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Middle East

Latest Middle East stories from World.

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Briefing: US fertiliser bosses cash in as Iran war boosts shares

Strategic angle: CF Industries aided by access to low-cost US natural gas as energy crisis slams Asian and European competitors

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Briefing: Three weeks in, Iran war escalates beyond Trump's control

Strategic angle: The conflict in Iran intensifies, raising concerns over Trump's ability to manage the situation.

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Briefing: Beer bans and burkinis: Signs of growing authoritarianism in the new Syria?

Strategic angle: This week's ban on alcohol in Damascus has sparked a debate among Syrians about governance, personal freedoms, and community unity.

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Briefing: History is tragically repeating itself in Lebanon

Strategic angle: Ensuring the country’s survival — and Hizbollah’s weakening — is Trump’s best hope for Middle East success

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Briefing: Iran launches 10mn rial banknote as war triggers dash for cash

Strategic angle: Iranians queue to get hold of highest-ever denomination bills as US-Israeli strikes fuel demand for hard currency.

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Briefing: Iran lets grain ships through Hormuz to shore up food supply

Strategic angle: Agriculture has been a ‘pain point’ for Tehran after it imposes de facto blockade of waterway in response to US-Israeli war

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Briefing: Iran war raises the risk of a bond market shock

Strategic angle: Wild swings in UK gilts point to strains that will hurt government finances and jack up borrowing costs for us all

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Briefing: UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini's grim assessment: 'Without firm political and financial support, we face a slow death'

Strategic angle: The commissioner-general of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees voices deep concern for the survival of the underfunded organization amid Israeli attacks.

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Briefing: Iran war: Israel launches strikes on Tehran, Beirut

Strategic angle: The Israeli military has launched a new wave of strikes on Beirut and 'regime targets' in Tehran. The US has temporarily eased sanctions on some Iranian oil.

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Briefing: UN expert says Israel is systematically torturing Palestinians

Strategic angle: The UN's special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories – who has faced harsh criticism – said the abuses suggested 'collective vengeance and destructive intent.'

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Briefing: White House says it could 'take out' Iran's Kharg island anytime

Strategic angle: The island, which is Iran's main crude oil export terminal, is under scrutiny as the U.S. seeks to pressure Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

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Briefing: Gold drops nearly 10% in worst weekly rout since 2011

Strategic angle: The metal saw bumpy trading on Friday morning, after joining a broad sell-off the previous day.

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Briefing: Trump: 'I don't want to do a ceasefire' in Iran war

Strategic angle: President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. is 'obliterating' Iran in the ongoing conflict.

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Briefing: Iran: The ‘Mosaic Doctrine’, Zelensky V Orban, Hungary-splaining

Strategic angle: Amidst ongoing assassinations within Iran's regime, the political landscape remains tumultuous.

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Briefing: Saudi Arabia has a workaround for the Hormuz crude-export standstill. It may not be enough.

Strategic angle: Saudi Arabia's efforts to address the Hormuz crude-export challenges may fall short.

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Briefing: Iran war: Assassinations leave little room for negotiation

Strategic angle: With most of its leaders killed, those stepping up to take their place in the Iranian regime appear to be far less willing to compromise. Is Washington's strategy of decapitation strikes backfiring?

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Briefing: Israel Strikes Syria After Druze Clashes

Strategic angle: Syria condemned the strikes on weapons sites and government infrastructure as an 'outrageous' assault on Syria's sovereignty.

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Briefing: Iran issues global threat as Israel's regime kill list grows with help from the inside

Strategic angle: Israel eliminated three top Iranian commanders on Friday as it continues its relentless strikes on Tehran's repression forces, with help from ordinary Iranians who are rising up against the regime.

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Trump is dismantling democracy at 'unprecedented' speed, global report finds

Three major new studies on democracy and freedom all find the U.S. is slipping further away from democracy.

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Netanyahu’s Iran war press briefing targeted at ‘audience of one’: Donald Trump

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s press briefing on the Iran war was aimed specifically at President Donald Trump, according to reports.