Iran

The jewel in the crown of the International North-South Transport Corridor which, links Russia with the Middle East, shows new forms of co-operation bringing trade breakthroughs. It may lead to more.

Despite his impressive CV as a heart surgeon fluent in English, the 'reformist' is still seen as a weak head of government. This is precisely why he was believed to be Khamenei's favourite pick.

Two key candidates—Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Masud Pezeshkian—are promising to make a deal with the West to lift the sanctions, while Saeed Jalili is pushing for ties with non-Western countries

A pact signed by Iranian Premier Mohammad Mosaddegh and Syrian President Fawzi Selu quickly soured after the two leaders were toppled. Relations remained icy until Khomeini came to power in 1979.

The former journalist and thriller writer tells Al Majalla what inspires him to depict the reality of the Middle East and the wars that have gripped the region

Nada al-Azhari's 'An Arabian in Iran' shows how the country's people have been cut off from the region by the regime. Full of insight into daily life, it captures a sense of post-imperial turmoil

An important institutional body with an 8-year term, this collection of ageing and sclerotic clerics is meant to wield real power by overseeing the Supreme Leader. In practice, they simply nod along.

A fiery speech hails the pre-war Arab-Israeli rapprochement as dead, showing how Tehran sees the Middle East eight months after Hamas attacked Israel, while Hezbollah is also hoping to gain.

Although most drones and missiles were shot down, Israel might not have been so successful without the help of its allies. Al Majalla explains how 13 April reset the regional power balance.

Are these weapons changing the character of war?