Middle East

World News

Israelis are grappling with how much exposure to give a far-right politician

4:17pm October 07, 2022

by Daniel Estrin

Israelis are grappling with the question of how much exposure to give a far-right politician who has a chance of becoming an Israeli Cabinet minister after next month's elections.

Will the OPEC decision to cut oil production further hurt U.S.-Saudi relations?

5:06am October 07, 2022

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to ex-U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein about the U.S.-Saudi relationship after OPEC decided to cut oil production. President Biden was disappointed by the decision.

An oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia. The country, along with other OPEC+ members, plans to cut production against the wishes of the U.S.

Some Democrats push to punish Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ move to cut oil production

5:57pm October 06, 2022

by Deirdre Walsh

OPEC+ announced a cut of 2 million barrels a day starting next month. Some Democrats on Capitol Hill want to retaliate by cutting off military aid and reexamine ties to Saudi Arabia.

Iranian demonstrators protest in Tehran on Sept. 21, after Mahsa Amini died in custody of the country's so-called morality police.

World News

U.S. announces new sanctions on Iran, even as it seeks a new nuclear deal

3:27pm October 06, 2022

by Michele Kelemen

Thursday's announcement of new U.S. sanctions follows pressure from activists for the U.S. to support the protests, following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of Iran's so-called morality police.

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A protester holds a drawing of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 23. Amini was arrested by Iranian authorities in Tehran on Sept. 13 for not wearing her headscarf properly. She died three days later, apparently due to a severe head injury.

World News

Why a scholar banished from Iran 15 years ago is hopeful about the current protests

2:39pm October 06, 2022

by Tonya Mosley

Iranian American scholar Pardis Mahdavi was once arrested in Tehran for lecturing about Iran's sexual revolution. She wonders if the country's current wave of protests might result in regime change.

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Why French cities are refusing to show World Cup games on giant public screens

5:12am October 06, 2022

by Eleanor Beardsley

The World Cup begins next month in Qatar. France is the defending champion, but French cities have decided not to show the games at public gatherings to protest Qatar's record on human rights.

A man walks past OPEC headquarters in Vienna on Tuesday on the eve of the 45th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee and the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting. The in-person meeting of OPEC members led by Saudi Arabia and allied members headed by Russia will be the first in the Austrian capital since the spring of 2020.

Russia and Saudi Arabia agree to massive cuts to oil output. Here's why it matters

11:57am October 05, 2022

by Jackie Northam

The 2 million bpd cut in oil production was backed by Saudi Arabia and could benefit Russia. The OPEC+ meeting took place as much of the world is battling soaring energy costs and rising inflation.

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News brief: OPEC meeting, Trump document dispute, U.S. balancing act in Iran

6:43am October 05, 2022

OPEC mulls a cut in oil production. The fight over Mar-a-Lago documents goes to the Supreme Court. And the U.S. tries to support Iranian protesters while striking a nuclear deal with their government.

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Iran allows ailing American Baquer Namazi to leave the country for treatment

5:36am October 05, 2022

by Larry Kaplow

The former U.N. official had been arrested after going to Iran to try to free his son - who remains held there.

How can the U.S. support protesters in Iran? Activists want a pause in nuclear talks

5:07am October 05, 2022

by Michele Kelemen

The Biden administration is trying to make it easier for tech companies to connect Iranians to the internet. It is one way they're supporting the protest movement sparked by the death of a woman.