Iran Has Had An Especially Bad 2018
The Trump administration hit Iran with sanctions after pulling out of the nuclear deal. That's hurt the Iranian economy — and emboldened hard-liners.
Middle East
Journalist's Death Stops Western Firms From Doing Business With Saudi Arabia
Hollywood moguls are among the western executives who are steering clear of deals with Saudi Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Aid Manager For Mercy Corps Shares View From Inside Yemen
NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Dania Alsharif, program manager for Mercy Corps, about conditions in Yemen today, and whether she expects a negotiated cease fire to provide any relief.
Taliban Says It Is Meeting With U.S. Officials, Amid Escalating Peace Efforts
The Islamist militants have refused to negotiate with the Afghan government in Kabul — but a Taliban spokesman said Monday that they were speaking with the U.S., along with several other countries.
Saudi Arabia Denounces U.S. Senate's Rebukes On Jamal Khashoggi And Yemen War
The kingdom said the Senate's position is "based on baseless allegations and accusations" that distort the truth, and accused U.S. lawmakers of interfering in its affairs.
Iraq Lays Cornerstone To Restore Al-Nuri Mosque, As Mosul Rebuilds
Iraqi religious leaders officially initiated the restoration of Mosul's al-Nuri mosque yesterday. The mosque was destroyed as Iraqi forces reclaimed control of the city from the Islamic State in 2017.
Aid Will Move Slowly From Yemen Port Ceasefire — If It Lasts
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to reporter Jane Ferguson about the situation in Yemen, where a ceasefire in a key port city is off to a shaky start.
Left Exposed By Middle Eastern Upheaval, Christians Are Fleeing Region
Janine diGiovanni discusses her report in Harper's on the accelerating persecution and uprooting of Christians in the land where the religion was born
The State Of U.S.-Saudi Relations, After The Senate's Rebuke
Robin Wright explains where things stand after a bipartisan group of senators voted to pull military support from Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, and to tie the country's leader to a journalist's death.
'This Is Crossing The Line': Saudis Co-Opted Veterans' Voices To Lobby Congress
When U.S. Navy veteran Gary Ard traveled last year to lobby against a bill before Congress, he didn't realize Saudi Arabia was paying for all of it — including rooms at the Trump International Hotel.