Trump punts nuclear question with placeholder Iran deal Key questions about Iran’s nuclear program remain unanswered by the interim agreement. Iran
Gulf cautiously welcomes US-Iran deal as Hezbollah congratulates Tehran Arab and regional countries welcomed the deal to end the war between Iran and the United States. Iran
Trump, Vance sign Iran-US framework A US official said that the US president and vice president and Iran's parliament speaker signed the MoU electronically on Sunday. Iran
Analysis 'He knew it was over': Inside Netanyahu’s response to Trump’s Iran deal as Israel recalibrates Despite all his efforts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu realized there is nothing he could do to prevent President Donald Trump from signing a deal with Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Region welcomes US-Iran deal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Gulf aluminum pursues global deals as Hormuz crisis accelerates shift By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Bad joke lands prominent Iranian comedian in deep trouble A prominent Iranian TV comedian has found himself under heavy fire after ridiculing men who grant their wives divorces. Iran
Iran reacts to death of 'pillar' of Islamic Revolution Moderate Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, known for his efforts to reduce tension between Iran and the West, dies. Iran
Is Rouhani repeating Ahmadinejad’s tricks in currency market? In Iran, the Central Bank and the government are coming under fire for allegedly letting the currency devalue in order to make up for budget deficits. Iran
Iran loses flawed champion of renewed ties with US A powerful and pragmatic political figure both before and long after his term as Iranian president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has died of a heart attack at age 82, leaving the task of safeguarding the nuclear agreement and outreach to Washington to President Hassan Rouhani and others he groomed over the years. United States
Jordanians question timing, messages of top military brass The Dec. 30 BBC interview with Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, raised eyebrows in Amman and prompted local commentators to speculate about the purpose and meaning of Freihat’s statements. Iraq
Iran, Iraq seek to send a message with joint naval exercises In a clear message to the Gulf countries of the Iranian influence, Iraqi forces with Iranian support are conducting military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and the Iraqi land border with the Saudi. Legacy: Gulf
Deciphering Iran’s sudden currency fluctuations Although Iran's business community has been unsettled by the recent fluctuations in the value of the national currency, the rial rates appear to be on a trajectory to finally become unified. Iran
Iraqi Kurdistan oil a slippery issue Ownership of Iraqi Kurdistan oil is a major source of friction between Baghdad and Erbil, while Turkey and Iran compete for lucrative oil transport contracts. Iraq
Why did Oman join Saudi Arabia’s anti-terrorism alliance? Oman joins the 40-member Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism, yet still strikes a balance while refusing to distance itself from Iran in order to please Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Iran hard-liners ask judiciary to detain president’s brother Iranian hard-liners are once again accusing President Hassan Rouhani’s brother of economic corruption and asking the judiciary to detain him. Iran
Should Iran worry about Putin throwing it under the bus? Iranian officials have always had a pessimistic outlook toward Russia, which could serve them well given the apparent possibility of closer US-Russian relations under Donald Trump. Syria
Will Iran’s president be barred from running for second term? With only months left of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's first term, speculation rises about the possible disqualification of his expected bid for re-election in May. Iran
