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(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on April 09, 2025 shows US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff after a meeting with Russian officials at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025 (L); and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to AFP during an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. Iran said on April 9 a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the United States provided Tehran's longtime adversary shows sufficient goodwill in upcoming talks, as Is

First US-Iran talks in years seen as 'positive' as hard-liners cry treason

While the Iranian foreign minister struck a positive note after the Oman meeting, he had to face a barrage of ferocious criticism from the country's hard-line camp for engaging with "the Great Satan."

Iran

The Soloturk aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force flies an F-16 aircraft over Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic's Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara, on October 29, 2023. Turkey marked its centenary as a post-Ottoman republic on October 29, 2023, with somewhat muted celebrations held in the shadow of Israel's escalating war with Hamas militants in Gaza. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALT

Analysis

With F-35, Eurofighter jets on table, Turkey cools off on F-16 deal

With Eurofighters available and President Donald Trump back in office, Ankara is reconsidering the urgency of its $23 billion F-16 deal with the United States.

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

A gurney lies among debris after an Israeli strike on the Al-Ahli hospital, also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab hospital, in Gaza City

WHO says child dies after Israel strike hits Gaza hospital

Agence France-Presse

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: People walk by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) New York headquarters after the company announced a major restructuring on September 12, 2024 in New York City. PwC LLP will let go of up to 1,800 US employees next month as the accounting firm shifts to in-house technology developers and streamlines its advisory practice. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Analysis

Saudi Arabia-PwC split signals shift to local consultancies: What to know

The Saudization of the consultancy sector is not a compliance exercise but instead amounts to a strategic realignment that challenges the long-standing, but outdated, assumption that foreign expertise is inherently superior.

By Amal Altwaijri

In Washington, DC, reporting on Saudi Arabia

US-funded Arabic network ends broadcasts after Trump cuts

Agence France-Presse

Latest News

Where Middle East’s top investors stand as tariffs roil US bond market

People walk past the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street on April 11, 2025, in New York City.

Saudi Arabia

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Syrian Kurd commander: Aleppo power-sharing deal could be model for nation

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Interview

Ayalon: Netanyahu firing Shin Bet chief to shield inner circle from Qatar probe

Ami Ayalon, a candidate for the Israeli Labor Party leadership, arrives to vote in the second and decisive round of party primaries on June 12, 2007, in Geva Carmel, northern Israel.

Analysis

France recalibrates Turkey ties as east Med dynamics shift: What to know

TOPSHOT - France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) shares a laugh with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) ahead of a round table as part of the European Political Community Summit in Budapest, on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country remains committed to indirect negotiations with the United States

Iran FM to head to Moscow, discuss US nuclear talks

Agence France-Presse

Shye Klein-Weinstein, a 28-year-old survivor of the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militants, poses for a picture next to a memorial to the Nova music festival victims

From deadly rave to recovery: Israeli study examines MDMA's effect on trauma

Agence France-Presse

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri won in Bahrain to notch up his second victory of the season

McLaren's Piastri powers to 'mega' win in Bahrain

Agence France-Presse

Newspaper front pages featuring the expected Iran-US nuclear talks are displayed at a kiosk in Tehran

Iran says talks with US to focus solely on nuclear issue, lifting sanctions

Agence France-Presse

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The Al-Monitor Brief

Middle East stock markets, Gulf oil rebound after Trump tariff decision, but will it last?

Adam Lucente interviews Sam Wendel

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What's behind new US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman?

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Syria's Kurds to demand federalism in tactical push for decentralization

Mohammed Ismail

President of the Kurdistan National Council

Interview

Israel's renewed Gaza strikes put last living US hostage at risk, family warns

Adi Alexander (C), father of Edan Alexander, attends a US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia roundtable with family members of individuals being held hostage by Hamas, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Nov. 29, 2023.

Interview

In break with Netanyahu, Olmert urges Israel to recognize Syria’s Sharaa, open dialogue

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks during a briefing on US President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan on February 11, 2020 in New York. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas told the UN Security Council that the world should reject President Donald Trump's Middle East plan, which he said would limit Palestinian sovereignty in a "Swiss cheese" deal. "We reject the Israeli-American plan," which "throws into question the legitimate rights of the Palestinians," Abbas said, brandishing a large map of

Interview

Ayalon: Netanyahu firing Shin Bet chief to shield inner circle from Qatar probe

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

With F-35, Eurofighter jets on table, Turkey cools off on F-16 deal

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

France recalibrates Turkey ties as east Med dynamics shift: What to know

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Analysis

How Iran’s nuclear gains complicate Trump's desire for a 'stronger' deal

US President Donald Trump looks on after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on April 9, 2025, in Washington, DC.

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Analysis

Saudi Arabia-PwC split signals shift to local consultancies: What to know

By Amal Altwaijri

In Washington, DC, reporting on Saudi Arabia

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On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City, AL-Monitor hosted HE Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE, for an off-the-record dinner and discussion at Le Jardinier of the Bastion Collection. The event was attended by thought and business leaders as well as former officials.

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September 26, 2024 18:00 EDT

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Iraq PM Sudani speaks at AL-Monitor/US Chamber of Commerce event during UNGA

At an event hosted by AL-Monitor and the US Chamber of Commerce, the prime minister discussed Iraq’s plan to achieve energy independence by 2030 and his desire to drawdown the US military presence in the country.

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September 25, 2024 18:00 EDT

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Salon conversation with Turkey's Ambassador to the US Sedat Önal

AL-Monitor hosted the ambassador of Turkey to the United States, Sedat Önal, for an off-the-record discussion on a wide range of topics such as Turkey-US relations, the Gaza war and Turkey's military intervention in Syria. The event was attended by guests from media, private business, and government.

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September 12, 2024 16:00 EDT

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