A controversial prisoner swap deal with Iran could go ahead under a Belgian court ruling. But the conditions attached mean the future of a Belgian aid worker remains unclear.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been facing growing criticism over his response to his country's earthquake disaster. It comes at a time when he's gearing up for a re-election campaign, but now doubts are being cast on whether the vote will take place in May as expected.

Hundreds of schoolgirls have been hospitalized across Iran, and parents took to the streets in Tehran to protest. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the perpetrators should be severely punished.

It's been a month since two devastating earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 50,000 people. Many hospitals and clinics in Turkey are full of injured patients, while other facilities are heavily damaged, making it difficult to provide much-needed routine medical treatment to other residents.

Leaders in Iran announced several arrests amid an ongoing wave of school poisonings. Tehran's Interior Ministry has accused some of those arrested of having ties to "foreign-based dissident media."

New talks at NATO headquarters have not broken the deadlock. Turkish objections to Sweden's and Finland's bid to join NATO still stand. Meanwhile, officials and experts question Ankara's dedication to the alliance.

The Iranian authorities have promised that whoever is behind the poisoning of Iranian schoolgirls will be mercilessly punished — but the government has lost all credibility with the people.

Iran says "everything is ready" for a prisoner swap with the US. Washington denies Tehran's claim, labeling it a "cruel lie."

Tunisia severed ties with Syria during the Arab Spring to protest the Assad government's brutal crackdown against the opposition. President Kais Saied has now vowed to reverse this move.

The Islamic regime has pardoned 22,000 people arrested during recent nationwide demonstrations. The protests flared up following Mahsa Amini's death in police custody.

The two long-time foes say they will improve their relationship. If they do, the detente could have a major impact on politics in the Middle East.

The recent Saudi-Iran deal is a major triumph for Chinese diplomacy, but Beijing may find the Middle East to be a tricky region to operate in, say experts.