The Saudi-Iranian contacts that began last month in secrecy have gained gravitas. Significantly, this is an exclusively regional initiative. The Saudi-Iranian drive to normalise ties is motivated primarily by the two sides’ deep distrust of American intentions. Blinken sounded unhappy and somewhat irritated. His words reflect the reality that the …

Iran’s Guardian Council, an unelected body that gets to decide a final list of candidates, is winnowing down the number of candidates allowed to run in the June 18 election. Iran’s Guardian Council held its second meeting May 19 to review the qualifications of 592 candidates who registered to run …

Two little-known groups in northwest Syria are claiming responsibility for attacks against Turkish troops in the area, which some say may benefit al-Qaeda against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. A group that goes by the name of Ansar Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Brigade has claimed responsibility for an attack against Turkish forces as …