Iran, US can end Iraq crisis, says Rouhani adviser Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff for political affairs for President Hassan Rouhani, said that Iran has not ruled out cooperation with the United States over Iraq. Iraq
Iran wins again in Iraq The Islamic Republic of Iran does not mind Iraq being divided into thirds, if that is the outcome. Iraq
US options for sanctions relief on Iran According to a top expert on US sanctions against Iran, President Barack Obama can provide significant relief by waiving many penalties and allowing a major piece of sanctions legislation to “sunset” before he leaves office. Iran
Netanyahu's kidnapping nightmare leads to refocus on Hamas For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers may vindicate his tough stance on Hamas. Palestine
Iran's uncertain intervention in Iraq The ISIS attack on Iraq presents many risks for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iraq
Russia will not be a spoiler in Iraq The United States should not expect much help from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Iraq
Restore peace to the Fertile Crescent With the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham gaining another foothold in Iraq, Iraqi leaders need to affirm the country's unity. Iraq
Turkey should close its border to ISIS The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has depended on the Turkish border for its operations in Syria; US Sen. Tim Kaine offers a blueprint for US-Egypt ties; Al-Monitor’s Year in Review and Back Channel. Iraq
Iran's underage smoking crisis Iran's latest smoking statistics show the age of beginner smokers dropping to 13, and government institutions have few answers to this problem. Iran
Week Ahead: Congress debates return to Iraq A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of June 16. Congress
Iraqi Kurds maneuver between Maliki and Mosul The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq may have gained some leverage on Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki for now, but the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) may be trouble in the future. Iraq
A three-part plan for US-Egypt ties A member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee offers a blueprint for rebuilding the US-Egyptian relationship after the election of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt
The 2014 International Press Institute World Congress Al-Monitor received the Free Media Pioneer award at the International Press Institute's (IPI) 2014 World Congress in Cape Town. Near East
Iraq’s Sunni divide may be too great Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki never implemented promised reforms to integrate and share power with Iraq’s Sunni communities. Iraq
Turkey paying price for jihadist highway on border The hostage crisis in Mosul is the boomerang effect of Ankara’s policy of opening its borders to jihadists. Iraq
Turkey not asking NATO for help with ISIS Turkey briefed NATO ambassadors regarding the seizure of its Mosul consulate, but it did not ask for any NATO involvement, as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to be engaged directly in the hostage negotiations. Syria
