Newsletter: Daily Briefing Region welcomes US-Iran deal Gulf states, Turkey and Lebanon cautiously praise the framework while urging full implementation and protection of maritime trade routes. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Exclusive Barrack heads to Iraq as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias US envoy Tom Barrack is due to meet with Iraq’s new prime minister and other top officials in Baghdad, where he will likely press US demands for Iran-backed Shiite militias be dismantled and disarmed. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Culture World Cup opens amid visa disputes for Iran, Iraq and Somalia Iran says a number of team staff were denied entry into the US, with Trump administration officials touting efforts to prevent affiliates of designated terrorist groups from entering. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Iran will 'pay the price’ for dragging out talks US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday, saying that Tehran had waited too long to reach a deal after the largest direct exchange of fire between the two countries since an April ceasefire. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Turkey pushes Iraq, Syria trade routes as Hormuz crisis disrupts Gulf shipping By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Explainer: How Sadr's Shiite rivals became largest bloc in Iraq's parliament Many of the new members of the Council of Representatives taking the place of the 73 Sadrists who resigned are aligned with Iran. Iraq
Iraq targets desert 'wali' and braces for impact of possible conflict Counterterrorism operations in Iraq’s western desert have resulted in the killing of an Islamic State leader as regional tensions rise across the border ahead of a likely Turkish military operation in northern Syria. Iraq
Counterterror ops rake in 'high-value targets' in Iraq, Syria Multiple counterterrorism operations against Islamic State hideouts in both Iraq and Syria in recent weeks have taken out men whom officials claim were leaders within the international terrorist organization. Iraq
Silence from Baghdad as Turkish drone kills Yazidi child in Sinjar The Iraqi government has yet to comment after a 12-year-old was killed in the latest Turkish strike on northern Iraq's Sinjar region. Turkey
Iraq connects electrical grid with Saudi Arabia The move could help Iraq with its electricity woes and reduce energy dependence on Iran. Iraq
PKK threatens journalists, lawmakers in Kurdistan as regional tensions rise The media and a member of the Kurdistan Region parliament have spoken out against threats and pressure from the PKK, as tensions and drone attacks increase. Iraq
Sadr withdrawal from Iraqi parliament challenges Shiite rivals Populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr withdrew his party members from Iraq's Council of Representatives, introducing a new level of uncertainty into Iraqi politics. Iraq
Iran and Iraq sign tourism deal The agreement follows protests of Iranian “interference” after a drone attack targeted an alleged Israeli spy base in northern Iraq. Iran
Iraqi-KRG counterterrorism cooperation increases in response to attacks Joint operations between Iraqi Counterterrorism Services and their counterparts in some areas of the Kurdistan Region continue to target Islamic State cells, while other armed groups attack Erbil. Iraq
Muqtada al-Sadr threatens to withdraw from parliament After failing to form a national majority government, Iraqi populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr asked his party members in parliament to prepare to resign. Iraq
Iraqi parliament approves emergency food security bill Iraqi lawmakers passed an emergency food security bill weeks after the Federal Supreme Court labeled unconstitutional a similar bill proposed by the caretaker government. Iraq
Iraqi parliament passes urgent food security bill The Iraqi judiciary had blocked a previous version of the legislation, which empowers the government to address rising food prices and shortages resulting from the Ukraine war. Iraq