MUST-READS

• ‘Positive feeling’ in Iran amid talk of Saudi mediation with Trump

  Saudi Arabia is apparently floating the notion of mediating between Iran and the United States. First reported by CNN, Tehran has dismissed the idea as “speculation”—but that has not stopped the Iranian press from discussing what Saudi intervention could entail, and what Riyadh may gain by brokering talks. Speaking to Amwaj.media on condition of anonymity, a high-ranking Iranian political source expressed “a positive feeling” about the Kingdom potentially playing a constructive role in enabling engagement with the Donald Trump administration. Addressing the reasons for his positivity towards such a scenario—mindful of how other Gulf Arab states have more established records of facilitating dialogue with Washington—the source indicated Trump’s close relationship with Riyadh.

• Israel will begin negotiations on next phase of Gaza ceasefire this week, minister says
  Israel will begin indirect negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal this week and it demands a complete demilitarisation of the enclave, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday. Negotiations for the second phase of the deal were supposed to start on February 2 but Qatar, who together with Egypt and the United States is mediating between the sides, said the talks have not officially started yet.

• Top Russian and US officials discuss improving ties and ending the Ukraine war — without Kyiv

  The top diplomats from Russia and the U.S. met Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine — talks that represented a rapid and major change in American foreign policy under President Donald Trump. No Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting, which came as the beleaguered country is slowly but steadily losing ground against more numerous Russian troops in a grinding war that began nearly three years ago. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country won’t accept any outcome from this week’s talks if Kyiv doesn’t take part. European allies have also expressed concerns they are being sidelined. Beyond Ukraine, the meeting — attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other senior officials — had been expected to focus on thawing relations between the two countries, whose ties have fallen to their lowest level in decades.

• Rubio discusses Gaza deal with Saudi crown prince

  Rubio, who arrived from Israel accompanied by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, met the de facto ruler ahead of talks expected on Tuesday with a Russian delegation in the Saudi capital. But the 500-day-old Israel-Hamas war dominated discussions, according to a State Department statement. Rubio and the crown prince "reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring that Hamas releases all hostages, including American citizens", the statement said. "The secretary underscored the importance of an arrangement for Gaza that contributes to regional security," it added. The two "discussed ways to advance shared interests in Syria, Lebanon, and across the region, to include Red Sea security and freedom of navigation", said the statement, which made no reference to President Donald Trump's widely criticised plan for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and move away the Palestinian population.

• Jeeno Thitikul Cruises to 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International Crown

  Jeeno Thitikul secured her fifth Ladies European Tour (LET) title after storming to a four-stroke victory at the 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International. The Thai star, who is number four in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, began the day with a three-shot lead at Riyadh Golf Club. Thitikul rolled in a birdie on the first before adding further birdies on the fourth and seventh holes to put herself in a commanding position. Another birdie on the 10th was followed by a bogey on the next hole however, she soon added another birdie on 12 before a dropped shot on the 14th hole. A round of 69 (-3) on the final day to end the week with a score of 16-under-par was more than enough to ensure Thitikul began her 2025 season in the best way.

• GCC Dominates Global Energy Landscape with Record Oil Production

  GCC countries continue to assert their dominance in global energy markets, securing top rankings across key indicators such as crude oil production, reserves, and natural gas resources. According to the latest figures from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf , the region remains the leading force in crude oil production and holds vast reserves of both crude oil and natural gas. The GCC nations, collectively producing approximately 17 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2023, account for an impressive 23.2% of the world’s total crude oil output. Despite facing a 6.8% reduction in production compared to 2022, the GCC still maintains its status as the world’s top producer. The drop in output reflects broader market dynamics, including fluctuating global demand and OPEC’s collective production targets.

• Private Financings Gain In Popularity Among GCC Issuers

  Over the past decade, GCC issuers mainly relied on banks, bonds, and sukuk to meet their funding needs. The total amount of private capital financings raised by GCC issuers between 2020 and 2024 increased significantly to $54.8 billion, from $10.4 billion between 2015 and 2019, and is set to rise further. S&P Global Ratings expects private capital financings in GCC countries will gain in importance over the next few years, particularly considering higher interest from private capital providers in the region. The number of transactions that were financed with private capital peaked at $20.4 billion in 2023 and decreased to $14.5 billion in 2024, compared with $1.3 billion in 2015

• Israel receives shipment of heavy bombs cleared by Trump
  Israel has received a shipment of heavy MK-84 bombs from the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump lifted a block imposed on the export of the munitions by the administration of predecessor Joe Biden, the defence ministry said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said he lifted a Biden-era block on the export of the bombs to Israel despite a ceasefire agreement being in place because he believed in "peace through strength." "They contracted for the weapons a long time ago with the Biden administration, and then Biden wouldn't deliver the weapons. But I look at it differently. I say, 'peace through strength,'" Trump told reporters after returning to West Palm Beach, Florida, after a short trip to Daytona Beach. "They were sitting there. Nobody knew what to do with them. They bought them."

• Zelenskyy Arrives In Middle East, But Kyiv Says Peace Talks Not On Agenda

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the Middle East as the United States prepared to hold talks in Saudi Arabia with Russia on how to end Moscow’s war with Ukraine, but Zelenskyy said Kyiv was not invited and that he had no plans to participate in those discussions. Zelenskyy, who landed in the United Arab Emirates late on February 16, said he was on a mission to boost economic ties in the region and that he would later travel to neighboring Saudi Arabia, also to discuss business matters.

• Top US diplomat arrives in Israel on first trip to Middle East
  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel late Saturday on his first trip to the Middle East, Anadolu reports. He was welcomed at the Ben Gurion International Airport by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who shared a photo on his X account. The US diplomat will hold meetings on Sunday with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following his visit to Israel, Rubio will travel to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to meet senior officials to discuss regional cooperation, stability and peace.

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