Iran's Arc of Influence

The alliance led by nationalist Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr appears to have won the parliamentary elections, and he's no friend of Tehran -- or the United States.

The latest U.S. sanctions target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as the White House piles on the pressure after pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal.

As the United States turns the screws on Tehran, Iran and the European Union will face a tall order in trying to salvage the landmark nuclear deal.

Iran has responded to weeks of increasing Israeli airstrikes with its own retaliatory strike, seriously escalating the conflict between the two countries in the Syrian battle space.

Iran will soon be facing the full onslaught of U.S. sanctions, but it and the other major parties to the agreement are working on ways to get around the penalties.

The first parliamentary balloting in nine years may offer a break in the political stalemate that has held the country in an iron grip.

By accusing Tehran of arming separatists, Rabat not only serves its own security needs, but also wins favor with Riyadh and others that seek to contain Iranian influence.

Increasing their sway on the continent will enable members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to achieve prominence on the international stage and to gain trade partners. But they will have stiff competition, from other regional powers and from their fellow bloc members.