Trump. United States
Oil swaps bring Iran, Caspian neighbors together Iran’s newfound focus on oil swaps with its northern neighbors could provide strong mutual benefits at an opportune point in time. Regional
Moscow, Cairo discuss boosting ties Representatives of Russia and Egypt seemed pleased with the outcome of their meetings this week, as they touched base on current regional developments and talked through their perspectives. Qatar
What Iran-Qatar reset means for Syria Iran adds another “Sunni” power to its regional network; Turkey ponders next moves in Idlib; Israel presents the “big picture” on Iran in Washington and Sochi, Russia; Akiva Eldar on Israel’s silence over Charlottesville. Saudi Arabia
Reality disrupts Turkey's dream-team triad Iran and Iraq show no inclination to join Turkey's potential operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party. Iraq
Questions abound over future of Ahmadinejad Despite his increasing isolation, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been reappointed as a member of the Expediency Council. Iran