Success of the US$17 billion Iraq Development Road depends on Iraq-Turkey ties, which have been fraught over oil exports and militant issues, analysts say.

The concerns come as a US delegation in Kuala Lumpur holds talks with officials over Tehran’s alleged underhanded selling of oil through service providers.

The US Treasury’s top sanctions official said Washington saw Iranian oil being transferred near Singapore and throughout the wider region.

Malaysia has been accused by the West of helping Tehran evade sanctions through the supply of Iranian oil to China via a “dark fleet” in its waters.

Brian Nelson, the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, will visit the region as Washington looks to combat funding for Iran and its proxies as well as evasion of its sanctions on Russia.

The arrival of Russian personnel in the West African country came in the wake of a decision by Niger’s junta to expel US forces from the country.

The visit by John Bass to Islamabad comes a week after Iran and Pakistan held talks on restarting their long-delayed gas pipeline.

The United States and Saudi Arabia are said to be nearing a pact that would offer the kingdom security guarantees and lay out a possible pathway to diplomatic ties with Israel if it brings the war in Gaza to an end.

Ebrahim Raisi, the first Iranian leader to visit Sri Lanka since 2008, says the project marks his country’s ability to share knowledge with other nations.

The Yemen-based rebels say they hit the aircraft with a missile as part of a renewed series of assaults amid the Israel-Gaza war.

Attack by ‘outlaw elements’ in Iraq was the first major one against coalition forces in several weeks.

The United States appears close to sanctioning an Israeli military unit over alleged human rights violations in the West Bank.

Experts say Washington’s plan to rely on surge troops could be tested now the arch-foes have broken the taboo of open military strikes against each other.

Iranian state media confirmed an attack by Israel in the early hours of Friday and said the ‘sabotage’ operation involving drones had failed

The first-ever direct Iranian attack on Israel has brought the conflict between the two countries “out of the shadows and into the light”.

The US and UK on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran as concern grows that Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel could fuel a wider war in the Middle East.

Israel is divided over what to do next, and whether the Middle East plunges into a wider war might come down to the prime minister’s survival instincts.

Israel has vowed to respond to Iran’s unprecedented weekend attack without saying when or how, leaving the region bracing for further escalation after months of unrest linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Israel is vowing to retaliate against Iran for its weekend drone and missile attack. As the US and Europe urge restraint, Israel is weighing its choices.

Hoping to steer Israel away from massive retaliation, the US and Europe flagged a toughening of economic and political sanctions against Iran.

Readers discuss Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel, and how Benjamin Netanyahu should respond

State media said Iran fired long-range missiles able to cover close to 2,000km – almost double the capacity needed to reach Israel, as well as Shahed drones.

US Treasury Secretary’s meetings to include talks with China on ‘balanced growth’, a new dialogue to address China’s excess industrial capacity for EVs, solar panels and other clean energy goods.

Saturday’s drone and missile launches, including some that overflew Iraqi airspace, have underscored the delicate relationship between Washington and Baghdad, not least because of Iranian proxy groups that operate in Iraq.