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 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
Analysis Squeezed by Trump and Iran war, how vulnerable is Netanyahu in polls? The Israeli prime minister faces growing problems over Oct. 7, his alliance with the ultra-Orthodox parties, and Donald Trump questioning his political future. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
US strikes on Indian-crewed tankers spark tensions with New Delhi India summoned the US deputy chief of mission in Delhi on Friday to protest American strikes on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman. Iran
Analysis 'A complete disaster': Israel scrambles for clarity as Trump touts emerging Iran deal By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says no final decision yet on deal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Iran condemns Trump’s halt of WHO funding Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted the United States in a tweet April 15, condemning the US president for suspending funding to the World Health Organization. United States
Intel: US plans anti-ship missile sale for Morocco Congress was notified today of US plans for a $62 million sale of anti-ship missiles for Morocco that would be launched from F-16 aircraft. Morocco
Intel: Turkey says S-400 stance unchanged despite US pressure Turkey’s stance on its S-400s hasn’t changed, even as the United States appeared to dangle support in Syria in exchange for Ankara abandoning the controversial Russian missile defense systems, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday. Syria
Intel: Trump tasks Pompeo with determining whether to lift Cyprus arms embargo Donald Trump tapped Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to determine whether to lift the decades-old US arms embargo on the disputed island of Cyprus, something Turkey has sought to forestall. Turkey
Is coronavirus good for health of Turkish-US relations? The coronavirus could offer Recep Tayyip Erdogan an opportunity to defer a fresh crisis with Washington over the Russian S-400 air defense systems, which he had pledged to activate in April but whose cost has now grown on multiple fronts. Turkey
Intel: Pro-Israel super PAC warns Netanyahu against West Bank annexation The leaders of a prominent pro-Israel super PAC with close ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) have warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rivals against moving forward with plans to annex Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported today. Israel
Intel: US signals support for Iraq’s latest prime minister-designate Secretary of State Michael Pompeo signaled support for Iraq’s newest prime minister-designate, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, in a statement today. Iraq
Iraqi PM-designate meets with officials in push to form ‘government that serves the public’ Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi hopes to announce his proposed Cabinet soon. Iraq
Is the new OPEC+ deal a win for Russia? The new OPEC+ deal has some advantages for Russia but some of the potential long-term implications may be dire for Moscow. Saudi Arabia
Will Iran back UN-Saudi initiative for cease-fire in Yemen? For Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, Yemen is too big to fail; for Iran, it’s a penny stock investment to keep the kingdom bogged down in a quagmire. Yemen
Khamenei blames Western culture, atheism for coronavirus response failings In a rare speech, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the West for its poor response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, as cases continue to grow in Iran. United States
Intel: Pompeo, Netanyahu talk coronavirus on Passover Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chatted by phone on Wednesday, the first day of Passover. Israel