Welcome back to the Friday Newsletter, our weekly round-up of MBN’s best reporting on events that drove the news in the Middle East and the U.S.
America flexes and Tehran retaliates. It’s not 2025 all over again, is it? Talks between the two countries are expected in Oman today, but what’s on the table remains anyone’s guess. Tehran insists on confining the discussion to its nuclear program; Washington asserts that topics like Iran’s ballistic missile range, terrorist sponsorship and the killing of protestors must all be fair game. Iran’s neighbors, frenemies, and foes are pulling the Trump administration in opposite directions. Will talks avert a potential war? Check out our in-depth reporting in The Agenda and the Iran Briefing, too.
As the world hopes for peace, inside Iran, the religious veil is lifting. During the mass protests, some took to vandalizing iconic Islamic mosques. While not something to be lauded, these acts were significant: Iranians have grown less religious after decades of enforced “Islamization,” says Mustafa Akyol, an MBN columnist and Cato Institute senior fellow. From compulsory veiling to criminalizing dissent, the Islamic Republic has helped create a fierce hostility to religion.
Lastly, we look at how artificial intelligence is impacting the Arab world. MBN’s Aya Elbaz examines how AI will ultimately affect men and women differently.
These and other stories are available for you in both English and Arabic on MBN’s website. The Friday Briefing is also published in Arabic. If you were forwarded this newsletter, subscribe here. We want to hear from you at thebriefing@mbn-news.com.
This Week on MBN
A New Axis Takes Shape
Turkish President Recap Tayyip Erdoğan’s tour of the Gulf states and Egypt signals a high-level strategic plan. The bloc builds on Saudi–Pakistani defense ties, but now Turkey wants in on alliance action. As Ahmed Elimy explains, this aspiring axis aims to counter Israel’s edge, deter Iran’s escalation and stabilize the Horn of Africa.
Read the article here
MBN Iran Briefing:
Andres Ilves’ weekly reporting and understanding of what’s going on in Tehran and its impact on the wider world.
Turkey’s Preemptive Containment
Walls, drones, and surveillance devices now span the 560 kilometers of border land between Turkey and Iran. Why? Turkey believes a U.S. military strike on Iran is a real possibility, and assumes that refugees will flee before any bombs drop. Shoring up its eastern frontier to prevent the mass displacement of Iranians is its first order of business. Turkish officials tell Houda Elboukili that demographic security is now more important than traditional diplomatic restraint.
Read the article here
Gulf Rivalries Deepen
Amid rising tensions between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia over disputes related to Yemen and other regional activities, a high-profile Emirati celebration of Kuwait has sparked debate over whether Abu Dhabi is seeking to reshape Gulf alliances. MBN’s Sakina Abdallah notes that media coverage revealed a stark contrast, with Emirati outlets amplifying celebratory narratives while Kuwaiti coverage remained restrained and largely factual.
Read the article here
MBN Magazine:
Features, debates and analysis on the Middle East from unique voices. You won’t find these stories anywhere else.
Hezbollah’s Lifeline Severed
Recurrent interdiction of weapon shipments (some earmarked for Hezbollah) has put the smuggling routes between Syria and Lebanon back under scrutiny, signaling a shift from past practices. Joelle El Hajj Moussa explains in this video that with Israeli strikes and U.S. pressure to disarm Hezbollah, the future of cross-border smuggling now hinges on decisions in Beirut and Damascus.
Read the article here and watch the video here
Deadlock in Baghdad
President Donald Trump’s rejection of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s nomination for a third term has put the process of forming a new government in limbo. The move fractured Shiite ranks and unified Sunni-Kurdish opposition. MBN’s Ghassan Taqi reports that the Shiite coalition that nominated Maliki is seeking help from Kurdish leader Massour Barazani to try to resolve the stalemate.
Read the article here
How Islamic Jurisprudence Marginalized Women
In his weekly program on MBN’s Alhurra platform, journalist Ibrahim Essa says that male-dominated Sunni and Shiʿite jurisprudence has for so long been used to limit women’s legal and social agency. He argues that religious texts became tools of institutionalized patriarchy and continue to shape governance and gender roles today.
Read the article here and watch the video here
AI and the Arab Workforce
How will artificial intelligence affect jobs and productivity in Arab states? Gulf countries show a high readiness to incorporate AI, while non-Gulf countries have weaker digital infrastructure so their economies might struggle to fully incorporate AI, says the International Labor Organization’s newly released Employment and Social Trends 2026 report. Aya Elbaz examines the report’s key findings for the Arab states, highlighting how AI will affect men and women differently.
Watch the video here
Closer
“I hope they negotiate something that’s acceptable. We do have very big, powerful ships heading in that direction.”
— President Donald Trump
January 31, 2026
