The Middle East never stops moving. Neither does the FDD Morning Brief.Three mornings a week, FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer cuts through the noise with the experts who have spent their careers studying, shaping, and living the region’s most consequential moments. All before your morning coffee gets cold.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/10/26/13/04b65a2a-7f57-4699-b4cb-972ae698f8b3_fddmb_10-26.mp3

Headlines:<ul><li>The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is reeling from an attack on a Greek Orthodox church on Friday afternoon. </li><li>Hamas appears to be issuing threats that it likely cant back up. </li><li>Leaders of Hezbollah have reportedly informed parliament speaker and ally Nabih Berri that the group will not join forces with the Islamic Republic of Iran against Israel and the United States if war resumes. </li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies and director of the Middle East Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

The battle for the Eastern Med | feat. Steven Cook

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Headlines:<ul><li>Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Ankara yesterday on the first-ever bilateral visit to Turkey for a Canadian prime minister. </li><li>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ term is almost up, which means the succession race is heating up.</li><li>New reports out of Israel: Hamas has no intention to disarm. Shocker, right? </li><li>The city of Hebron is in lock down. </li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ryan Brobst, deputy director of FDD&#39;s Center on Military and Political Power.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

The new rules of warfare | feat. Ryan Brobst

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Headlines:<ul><li>The UK is<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-air-patrols-saudi-houthis-3e56f4679565c985fd036302168a4f79" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-air-patrols-saudi-houthis-3e56f4679565c985fd036302168a4f79" rel="nofollow">sending</a> fighter jets to support Saudi Arabia in its fight against the Houthis.</li><li>Pakistan’s military chief <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-912278" rel="nofollow">Field Marshal Asim Munir</a> was in Tehran yesterday for meetings with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and other top regime officials. </li><li>The parliament of Libya’s Islamist-aligned eastern government approved a maritime border agreement with Turkey.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Middle East analyst Eitan Fischberger.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

Doha's duplicitous game | feat. Eitan Fischberger

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Headlines:<ul><li>Egypt’s National Defense Council agrees to provide Saudi Arabia with all necessary support in its war against the Houthis.</li><li>Saudi Arabia on Saturday announced that five Saudi nationals had been executed for committing acts of terror against the Saudi state and its people.</li><li> Some wild news stories circulating out there, purportedly showing how the Netanyahu government was steering Qatari cash into Gaza.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Envoy for Europe Simone Rodan-Benzaquen.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

France under fire | feat. Simone Rodan-Benzaquen

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Headlines:<ul><li>The U.S. is allegedly considering dropping the “mother of all bombs” on Iran. Technically, it’s called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, or MOAB, and it’s the largest non-nuclear bomb the U.S. has. </li><li>Terrible news out of Ukraine. It looks like the Ukrainians have <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/15/europe/ukraine-us-patriot-interceptor-missiles-run-out-intl" rel="nofollow">run out</a> of Patriot missile interceptors, leaving their country more vulnerable to Russian drone and ballistic missile attacks. </li><li>Now, for some good news: Lebanon’s central bank <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-15/lebanon-revokes-license-of-iran-s-bank-saderat-amid-us-pressure" rel="nofollow">revoked</a> Bank Saderat’s license to operate inside the country, effectively shutting down one of Iran’s biggest commercial lenders. ﻿</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Advisor Jacob Breach.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

Tehran's AI-powered propaganda | feat. Jacob Breach

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Headlines:<ul><li>Yesterday, the Saudi-led coalition struck a Yemeni oil facility in Sanaa.</li><li>The Iranian regime is using the pause in fighting to get ready for the next round. </li><li>Well, we covered it last week. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-outlines-financial-aid-plan-lebanese-with-destroyed-homes-2026-10-13/" rel="nofollow">Iran allegedly sending $200 million to Hezbollah</a>? And yes, I cast doubt on the report. But I stand corrected. Hezbollah confirmed it yesterday — saying it will now pay up to $14,000 to Lebanese families displaced amid the war with Israel.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Andrew Tabler of The Washington Institute.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Al-Sharaa's Syria | feat. Andrew Tabler

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Headlines:<ul><li>Yemen’s armed forces, the ones loyal to the internationally recognized government in Southern Yemen, said they carried out 1,732 strikes against positions held by the Houthis on Sunday.</li><li>The documentary film called Naza, which alleges all sorts of terrible things against the Israel Defense Forces continues to make waves. </li><li>Lebanese authorities actually did their job on Thursday. Security services arrested two Hezbollah members transporting half-a-ton of explosives from the border regions with Syria toward Beirut.</li></ul>--﻿FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Research Analyst Ahmad Sharawi.

Turkey helps Iran fly under the radar | feat. Ahmad Sharawi

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Headlines:<ul><li>Israel decided to<a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-orders-u-k-consulate-in-jerusalem-closed-over-west-bank-trade-ban-aec88b46?mod=world_lead_pos2" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-orders-u-k-consulate-in-jerusalem-closed-over-west-bank-trade-ban-aec88b46?mod=world_lead_pos2" rel="nofollow">downgrade</a> the UK’s consulate in Jerusalem, but stopped short of fully closing the diplomatic post. </li><li>Taiwan has its sights on $130 billion worth of domestic infrastructure projects and<a href="https://www.arabnews.com/archive/359435" rel="nofollow"> </a>the government in Taipei <a href="https://www.arabnews.com/archive/359435" rel="nofollow">wants</a> Saudi Arabia to pitch in. </li><li>Rumors are swirling that Syria<a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-911010" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-911010" rel="nofollow">may</a> be gearing up to help Saudi Arabia fight the Houthis. </li><li>Iran allegedly<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-gets-200-million-iran-help-displaced-sources-say-2026-10-07/" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-gets-200-million-iran-help-displaced-sources-say-2026-10-07/" rel="nofollow">transferred</a> $200 million to Hezbollah last month to distribute to Lebanese families displaced during the war with Israel. I am not sure I buy it. </li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Three years after October 7 | feat. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus

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Headlines: <ul><li>The Houthis aren’t slowing down their offensive and continue to do damage in Saudi Arabia. </li><li>Representatives from the Mecca pact — Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan — met in Riyadh.</li><li>The Norwegian Parliament is considering a proposal to create an independent list of designated terrorist organizations.</li><li>Iran’s interior minister was in Doha yesterday for meetings with Qatari officials.</li></ul>--FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a pre-recorded conversation between Jon and Karni Guez, a former IDF commander who led her all-female tank unit into battle on October 7.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

This all-female IDF tank unit battled Hamas on October 7 | feat. Karni Guez

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Headlines:<ul><li>Members of the Mecca defense pact are planning to <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-910569" rel="nofollow">meet</a> in Riyadh today.</li><li>Yesterday, Yemeni forces launched a military campaign to retake territory seized by the Houthis.</li><li>The IDF went after another Hamas leader over the weekend. </li><li>The U.S. Treasury Department took action against a Hamas financing network that’s funneled over $2 million to the terror group through sham charities and cryptocurrency channels.</li></ul>--FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a pre-recorded conversation between Jon and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA).Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

47 years of war with Iran | feat. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)

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Headlines:<ul><li>The Trump administration <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-waives-human-right-conditions-for-over-300m-in-military-aid-to-egypt-memo-shows/" rel="nofollow">overrode</a> the human rights conditions on $320 million worth of military aid to Egypt. </li><li>American troops are officially out of Iraq.</li><li>The Trump administration is going after a Russia-linked shadow banking network that helps Iran evade sanctions.</li><li>Syria is now eligible to purchase American weaponry.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ronnie Chatah, host of The Beirut Banyan.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

Beirut battles for its future | feat. Ronnie Chatah

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Headlines:<ul><li>Iran’s currency<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-currency-hormuz-trump-91de6619aca2e1a9a32757166eae98d0" rel="nofollow"> plummeted</a> to a new low yesterday. We’re talking over 2.5 million rials to the U.S. dollar. </li><li>Iran is<a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-910092" rel="nofollow"> reportedly</a> offering cash rewards for anyone who captures or kills an American soldier.</li><li>Israel<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-kills-senior-hamas-commander-gaza-officials-say-2026-09-29/" rel="nofollow"> eliminated</a> the leader of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade yesterday. </li><li>The U.S. is set to<a href="https://english.alarabiya.net/amp/News/middle-east/2026/09/29/us-forces-exit-iraq-after-two-decades-leaving-opening-for-iran" rel="nofollow"> withdraw</a> all remaining forces from Iraq today and hand security over to Baghdad.</li><li>A flydubai flight headed to Israel from Dubai was emergency diverted to Saudi Arabia due to a violent incident in the cockpit which is now being investigated as a potential terror attack.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ambassador Jeff Bartos, the U.S. representative for UN management and reform.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

Is the UN rotten beyond reform? | feat. Ambassador Jeff Bartos

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Headlines:<ul><li>The internationally recognized government in Aden says it killed or injured 2,316 Houthis over the last 72 hours.</li><li>Iran’s Rev Guards said yesterday that they seized an American submarine drone in the Strait of Hormuz. </li><li>Turkey continues to explore ways to get back into the F-35 club.</li><li>Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said this weekend that Israel cannot break the resistance in Lebanon. </li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Bilal Saab, senior managing director of TRENDS US.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

Lebanon's sovereignty paradox | feat. Bilal Saab

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Headlines:<ul><li>China has<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/china-iran-aid-xi-trump-summit-e6541ae8" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/china-iran-aid-xi-trump-summit-e6541ae8" rel="nofollow">reportedly</a> sent tons of dual-use components to Iran for use in missiles and drones.</li><li>Iran is once again<a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-909585" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-909585" rel="nofollow">threatening</a> to attack its neighbors, this time going after regional airports.</li><li>Turkey<a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-iraq-troop-withdrawal-bashiqa-base-200c02e29e2f2be719852b15b55d0de8" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-iraq-troop-withdrawal-bashiqa-base-200c02e29e2f2be719852b15b55d0de8" rel="nofollow">agreed</a> to withdraw from a military base in northern Iraq, handing control back to Baghdad. In exchange, Iraq committed to crack down on armed groups that Ankara considers a threat — namely, groups connected to the Kurdistan Workers Party, otherwise known as the PKK.</li><li>I mentioned the Saudis just a few minutes ago. And those missiles that were shot down. As it turns out, it was the Greeks who<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/greek-operated-air-defence-system-shoots-down-ballistic-missile-drone-over-saudi-2026-09-24/" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/greek-operated-air-defence-system-shoots-down-ballistic-missile-drone-over-saudi-2026-09-24/%20/h" rel="nofollow">shot down</a> at least one ballistic missile and one drone over Saudi Arabia. And guess what? They did so using the American-made Patriot air defense system. </li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Research Fellow Ben Cohen.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

The Divided Nations | feat. Ben Cohen

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Headlines:<ul><li>The UK has agreed to help Saudi Arabia fight the Houthis by providing aerial refueling services to Saudi planes for the next few weeks. </li><li>The Trump administration is reportedly setting up a multi-billion dollar investment fund to help repair the energy infrastructure destroyed by Iran in the Persian Gulf. </li><li>In an exclusive for The New York Times, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi laid out his plan to disarm Iran-backed Iraqi militias. </li><li>Israeli troops conducted multiple counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samariah during the Yom Kippur holiday on Monday. </li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown.Learn more at: <a href="http://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

The Houthis' Saudi siege | feat. Edmund Fitton-Brown

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Headlines:<ul><li>The State Department<a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/bureau-of-political-military-affairs/2026/09/kingdom-of-saudi-arabia-f-35-lightning-ii-joint-strike-fighter-aircraft" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/bureau-of-political-military-affairs/2026/09/kingdom-of-saudi-arabia-f-35-lightning-ii-joint-strike-fighter-aircraft" rel="nofollow">approved</a> the potential sale of dozens of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia yesterday. </li><li>French President Emmanuel Macron<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-military-france-jordan-hezbollah-army-14908f2701e7c1caf932c3b885c3a4da" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-military-france-jordan-hezbollah-army-14908f2701e7c1caf932c3b885c3a4da" rel="nofollow">met with</a> Jordan’s King Abdullah and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun yesterday as part of a broader effort to raise funds for the Lebanese Armed Forces, or “LAF.”</li><li>The Trump administration<a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/sanctioning-officials-of-the-palestinian-authority-and-members-of-the-palestine-liberation-organization-2/" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/sanctioning-officials-of-the-palestinian-authority-and-members-of-the-palestine-liberation-organization-2/" rel="nofollow">sanctioned members</a> of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denying them visas to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week. </li><li>Israel and Morocco<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-backed-agreement-deepens-ties-officials-address-saudi-arabia-growing-houthi-threat-global-shipping" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-backed-agreement-deepens-ties-officials-address-saudi-arabia-growing-houthi-threat-global-shipping" rel="nofollow">agreed</a> to upgrade diplomatic ties following a meeting between their foreign ministers on Wednesday.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD AI Fellow Leah Siskind.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

China steals America's AI edge | feat. Leah Siskind

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Headlines:<ul><li>Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is in <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367620/irans-top-diplomat-heads-china-talks-middle-east-diplomacy-falters" rel="nofollow">Beijing</a> today to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.</li><li>A Russian bank just got dinged by the US Treasury for laundering dirty Iranian money.</li><li>Malaysia<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-15/malaysia-said-to-seize-another-three-containers-bound-for-israel?taid=6aa8c071c43a0b000189564e&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter" rel="nofollow"> seized</a> three shipping containers headed for Israel as they transited through a major Malaysian port.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Bernard Haykel.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

Tehran squeezes Riyadh | feat. Bernard Haykel

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Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Mark Cancian, senior adviser with the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

The truth about America's munitions crisis | feat. Mark Cancian

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Headlines:<ul><li>The Houthis<a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/yemens-iran-backed-houthis-sweep-toward-strategic-bab-al-mandeb-c1786d79?mod=middle-east_news_article_pos2" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/yemens-iran-backed-houthis-sweep-toward-strategic-bab-al-mandeb-c1786d79?mod=middle-east_news_article_pos2" rel="nofollow">seized</a> the Yemeni port of Mokha yesterday, days after launching a combinedballistic missile and drone attack in Saudi Arabia.</li><li>President Trump warned that the U.S. could <a href="https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2026/09/10/trump-says-activity-seen-at-iran-s-pickaxe-mountain-urges-tehran-not-to-get-cute-" rel="nofollow">strike</a> Pickaxe Mountain — the deeply buried, hard-to-reach nuclear facility in central Iran near Natanz.</li><li>Algeria severed diplomatic ties with the UAE, citing quote “provocative or hostile” actions.</li><li>Iran’s Basij force is reportedly <a href="https://alhurra.com/en/38088" rel="nofollow">tightening</a> its grip over the country under the direction of its returning commander, Hossein Taeb.</li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman of the Council on Foreign Relations.Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

25 years after 9/11 | feat. Bruce Hoffman

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/9/13/d0bdfbc4-ba23-42ff-89ca-104bdf776c83_fddmb_9-9.mp3

Headlines:<ul><li>Yesterday, the Houthis <a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-yemen-houthis-4ad9446f0bb8c096750c84b6e1ba86b8" rel="nofollow">attacked</a> Saudi Arabia, setting oil facilities on fire and wounding at least 73 people. </li><li>The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has just<a href="https://english.aawsat.com/world/5315862-grossi-sounds-alarm-irans-nuclear-program" rel="nofollow"> sounded</a> the alarm on Iran&#39;s nuclear program. Rafael Grossi says Tehran still won&#39;t cooperate with inspectors and has cut off access to all its declared nuclear sites. </li><li> London has just announced that it is banning all trade with West Bank settlements. </li></ul>--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Israeli actress Swell Ariel Or, star of Netflix&#39;s &#34;The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem.&#34;Learn more at: <a href="https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief" rel="nofollow">https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief</a>

The beauty queen of wartime Jerusalem | feat. Swell Ariel Or

The Middle East never stops moving. Neither does the FDD Morning Brief.

Three mornings a week, FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer cuts through the noise with the experts who have spent their careers studying, shaping, and living the region’s most consequential moments. All before your morning coffee gets cold.