Welcome back to the MBN Friday Briefing, our weekly roundup of our best reporting on the Middle East and Washington.
The U.S. will commit $10 billion to the newly created Gaza Board of Peace, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (Congressional approval is TBD). This governing body will oversee the security and rebuilding of the Strip. Here’s MBN’s DC Bureau Chief Joe Kawly rounding up the event.
In the same meeting, Trump threatened that Iran must make a meaningful deal on its nuclear program…or else. Behind the scenes, the U.S. is gathering the largest force of air power in the region since the Iraq war, able to strike Iran as soon as this weekend. But while the threat of an attack looked imminent on Wednesday night — as soon as this weekend — it has now receded a bit. Follow our coverage on MBN-News.com.
And, in neighboring Iraq, a peaceful battle is playing out over the future government following the November elections. Kurdish officials have reached an agreement on a president, but there’s still no prime minister. President Trump vetoed efforts to nominate Nouri al-Maliki for a third term. Thwarting President Trump would mean political and economic suicide, says MBN’s columnist Akeel Abbas since Washington can cut off access to Iraqi oil revenues deposited in U.S. banks. A new “U.S. threat message” details sanctions, says an Iraqi government advisor to MBN’s Ghassan Taqi. The deeper question: Is any prime minister capable of reducing Iran’s influence on Iraq?
The Friday Briefing is also published in Arabic. If you were forwarded this newsletter, subscribe here. We’d love to hear from you at thebriefing@mbn-news.com.
This Week on MBN
No Muscat Tell
Washington and Tehran are quietly negotiating using what’s being dubbed the “Muscat track” to keep direct talks out of public view, says former U.S. diplomat and veteran Middle East expert Dennis Ross. Any real agreement would need to address Iran’s ballistic missiles and its support for regional proxies, says Ross in the latest episode of “The Diplomat” podcast with MBN’s Joe Kawly.
Watch the video here
MBN Iran Briefing:
Andres Ilves’ weekly reporting and understanding of what’s going on in Tehran and its impact on the wider world.
Iran’s Power Move: Iraq
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are ramping up activity as tensions rise with the United States and Israel. While Iran has traditionally kept a tight leash on these militias, analysts say they are increasingly showing a readiness for armed confrontation. MBN’s Dalshad Hussein reports that Iraq has become Tehran’s last major platform for projecting power across the region.
Read the article here
U.S. Warning Shakes Iraqi Politics
A blunt warning from President Trump has effectively shut the door on Nouri Al-Maliki’s return to power. Washington still has enormous leverage, especially through control over Iraq’s oil revenues and the threat of sanctions. Writing for MBN Magazine, Akeel Abbas says this is less about Maliki himself and more about whether Iraq’s political class can produce any leader capable of decreasing Iran’s influence without triggering a crisis.
Read the article here
U.S. Conditions Syria Sanctions Relief
U.S. lawmakers made clear that sanctions relief for Syria will come only under strict conditions. During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, lawmakers stressed that Damascus doesn’t have a blank check from Washington. The U.S. outlined five key requirements, including removing Iranian influence, ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS, protecting minorities, integrating armed forces, and combating terrorism, reports Rami Al Amine.
Read the article here
2025 Corruption Index: Few Arab States Make Small Gains
Some Arab countries saw slight improvements in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, including Morocco, Iraq, and Jordan. But most of the region remains stuck, with reforms limited by political red lines. Experts tell MBN’s Randa Jebai the issue isn’t a lack of laws, but weak accountability and limited transparency.
Watch the video here
Debunking the ‘Abrahamic Religion’ Narrative
The idea of an “Abrahamic religion” is a political fabrication rather than a genuine interfaith concept, argues Ibrahim Issa. He traces the narrative back to the Muslim Brotherhood, which he says framed interfaith dialogue as a so-called Zionist-Crusader plot. This framing is designed to undermine civilizational coexistence and shared humanity, according to Issa.
Watch the video here
Closer
“There shall be no enrichment capability — not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantling the equipment and the infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place.”
—Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
