Turkey’s Fidan heads to Moscow as S-400 sanctions issue returns to fore The visit comes weeks before Turkey hosts NATO leaders, on the sidelines of which Ankara hopes to reach a deal with Washington over CAATSA sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400s. Turkey
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says US strikes render April ceasefire ‘meaningless’ Fresh US strikes and Iranian retaliation deepen regional tensions, while Washington tightens sanctions, France pushes for a larger role in Lebanon, and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Russia in talks on 'reformatting' its military sites in Syria: What to know Moscow signals it wants to maintain its presence in Syria, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently said that Russian bases will be converted into training centers. Syria
Interview Armenia candidate Tatoyan eyes Pashinyan's pro-West mantle in sea of Russia-backed rivals In an interview from Yerevan, Armenian opposition candidate Arman Tatoyan denies pro-Russian ties and says he would deepen cooperation with the European Union and the United States while pursuing a gradual approach to relations with Moscow. Arman Tatoyan Founder, Wings of Unity Party
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Oil eases as Trump pauses Iran strikes By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Iranian media reacts to Russia subway bombing Iranian media outlets speculate that IS and other militant groups are taking revenge on Russia following their defeats in Iraq and Syria. Syria
Was Rouhani’s visit to Russia actually successful? Although Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Moscow resulted in his signing numerous cooperation agreements, the main purpose may have been less about substance and more about show. Russia
Operation Euphrates Shield: A postmortem As Turkey closes the chapter on Operation Euphrates Shield, its military intervention in northern Syria, it's important to look at what it did and did not accomplish. Syria
Iran in crosshairs as Syrian war winds down As a resolution to the Syrian conflict grows closer, it is becoming clear that Iran is increasingly in the crosshairs of the Damascus regime's opponents and their backers. Saudi Arabia
Israel keeps tabs on Putin-Assad alliance Russian President Vladimir Putin’s backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reinforces the latter and might lead him to adopt a stronger approach vis-a-vis Israel. Israel
What Rouhani wanted from Putin in Moscow visit Moscow seems satisfied with Iranian President Rouhani’s visit, as Russia seeks a balanced relationship with the three most powerful Middle East states. Russia
Putin, Rouhani hold 'intensive' talks in Moscow Iran’s president, who is on a two-day trip to Moscow, holds “important” meetings with Russia’s president and prime minister. Russia
Turkey determined to test NATO Turkey’s bargaining with Russia for the S-400 air defense system raises a number of military issues, the least of which being that the system is incompatible with NATO's defense structure. Turkey
5 reasons to watch Rouhani’s visit to Russia Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is in Moscow for his first official visit to Russia. Russia
What’s Chechnya doing in Syria? Russia is finding the Republic of Chechnya’s influence to be very helpful in Syria. Syria
Idlib — more than Raqqa — may be decisive Syria fault line Russian-Turkish agreement under strain in key northern city. Iraq
Is Turkey rattled by Russian-Kurdish deal? Turkey may feel its already tenuous footing in Syria slipping now that Russian troops have arrived in Afrin, after making a pact with the Kurds. Syria
