The military chiefs of staff of Iran and Pakistan met near Islamabad and pledged to strengthen ties. Iranian and Pakistani military leaders vowed to improved cooperation and discussed Afghanistan on Wednesday. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, met his Pakistani counterpart Gen. Nadeem …

Tens of Kurdish residents of disputed Kirkuk were arrested and later released after celebrating the victory of Kurdish parties in the election. The heads of the Kurdistan Region and federal governments in Iraq attempted on Wednesday to defuse election tensions in the disputed city of Kirkuk.

In a joint press conference with his counterparts from Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Blinken said the United States is prepared to pursue “other options” if Tehran doesn’t resume compliance under the nuclear deal. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned “time is running short” for Iran to re-enter the …