Hormuz continues as Schrodinger’s Strait, simultaneously open and closed based on who you talk to. The U.S. says the war is both ended and paused, while Iran reviews a U.S. proposal to end the conflict.
All of this is unfolding just days before the May 14th U.S.–China summit in Beijing, putting the Iran war front and center of the talks. MBN China expert Min Mitchell joins the Iran Briefing Podcast team of Matthew Kaminski and Andres Ilves to unpack whether a weakened Tehran is good or bad for China and whether the summit will influence the war. Watch or listen.
Among other stories we have lined up for you is an insightful interview with Tom Nides, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, who tells MBN’s Joe Kawly and Leila Bazzi why Benjamin Netanyahu has a map of Iran in his personal office. He talks about the prospect of a nuclear deal as well as the seismic changes underway right now in the Middle East.
Enjoy the MBN Friday Briefing, the weekly roundup of our best journalism on stories shaping developments in the Middle East and Washington.
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This Week On MBN
Iran Obsession, No Easy Peace
Tom Nides, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has always been hyper-focused on Iran, calling it Israel’s central strategic threat. Nides sat down with MBN’s Editor-in-Chief, Leila Bazzi, and Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly in New York to discuss the shifting regional dynamics. Nides predicts a renewed nuclear agreement with Iran, likely resembling the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but under a different political label. He sees a Middle East being reshaped—but not in ways that point toward stability or optimism.
Watch the full interview here
U.S. Blockade Chokes Iran’s Oil Lifeline
A U.S. naval blockade has slashed 90% of Iran’s oil exports from its main export hub of Kharg Island. With nowhere to store excess crude, Tehran faces a daily glut of 1.5 million barrels. Engineers have warned that shutting wells could cause irreversible geological damage. The squeeze is costing Iran an estimated $150 million in lost revenue each day. As MBN’s Youssef Saoud reports, Iran lacks the funds and expertise to recover if its wells are permanently damaged.
Watch the video here
Lebanese Passports, Iranian Shadows
When Lebanese security personnel arrived at the scene of an Israeli airstrike on a hotel in the southern suburb of Beirut, they discovered that the victims – mostly Iranian officers – were carrying authentic Lebanese passports issued under false identities. MBN’s Randa Jebai reports that the ensuing investigation revealed a wider network operating from within official Lebanese institutions. Lebanese judicial sources confirmed to Randa that the case was being followed up.
Read the article here
Iraq’s Stark Choices
Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi is stepping into a brewing political storm. Behind the scenes, Washington is sending a blunt message: rein in Iran-linked armed groups or face consequences. The warning goes beyond diplomacy, hinting at possible direct action if attacks continue. In exclusive information to MBN, Ghassan Taqi lays out what Washington demands of the next Iraqi government. Meanwhile, Mustafa Saadoon explains that al-Zaidi is in a bind—caught between powerful militias at home and rising pressure from the United States.
Read the articles here and here
Oman’s AI Bet in a Riskier Gulf
The war with Iran has changed the tech game in the Gulf. Data centers and other forms of AI infrastructure are no longer seen as safe. That’s where Oman comes in. The country is trying to position itself as a calmer, more stable place to invest, especially as it shows off its new AI zone in Muscat. Experts tell MBN’s Sakina Abdallah that Oman’s neutrality helps, but it still needs stronger infrastructure, talent, and regulations to really compete.
Read the article here
Lebanon’s Nausea and Nightclubs
Lebanon is trapped in shallow, reactive thinking, says Joumana Haddad, MBN Magazine contributor. The internet is inundated with polarized social media responses in reaction to the unprecedented Lebanon–Israel talks in Washington. Haddad criticizes both the reflexive rejection of Israel and the naïve enthusiasm for normalization, viewing them as equally superficial and detached from reality. The article insists that normalization without justice or an end to Israeli violence is meaningless. Haddad sharply opposes Hezbollah’s armed role and Iran’s influence, arguing both undermine Lebanese sovereignty and state authority.
Read the article here
Closer: Epic Fury Concluded
“Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We are only responding if attacked first.”
–U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio – May 5, 2026
