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
Oman’s sovereign wealth fund under pressure Ahead of the prospect of a high budget deficit in 2020, assets held by the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) plunged by about a third to $14.3 billion. Oman
Pompeo argues US still in Iran deal in bid to snap back global sanctions Can the United States use the UN to force other countries to sanction Iran? Russia
Egypt forcibly disappears two women amid coronavirus crackdown: Rights group Marwa Arafa, 27, and Kholoud Said, 35, disappeared last week at the hands of Egyptian security services, Human Rights Watch said. Egypt
'Not the New York Gulf': US-Iran war of words heats up Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said today that the United States should stay out of the Persian Gulf. United States
Iraq’s Kadhimi submits plan to parliament as deadline approaches Iraq’s newest Prime Minister-designate, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, has submitted his government program to the parliament for approval. Iraq
Alleged Gulenists main target of forced disappearances in Turkey A new report from Human Rights Watch on forcible disappearances in Turkey called for an "effective investigation into credible testimony" from one of the most recent men to go missing for months. Turkey
Syria allows businesses to reopen during the day The Syrian government announced the easing of the country's coronavirus lockdown today. Syria
Intel: Pompeo condemns terrorist attack in Syria’s Afrin Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned on Tuesday a terrorist bomb attack that killed at least 40 people in the northwestern Syrian city of Afrin. Syria
Intel: US 'concerned' over separatists declaring self-rule in Yemen The US government is concerned by the actions of a separatist group that declared self-rule in parts of southern Yemen over the weekend, said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Yemen
Pro-Sistani 'popular mobilization units' break with pro-Iran militias in Iraq A bold move by PMU groupings aligned with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is set to challenge the level of influence of pro-Iran militias in Iraq. Iraq
Temple Mount closed to both Jews, Muslims over coronavirus The Waqf agreed to shut down the Temple Mount to Muslims during the coronavirus crisis, in exchange for a ruling that denies Jews access to the site. Palestine
Intel: House Middle East panel spotlights Yemen in first virtual briefing The House Foreign Affairs Committee spotlighted Yemen in its first virtual briefing, which the Middle East subcommittee held today. Saudi Arabia