Trump to Iran: Call me Amid rising tensions, President Donald Trump urged Iran three times to call him and said he believed they could make a fair deal. By Laura Rozen
Pentagon’s new Middle East chief fixes sights on Iran threat Gen. Frank McKenzie, the Pentagon’s new top military commander in the Middle East, faces the lingering threat of Iran with limited military authorities at his disposal and a wary Congress. By Jack Detsch
Congress tries to defund US nuclear transfers to Saudi Arabia House Democrats want to use the power of the purse to halt the transfer of US civil nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Campaign for Istanbul do-over election underway Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, who narrowly won election as the city’s mayor in March, begins his campaign anew after electoral officials revoked his mandate this week. The ruling party says a rerun election will provide clarity after a bitterly disputed vote. By Ayla Jean Yackley
US condemnation of Muslim Brotherhood would cost Turkey dearly If the Donald Trump administration brands the Muslim Brotherhood a terror organization to please its Gulf allies and Egypt, it will create a major headache for Turkey. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Istanbul election rerun brings Turkey fresh economic turmoil The cancellation of the opposition victory in the mayoral race in Istanbul has raised the specter of more trouble for the Turkish economy, which is already grappling with recession and currency-related tumult. By Mustafa Sonmez In Istanbul, reporting on economics
Amid US pressure, Iran warns Europe of another ‘wave’ of refugees Iran has warned Europe that if US sanctions continue to take a toll on its economy, it will no longer be able to host Afghan refugees. By Al-Monitor Staff
Syrian opposition says it won’t accept Russian soldiers in demilitarized area A few days after the 12th round of Astana peace talks on Syria, the Syrian government and Russia resume heavy shelling in Idlib. By Khaled al-Khateb
Pro-Iran militia leader lashes out against Pompeo visit to Baghdad Following US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Baghdad, pro-Iranian forces in Iraq sent a strong warning to the United States. By Ali Mamouri
Turkey and Palestine maintain strong ties despite US pressures Turkey is proving to be a strong ally to Palestine despite being a member of NATO and having a long-standing military relationship with Israel, and Palestinian officials are trying to use this relationship to counterpressure the Trump administration and Israel. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
New app assesses Islamic preachers in Gaza Gaza’s Ministry of Religious Endowments launched a smartphone app allowing worshippers to assess preachers and find out in which mosque they will be delivering Friday sermons across the Gaza Strip. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli holidays delay deal to reopen Gaza border crossings Although Israel quickly reversed its decision to stop trucks from entering the Gaza Strip, the delay is shrinking already-strained supplies of essential fuel. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Yemenis demand aid transparency as humanitarian crisis rages A campaign demanding transparency in aid delivery is gaining traction in Yemen, where a humanitarian crisis threatens millions. By Mohammed Yahya Gahlan
Egypt’s private sector to revamp 150 historic buildings in Cairo The Egyptian government is drawing up a plan to turn over historic buildings to the public sector to help refurbish them and rent them out By Hagar Hosny
Turkey's opposition protests, plans as date set for Istanbul re-vote The announcement that the Istanbul mayoral election was going to be held again was greeted with the discordant sounds of clanging pots and pans, and supporters of opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu now face the difficult task of finding the recipe that can bring him victory again June 23. By Jasper Mortimer