The Iranian regime spent decades building the Axis of Resistance, a coalition of anti-Western militias that extended Tehran’s influence deep into the Arab world. But what takes years to build can collapse seemingly overnight.

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina shared the message "Make Iraq Great Again!" The congressman has indicated that Iran controls Iraq.

To confront Iran’s growing nuclear capabilities, the Trump administration restored maximum pressure on Tehran earlier this month.

Iranian street vendors wait for customers in the main market to sell their Iranian-made goods and food produced in Iran, in Basra, Iraq, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)

Oil futures rose modestly as the U.S. imposed fresh sanctions on Iran and Iraq offered a commitment to compensate for overproduction of its OPEC+ quotas in recent months.

For Muslims in Saudi Arabia and most Sunni-ruled Middle Eastern states Ramadan will begin on Saturday, but in Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq it will start the following day, authorities announced.

Russia and Iran remain aligned on Tehran’s goals for its domestic nuclear program, the Russian foreign ministry said this week.

The United States imposed sanctions on more than 30 people and vessels for their role in selling and transporting Iranian petroleum-related products as part of Tehran's "shadow fleet," the Treasury Department said.

Flows of crude oil through a pipeline from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq to Turkey could restart soon after an almost two-year shutdown. Sources told Reuters that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is piling pressure on Iraq to allow Kurdish oil exports to restart or face sanctions alongside Iran.

Despite rising antisemitism and diminishing tolerance, Iran's Jewish community maintains a strong sense of cultural pride and national identity, according to David Nissan, an Iran expert and former Israeli intelligence officer who was born and raised in Tehran.

Cristiano Ronaldo was absent as Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and Esteghlal of Iran drew 0-0 in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Elite second round on Monday. It was a frustrating evening in Tehran for Al-Nassr without the 40-year-old Ronaldo,