Mina Aldroubi

The US-Iran peace deal could embolden one of Iran's main allies: Yemen’s Houthi rebels, experts and officials told The National, as the 14-point text does not mention Tehran's support for regional militia groups. The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, signed on June 17, gave the two countries 60 days to reach a wider deal to end the war. Key issues are Iran's nuclear activities, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq has appointed a Christian Armenian as its new ambassador to the US, a position that is generally held by a member of the country's Muslim majority, officials told The National on Thursday. Krikor Der-Hagopian, 49, was an adviser on international relations to former prime minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and has close ties with current Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi. He will replace veteran diplomat Nizar Al Khairallah, who served as deputy foreign minister before being posted to Washington.