Beneath tough exterior, Putin may be ready to deal on Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to hold all the cards in the region, but is Moscow ready to show its hand?

Syria

Islamic Jihad mulls military action to foil US peace plan

As the United States gets closer to officially revealing details of its Middle East peace plan, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad says it and its allies are ready to do whatever is necessary to stop the lopsided deal.

Palestine

Democrats want to tie Trump’s hands on Iran. Here are their options.

Congress wants to take back its war-making authorities as tensions escalate with Iran.

United States

US Syria envoy says ‘no role’ for Europe in proposed safe zone

The United States has a “general” deal in place to establish a safe zone in northeastern Syria, the Trump administration’s top Syria policy official said, but the effort will not include European countries.

Syria

Iran says Mossad ‘fabricating intelligence’ on oil tanker attacks

Iran’s foreign minister has condemned the UNSC meeting that will discuss UAE claims about oil tanker attacks.

Saudi Arabia

Can Erdogan mend fences with US, Europe while saving face?

Turkey is seeking to improve relations with the West to stave off further damage to its ailing economy, but wants to do so without appearing to concede any ground or make concessions.

Syria

Settlers target McDonald’s over what they call boycott of West Bank

Israel no longer fears retaliating against international companies such as McDonald’s that settlers say are boycotting West Bank settlements by not opening up shop there.

Palestine

Republicans rebuke Trump over Gulf arms sales

Congress is going on offense against President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to arm Arab states.

Saudi Arabia

Scorn for US peace plan brings Hamas, Hezbollah closer

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is calling for a Palestinian-Lebanese dialogue to counter the US peace plan, an approach welcomed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Palestine

Khamenei sees 'ploy' in Trump outreach, says 'deal of century' will fail

In three speeches in less than 24 hours, Iran's supreme leader launched fresh attacks against the Trump administration, slamming its "deal of the century" for the Middle East conflict and dismissing Washington’s latest outreach to Tehran as a "ploy."

United States

Iran plays Pakistan, China against India as Modi turns to Trump

India’s apparent decision to go along with the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran could negatively impact its relationship with Tehran, including in regard to the Chabahar port project.

United States

Syria's territorial divisions complicate reconstruction

Russia's efforts toward the reconstruction of Syria are hindered by the inherent challenges in the territorial fragmentation of the country.

Syria