Iran's supreme leader says no talks with US 'at any level' Iran's supreme leader has dismissed talks with the United States, saying Washington is bound to proving the success of its "maximum pressure" policy by pushing Tehran to the negotiating table. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: What’s behind Putin’s arms sale proposal to Saudis Putin's offer of defense missile systems for the Saudis was political but there's more to this in the runup to his visit to Riyadh. By Maxim A. Suchkov
Netanyahu's bullying gets out Arab vote Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camera bill and other efforts to deter Arab voters backfired, leading them to vote in defiance of his intimidation. By Shlomi Eldar
Don't read too much into Turkey's gag order reversal, warn free press advocates Turkey’s highest court has struck down a reporting ban surrounding a 2013 corruption probe, but some human rights defenders warn the win for press freedom may prove minor. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iraqi journalists blacklist politicians who attack them Some Iraq journalists are forming a list that includes all officials who attack them to prepare the ground for legal action against them. By Mustafa Saadoun
Can Egypt impose truce between Hamas, Israel? An Egyptian delegation visited the Gaza Strip to stabilize the truce between Hamas and the Israeli government in light of recent tensions. By Hagar Hosny
Is crisis looming within Egypt's oldest political party? Is the Wafd Party's decision to sack former party leader Al-Sayyid al-Badawi Shehata orchestrated by the regime of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi? By A correspondent in Egypt
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham loses third leader in Syria this year Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a coalition of Islamist groups fighting against regime forces in Idlib, Syria, is facing dissent within its ranks and accusations of corruption by one of its own leaders. By Khaled al-Khateb
Israel’s center-left must restore concept of truth Even if Blue and White leader Benny Gantz manages to establish a governing coalition, he has a long way to go toward conquering the hearts of a divided Israeli public. By Akiva Eldar
How latest Astana talks between Turkey, Russia, Iran went beyond Syria What the Astana guarantors agreed upon in Ankara will have implications for Syria but the way the leaders communicated past each other each is even more telling. By Maxim A. Suchkov
Iraq works to distance itself from US-Iran tension after Saudi Aramco attack Baghdad is worried that the Sept. 14 attack on Saudi Arabia will affect Iraq's stability and relationship with neighboring countries. By Ali Mamouri
Netanyahu's plan to annex Jordan Valley kills all chances for Palestinian state While political leaders are lining up to oppose the threats to the two-state solution posed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pre-election statement, a closer look at the devastating effects on the ground shows that the viability of a Palestinian state would be threatened if annexation of the Jordan Valley is carried out. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Sanders warns Trump against illegal Iran strike Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is warning Donald Trump that he does not have the legal authority to strike Iran. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Iran reinforces partnership with China for economic relief Tehran appears to be staking its financial future on China, a move full of potential rewards — and risks. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Lawyers urge Turkish court to free top Kurdish politician A Turkish appeals court has approved the release of jailed opposition politician Selahattin Demirtas, but he and his lawyers are pessimistic that the judiciary will act independently of political pressure to keep him behind bars. By Ayla Jean Yackley
Is Turkish presidential system helping cause fall in AKP membership? Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s realized goal for Turkey to have an executive presidency may be fast becoming his worst mistake: His party is losing members at the top and from the base and former colleagues are challenging him directly. Can Erdogan survive his party’s decay? By Pinar Tremblay