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 After days of threats and brinkmanship, Washington and Tehran hint at diplomacy as Trump suspends planned military action. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Trump speaks with Netanyahu, Putin as Iran pressure campaign escalates President Donald Trump spoke by phone separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the situation in Iran and the possibility of extending the ceasefire. United States
Israel rejects Ukraine's claim that Russian shadow fleet vessel docked in Haifa Ukraine alleges the vessel unloaded wheat taken from occupied territories in Haifa, while Israel says ship had not entered the port. Israel
US cooling could help Russia boost ties with Saudi Arabia While Moscow realizes that it cannot replace the US role in the region, it’s hoping a cooling of ties between Washington and Riyadh will help bolster its own influence. Russia / Mideast
The Takeaway: Israel: Deja vu, all over again Netanyahu barely holds on, for now, with prospect of a fifth election. Elsewhere: Hezbollah in Moscow; Egypt’s matriarchal village; Turkey’s tanking stock market; GCC digs out of COVID debt; scrolls found in Israel’s "cave of horror"; and more! Russia
Russian foreign minister’s visit aimed at challenging US influence in Gulf Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent visit to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar came amid uncertainty among these states about their future relations with the new US administration. Russia / Mideast
What's next for Russia’s relations with Hezbollah? A Hezbollah delegation visits Moscow, with Lebanese politics and stability and Syria's political future atop the agenda. Russia
Russia launches air campaign against Islamic State in Syrian desert Russian forces intensified their airstrikes against IS sites in Syria’s Badia with the aim of supporting the ground forces that failed to eliminate the organization or curb its spread. Syria
Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi presented his stand against the International Criminal Court probe, a renewed Iran deal and the Iranian presence in Syria. Israel
Iran’s supreme leader authorized infowar campaign during US election Hezbollah and Russia also spread disinformation to try to influence the 2020 presidential election, a newly released US intelligence report says. Russia
Intel: US hinders Syria’s return ‘to normal,’ UAE foreign minister says Flanked by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Abu Dhabi's top diplomat criticized the US-led campaign to economically isolate Syria under President Bashar al-Assad. United Arab Emirates
Oil prices continue to rise as Saudi Arabia and Russia talk production The price of Brent crude continued to increase above its pre-pandemic levels during the OPEC+ meeting Thursday. Legacy: Gulf
Sudan welcomes US, Russian navy ships amid strategic competition The rival powers are eyeing the fledgling democracy for a leg up on influence in East Africa Russia
The Israel-Russia-Syria deal: Cost, beneficiaries and future deals As Israel and Syria conclude a deal on the return of an Israeli woman from Syria, questions arise regarding the cost and what the future of such transactions with Russian mediation should be. Israel
Netanyahu’s friendship with Putin benefits Israel, but has limits Moscow played a central role in the release of the Israeli woman who crossed the border into Syria, but might prove less helpful on Iranian entrenchment in Syria or the Palestinian issue. Israel
