After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
State Department condemns Turkey's anti-LGBT rhetoric against protesters Turkey's president and other officials have used inflammatory anti-gay rhetoric to describe the student-led protests in Istanbul. Turkey
UN’s highest court to hear Iran sanctions case against US The Hague-based International Court of Justice will consider an Iranian lawsuit filed after the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed economic sanctions. Iran
Erdogan likens students to terrorists, condemns Bogazici rallies Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan likened protesting students to terrorists in a speech Wednesday, condemning ongoing demonstrations over the appointment of a government-linked rector to Istanbul’s Bogazici University. Turkey
Iran says 'best response' for US forces to leave Iraq Officials in Tehran renewed calls for an end to the American military presence in neighboring Iraq as a response to the US killing of Iran’s top commander Qasem Soleimani. Iraq
Biden administration makes first call to Turkey National security adviser Jake Sullivan ran through a panoply of regional issues in a call with his Turkish counterpart. Turkey
Turkey, proxy fighters accused of 'illegally transferring' Syrians for prosecution Human Rights Watch documented the transfer of at least 63 Syrians to Turkey for prosecution on charges including membership in a terrorist group. Turkey
Israeli Labor picks gender warrior Michaeli as its new leader Polls indicate that the election of gender-equality activist Merav Michaeli to head the struggling labor party was a good pick. Israel
US-backed Syrian Kurdish unity talks to resume amid mounting distrust Although talks are set to resume this week, the prospects of a Syrian Kurdish unity deal seem more elusive than ever, with plenty of sticking points threatening to sink the effort. Syria
Twitter adds warning label to Turkish minister's anti-LGBT tweet Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu's tweet accused "LGBT perverts" protesting in Istanbul of disrespecting Islam. Turkey
Iran says crew of seized South Korean ship free to leave Tehran says it made a "humanitarian decision" to release the sailors aboard a Korean ship it seized in the Persian Gulf, though the Hankuk Chemi will remain in Iran as an investigation and talks over oil funds withheld by Seoul continue. Iran
Tehran to begin vaccinations as Iran remains divided over Russian shot Iran’s president is hopeful that his country’s vaccination drive will kick off in the coming weeks despite growing criticism from the Iranian medical community against the Russian vaccine. Iran
Israel predicts 6-month nuclear breakout time for Iran Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said Iran is close to amassing the fissile material needed to build a nuclear weapon, but it would be a year or two before it could produce a nuclear weapon. Israel