Iran opposition leader ends hunger strike Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi ends his hunger strike after authorities meet one demand and reportedly pledge to meet the other. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iranian labor market on path to gender transformation While Iranian women have made advances in recent years, they still face the major challenge of being excluded from the labor market. By Maysam Bizaer
Iran army chief's Turkey tour ends in promises of military cooperation Regional rivals Turkey and Iran are exchanging visits by top officials, brought together by deeply ingrained fears that Western powers are covertly egging on their respective Kurdish populations to weaken and dismember them. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Venezuela's Maduro finds solidarity in Turkey When supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan look at the situation in Venezuela, they see a leader to be defended like their own instead of a situation to be avoided. By Mustafa Akyol
Saudi Arabia engages Iraq at Iran's dismay Iraq's rapprochement with Arab Sunni countries including Saudi Arabia is putting increased pressure on Iran. By Ali Mamouri
What's behind Egyptian theater's revival? With new shows and stars taking the stage, Egyptian theater is taking on a new life. By David Awad
How Israel's arrest of Islamic Movement leader could backfire The Israeli right has made the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Raed Salah, the focus of its fight against terrorism, but the move misses crucial parts of fighting against incitement to violence. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
The Israeli right's hypocrisy on discrimination Israeli right-wing politicians, though quick to criticize others for what they deem anti-Semitism, support discrimination against Arabs. By Akiva Eldar
Pentagon says captured Islamic State fighters hooked on drugs Syrian Democratic Forces have found an increasingly desperate detachment of militants using drugs, including amphetamines, to keep themselves in the fight. By Jack Detsch
Turkey squawks as KRG referendum nears As regional and US pressure ramps up on Iraqi Kurds to postpone the independence referendum, Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani seems unlikely to crack. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iranians mock Rouhani over explanation for no female ministers Iranians take to social media to mock President Hassan Rouhani over his explanation for failing to abide by his campaign promise to appoint female ministers to his Cabinet. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iranian return to hajj could help end Saudi deadlock The resumption of Iranian participation in the annual hajj pilgrimage may help pave the way for an end to the diplomatic deadlock between Riyadh and Tehran. By Saeid Jafari
Kurds plan ahead for shifting status in Syria Syrian Kurds, worried by Turkey’s threat to enter Afrin and a possible rapprochement between Washington and Ankara, are firming up their plans for autonomy. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
After Mosul, Iraq's western Anbar next up in IS fight An Iraqi offensive against the Islamic State is likely to take place in the near future in the western Anbar province, with the city of Haditha being the gateway to the region. By Shelly Kittleson
Palestinians may be on verge of charting new political path It appears that President Mahmoud Abbas wants to convene the Palestinian National Council, after a hiatus of more than 20 years, which would allow the Palestinian movement to move toward a change in leadership. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics