Iran

Protests swelled in Iraq's second-largest city this week as residents experienced power shortages and went without clean water.

• By Jack Herrera

The current administration has made heavy-handed economic policy one of its main tools for influencing global politics.

• By Ian Hurley

Afghan children are often forced to work in the black market, where they can be exposed to physical and sexual abuse, drug addiction, and deportation.

• By Fariba Nawa

Lake Urmia, Iran: Men harvest tomatoes in the countryside near Lake Urmia, a large salt lake that is rapidly drying out. Scientists believe resulting salt storms will ravage the region's agriculture.

• By Pacific Standard Staff

An expert of Middle East policy expresses concerns over the destabilizing effect that Pompeo's new position could have on the region.

• By Gregory Aftandilian

What started as a civil conflict has quickly fallen into multiple proxy wars, ones that don't look to be dying down any time soon.

• By Moritz Pieper

Director Greg Barker talks about following Obama all over the globe while filming The Final Year.

• By Isaac Butler

White House officials said it will be the last time Trump waives sanctions against Iran.

• By Kate Wheeling

Breaking down the reasons why the country's recent uprising will have longer lasting effects than the demonstrations of 2009.

• By Nader Habibi

The country's increased use of cyberattacks against the United States is a worrying sign toward potential future conflicts.

• By Dorothy Denning

Heir to the throne, Prince Mohammad bin Salman, risks further destabilizing the Middle East through his bellicose rhetoric, political crackdowns, and military escalation.

• By Elise Knutsen

The 7.3-magnitude earthquake killed more than 400 people and injured thousands.

• By Emily Moon

First Washington went after the nuclear deal, now it wants Iran-backed defenses against ISIS out of Iraq.

• By Massoud Hayoun

Trump criticized the Iran nuclear deal, but stopped short of pulling the U.S. out of the agreement.

• By Kate Wheeling

Trump threatens longstanding alliances abroad by suggesting, unilaterally, the destruction of North Korea and the Iran Nuclear Deal, analysts warn.

• By Massoud Hayoun

He also criticized the Iran nuclear deal.

• By Kate Wheeling

The attacks mark the first major acts of terrorism in Iran since 2010.

• By Nick Hagar

The president made non-proliferation a centerpiece of his administration. What happened?

• By Jared Keller

Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr demonstrates that Riyadh is able to act with growing impunity in the Middle East. It also signals a potentially dangerous shift in American-Saudi relations.

• By Cameron Hood

They may not get any credit for the final product, but good fixers are integral to television, film, and journalism produced abroad. WorldFixer.com is trying to make the best ones easier to find.

• By Dana McMahan

Republicans wanted a president more like Netanyahu. Now they have one.

• By Ted Scheinman

For those accustomed to Western medicine, it may seem crazy to refuse doctor-prescribed medicine. But to truly be a healer, doctors must understand what makes a patient feel well.

• By Johnny Hourmozdi

He-said-she-said has rarely been so fun to read.

• By Francie Diep

The Israeli prime minister's speech before Congress yesterday could open up political divisions, and work against Israel in the long term.

• By Max Ufberg