Worried that the United States will take Saudi Arabia's side in the dispute, Qatar has been looking elsewhere for support, giving regional and global powers such as Turkey, Iran, China and Russia an opportunity to make inroads in the Gulf.
Israel boasts many advantages over both Iran and Hezbollah, but the pair are working hard to exploit the former's vulnerabilities – and that could have big consequences for the region.
The conditions remain ripe for more clashes between Israel and Iran as Russia hits the limits of its influence with both.
As tension rises with the United States, the Islamic republic is likely to boost its email, password, website and denial-of-service attacks.
By Ben West
While attacks thus far by 'Leafminer' have affected mostly Saudi interests, its targets have also been spread across the Middle East.
President Trump's all-caps warning to the Iranian government upped the pressure on Tehran. Several factors will determine whether the aggressive rhetoric actually translates into a military confrontation in the Persian Gulf.
By Reva Goujon
The efforts of Iran's trade partners to push back against the United States and maintain their ties to the Islamic republic are failing, leaving Tehran to pursue a more aggressive negotiating strategy.
The international organization established to curb money laundering and terrorism financing recently found Islamabad's reform efforts inadequate but gave Tehran more time to meet its guidelines.
Faced with tough U.S. oil sanctions, Iran is playing one of the only cards it has and reminding the world that it could bring maritime oil trade to a halt.
Tehran's challenge: Hitting back at its rivals without incurring additional sanctions or military action, or alienating the Europeans interested in preserving the nuclear deal.
