While there is a broad range of Arabic language media outlets reporting stories from and about the Middle East, there is currently no affordable and reliable means for English speakers to gain access to this content. As a result, many English speaking businesspersons, students, journalists and others who have an interest in the affairs of the region are largely unaware of what the Middle East media is covering and how they are covering these stories.
Mideastwire.com aims to close this gap by offering a daily menu of translations covering some of the key political, cultural, economic and opinion pieces appearing in the media of the 22 Arab countries and the Arab Diaspora. Through this effort, we hope to address at least one aspect of a global disconnect that continues to threaten a wide spectrum of socio-political and economic relationships, both here in the region and beyond.
It is also important to note that, since our founding in 2005, Mideastwire.com is wholly funded by the content license fees paid by individuals and organizations. As such, there is no government, commercial or non-profit support, an aspect that we believe provides a relatively independent platform for better understanding.
Our Corrections Policy: We adhere to an honest and open corrections policy. Please email info@mideastwire.com if you notice any typo or if you disagree with our translation choices. Since we do not produce our own content, we only will consider corrections that highlight typos or dispute our translations, not the veracity or accuracy of the original content. Accepted corrections are applied directly to the relevant translations as soon as they are approved by the editor and our database is updated accordingly for all subscribers.
Iran–Egypt Relations (Arabi 21)
Iranian FM Abbas Araqchi’s visit to Cairo signals Egypt’s waning regional influence, as the U.S. and Gulf states bypass Egypt in Gaza mediation.
Egypt’s historic leverage via the Rafah crossing is being eroded by direct U.S.–Hamas talks and Gulf-led diplomacy.
A possible Egypt–Iran thaw is more a maneuver to regain relevance than a substantive shift.
Iran–Hezbollah Dynamics (Al-Arab)
Tehran’s meeting with Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem omitted traditional support language for the “resistance,” sparking speculation about distancing as part of Iran-U.S. nuclear deal talks.
Lebanese officials are being reassured of Iran’s commitment to sovereignty and reconstruction, possibly to pre-empt criticism or sanctions.
Iraq–Syria–U.S. Withdrawal (Al-Mada)
Sudden U.S. pullout from eastern Syria raises fears of ISIS resurgence along Iraq’s border.
Iraqi officials emphasize the need for U.S. presence, despite internal political pressure to expel foreign troops.
Lebanon–U.S. Policy Shift (Al-Joumhouria, Asas Media)
Trump reshuffles his Mideast team, signaling a softer approach toward Lebanon and Hezbollah, despite continued containment goals.
U.S. insists Iran must cut off proxies like Hezbollah as a precondition for any nuclear deal—though Iran denies this linkage.
