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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands during the press conference following their meeting at Villa Doria Pamphilj, on April 29, 2025, in Rome, Italy.

Analysis

Italy’s TB3 drone deal signals turn toward Turkey amid US-NATO tensions

Italy’s expected TB3 drone purchase highlights a rapidly deepening, interest-driven alignment with Turkey on defense and geopolitics.

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Syrian soldiers stand in the snow in the country's mountainous Qalamoun region, near the border with Lebanon, during a patrol to secure the frontier and prevent smuggling operations on January 1, 2026. (Photo by Bakr ALkasem / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As Lebanon-Israel talks loom, can Syria help in curbing Hezbollah?

In the post-Assad landscape, Damascus is seeking to reshape its role — not as Lebanon’s power broker but as a reluctant neighbor aiming to curb Hezbollah while steering clear of deeper entanglement.

By Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Pakistan Air Force J-10 fighter jets over Islamabad, March 23, 2025.

Analysis

Pakistan’s quiet fighter jet deployment to Saudi Arabia signals Gulf anxiety

As US-Iran talks unfold, Islamabad balances mediation with a growing military role in the kingdom.

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for oil

Trade ships hit in Hormuz as Iran recloses strait

Agence France-Presse

France blames Hezbollah for French peacekeeper's death in Lebanon

Agence France-Presse

Latest News

Who are Lebanon’s main players influencing talks with Israel?

Lebanon

Analysis

What is Iran really willing to concede on its nuclear program?

Iranians drive next to a billboard displaying pictures of nuclear scientists, centrifuges and a sentence reading in Farsi "Science is the power," at Enqelab Square in Tehran, on Aug. 29, 2025.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Interview

UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable'

Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, United Arab Emirates

Aoun says Lebanon seeks 'permanent agreements' with Israel after White House invite

Lebanon

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FILE PHOTO: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif looks on during a business and investment conference, during his official visit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 6, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool/File Photo

Pakistan prime minister speaks with Iran's president

Reuters

Argentine President Javier Milei visited the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem, his third such visit to the holy site

Argentina's Milei says US-Israel war against Iran 'right thing to do'

Agence France-Presse

A handout graphic of a map, according to the Israeli military, shows the Forward Defense Line and the area in which they are operating in southern Lebanon, published on April 19, 2026. Israel Defence Forces/Handout via REUTERS

Israeli military publishes map of south Lebanon territory under its control

Reuters

Security in Pakistan's capital Islamabad was being visibly stepped up ahead of peace talks between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war in the coming days

Pakistan tightens security in Islamabad ahead of US-Iran talks

Agence France-Presse

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Adam Lucente, Jack Dutton and Francesco Schiavi

The AL-MONITOR Brief

Is the Gulf relieved or cautious as Trump and Iran declare Strait of Hormuz “fully open”?

Jack Dutton and Francesco Schiavi joins Adam Lucente

17 April, 4:22 PM ET

24:33

The AL-MONITOR Brief

Trump declares Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, but will it last?

Rina Bassist and Beatrice Farhat joins Adam Lucente

16 April, 6:11 PM ET

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On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Lebanon’s Ghassan Salame: Israel talks ‘not negotiations,’ Hezbollah disarmament by force ‘illusion’

Ghassan Salame joins Amberin Zaman

13 April, 3:47 PM ET

33:33

Interviews

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Interview

Minister warns aid cuts to Lebanon risk empowering Hezbollah

Haneen Sayyed

Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs

Interview

Despite Trump’s U-turns, US may still support Iran’s Kurds, says Komala’s Mohtadi

A armed Kurdish Peshmerga of the Komala party waves the Komala flag in a ceremony held in memory of Komala Martyrs' Day in Sidakan, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, on March 17, 2021.

Abdulla Mohtadi

Leader of Komala

Interview

Ghassan Salame says Lebanon-Israel talks ‘not negotiations,’ Hezbollah disarmament by force ‘illusion’

Ghassan Salame

Lebanese Culture Minister

Interview

UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable'

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

As Lebanon-Israel talks loom, can Syria help in curbing Hezbollah?

By Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Analysis

Italy’s TB3 drone deal signals turn toward Turkey amid US-NATO tensions

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

What is Iran really willing to concede on its nuclear program?

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Pakistan’s quiet fighter jet deployment to Saudi Arabia signals Gulf anxiety

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Joyce Karam, Randa Slim, Hamidreza Azizi, Hasan Alhasan

Iran War at One Month: Outlook and Implications

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sits across from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy capitalizes on Iran war to ink security deal with Saudi Arabia

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Joe Snell appears on a street wearing a black jacket; in the frame next to it, a woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a black blazer appears on a laptop screen from a Zoom meeting.

French ISIS Member Convicted of Genocide Against Yazidis

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Ezgi Akin at Turkey's Kapikoy border crossing

AL-MONITOR's Ezgi Akin at Turkey-Iran Border Crossing

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Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts food security forum with Dr. Conrad Rein

On October 16, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, alongside representatives from multilateral development banks and the private sector for a discussion on food security in the Middle East and Africa.

Washington, DC

October 16, 2025 11:00 EDT

Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya

On Sept. 21, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, for a discussion on digital inclusion and economic empowerment in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

New York, NY

September 21, 2025 17:00 EDT

Past

Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at AL-Monitor Global Institute

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

On May 22, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC to discuss the future of power and energy in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Washington, DC

May 22, 2025 10:30 EDT

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