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
US unveils new West Bank sanctions amid calls to target Israeli ministers The latest sanctions come after nearly 90 Democratic lawmakers urged the administration to penalize Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. United States
Iran, Russia link payment networks in bid to bypass sanctions The financial partnership connects the national payment frameworks, aiming to boost trade and tourism between the two sanctioned nations — yet key challenges remain. Iran
Iran's Pezeshkian slams Israel at start of BRICS summit in Russia The summit in the Russian city of Kazan is the first since Iran, Egypt and the UAE joined BRICS as full members. Iran
Analysis How an Israeli retaliation on Iran could impact Gulf energy flow By Jennifer Gnana In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics
Analysis Even as Erdogan befriends Putin, Turkey and Ukraine ink major free trade deal By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Will China play a role in lessening US pressure on Iran? As the United States continues to enforce its "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, the Islamic Republic is relying on China not as a sole savior but at least as part of the solution. Iran
Iranian National Oil Company opens office in Iraq Tehran expands its economic and political influence in Iraq via its National Iranian Oil Company. Iraq
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. Iraq
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. United States
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. Iraq
Democrats slam ‘massive failure’ of Trump policy after Iran restarts nuclear activity Democrats are blaming the Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign for Tehran’s decision to resume some enrichment activity constrained by the 2015 nuclear deal. Congress
Intel: How Trump's 'maximum pressure' campaign is bringing Iran and Russia closer together Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif's long-planned visit to Moscow today quickly turned into a grievance-sharing session with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov about the Donald Trump administration. Russia
How US sanctions facilitate Turkish-Iranian understanding on Syria Faced with US pressures on multiple fronts, Iran and Turkey are likely to step up cooperation — including in Syria, where the two neighbors remain at odds over multiple issues. Turkey
Russia consolidating its position in Iraq amid anti-Iran sanctions Russian and Iraqi officials convened in Baghdad for another bilateral commission session to discuss energy and security cooperation amid US anti-Iran sanctions. Iraq
Turkey seeks alternate oil sources as US ends Iran sanctions waivers Ankara vowed to defy US sanctions on Iran, but figures show Turkey heeding US restrictions and curtailing oil imports from Iran. Turkey
Forget oil sanctions, end of nuclear cooperation waivers could quietly kill Iran deal While the United States' stepping up of oil sanctions has gotten more attention lately, a greater threat to the nuclear deal involves the waivers allowing cooperation with Iran on nonproliferation. United States