Amid worsening ties between Turkey and Saudi Arabia over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkey’s previous tensions with the U.S., which only months ago looked intractable, appear to be easing. This upswing reflects Turkey’s comfort with its Western ties and a tactical play against its rival in Riyadh.

The U.S. Treasury Department recently designated a network of 22 Iranian businesses as supporters of terrorism, imposing sanctions on them for their alleged ties to a powerful Iranian militia. Like other forms of financial pressure, the sanctions likely won’t curb Iran’s destabilizing influence in Syria or the region.