US military to monitor Israel-Lebanon ceasefire alongside UN, France The Lebanese Army emerges as the lynchpin of a fragile ceasefire as Biden vows no US troops on the ground in south Lebanon. Lebanon
Iran promises response 'beyond imagination' to Israeli strikes even as deal looms A month after Israel's Oct. 26 strikes on Iran, Iranian officials are ramping up discussions of a response to the attack. Iran
Iran defense chief visits Venezuela, talks energy, trade: What we know Iran and Venezuela are working to repair oil ties after the reimposition of US sanctions on the South American country and the looming return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Iran
IAEA censures Iran over nuclear activity Out of its 35 member countries, 19 voted in favor of the resolution, 12 abstained, while China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against it. Iran
Analysis As Khamenei's aide visits Lebanon, is Iran signaling de-escalation? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis Israel euphoric over Trump's cabinet: Will he pick annexation or Saudi deal? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iraqi, Syrian oil ministers discuss gas imports The Iraqi and Syrian oil ministers talked about the possibility of transporting Egyptian gas to Iraq through Syria during a meeting in Baghdad. News Brief
Intel: US, Israel to cooperate against Iran’s missiles and drones Biden White House avoids row with Israel over nuclear negotiations with Iran, offers to help counter Tehran's ballistic and cruise missiles. Washington Pulse
US Navy fires warning shots in encounter with Iranian patrol boats A US Navy patrol ship fired warning shots to ward off Iranian boats in the Persian Gulf on Monday, marking the second run-in between the two countries’ naval forces this month. Iran
Kerry denies he spoke with Iranian foreign minister about Israeli airstrikes in Syria Some Republicans are calling for an inquiry into whether former US Secretary of State and current presidential climate envoy John Kerry shared potentially sensitive information with Iran, but Kerry denies such a conversation ever took place. By Al-Monitor Staff
Zarif faces fury from Iranian hard-liners after leaked tape Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for an investigation into the leak of a tape meant for posterity. Iran
Iran welcomes Iraqi mediation with Gulf states No clear results yet, said Tehran's ambassador in Baghdad after reports of Saudi-Iran dialogue. Iraq
Saudi Arabia, Iran held direct talks in bid to ease tensions Talks between the two countries were organized by Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Iran not backing down in Middle East, US intel report says The Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign did not stop Tehran's ambitions in the region, ODNI report suggests. Iran
US denies involvement in attack on Iran's Natanz nuclear site Iran has blamed Israel for the attack on its Natanz nuclear site. Iran
Iran nuclear talks to resume next week Meetings on the Iran nuclear agreement will continue in Vienna as Iran continues its demand for "Trump sanctions" to be removed. By Al-Monitor Staff
White House faces tough task of tearing down Iran sanctions wall to save nuclear deal In Trump's final days, the White House introduced a slew of new sanctions aimed at hindering a return to the nuclear deal. Yet since the designations were so blatantly politicized, the risk of undoing them is politically manageable. Iran
Where will new round of strategic talks with US take Iraq? Iraq and US agreed on shifting the anti-IS coalition to training and support only, working on ending the presence of any combat forces. Iraq
