ANALYSIS: Elections: Allegations of Corruption and Influence Peddling
May 20, 2017
By Roshanak Asteraki
Hostilities between reformist and conservative camps have reached a toxic level ahead of the presidential elections on Friday 19 May 2017.
Reformist President Hassan Rouhani and Ebrahim Raisi, a conservative cleric...
ANALYSIS: What Exactly Is Iran’s Strategy in the Israel-Gaza Crisis?
By Ahmad Rafat
The war in Gaza will end, eventually. While Israel will undoubtedly win the military battle, it is unclear what fate awaits Gaza once the conflict has ended. What is certain is that...
ANALYSIS – In Striking Israel, Hamas Also Took Aim at Middle East Security Realignment
By Samia Nakhoul, Nidal al-Mughrabi, Matt Spetalnick and Laila Bassam
DUBAI/GAZA/WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - When Islamist group Hamas launched a spectacular attack against Israel, it also took aim at efforts to forge new regional security alignments that could...
ANALYSIS: Hamid Nouri’s Life Sentence Is A Condemnation of Iran
By Ahmad Rafat
On July 14, a court in Stockholm found Hamid Nouri, an Iranian official, guilty of “crimes against humanity,” “war crimes,” and “premeditated murder,” sentencing him to life in prison.
The court found that...
ANALYSIS: Who Will Succeed Ali Khamenei as Iran’s Supreme Leader?
By Ahmad Rafat
Elections for the 16th Majlis (Iranian Parliament) and for the sixth Assembly of Experts (which has the power to appoint Iran’s Supreme Leader) were held on March 1 in Iran.
These elections marked...
ANALYSIS: Warsaw Summit Boosts Global Effort Against Iran, Though Syria Talks Fail
By Ahmad Rafat
The 4th trilateral Syrian peace conference held by Iran, Russia, and Turkey on February 14 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi produced no concrete results. Presidents Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyab Erdogan,...
ANALYSIS: Iranian Economy at Risk As U.S. Lifts Waivers on Oil Sanctions
By Roshanak Astaraki
On April 22, U.S. President Donald Trump ended sanctions exemptions on Iranian oil imports for China, India, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Greece, Taiwan, and Turkey. The measure will go into effect on...
ANALYSIS: Iran Is Increasingly Isolated, Losing Influence In the Middle East
By Ahmad Rafat
The so-called “Axis of Resistance” -- a political alliance between the Islamic Republic of Iran, the government of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the Lebanese Hezbollah -- has suffered several humiliating defeats...
ANALYSIS: Covert Israeli-Saudi Meeting Sends Biden a Strong Message on Iran
RIYADH/JERUSALEM, Nov 27 (Reuters) - A historic meeting between Israel's prime minister and Saudi Arabia's crown prince has sent a strong signal to allies and enemies alike that the two countries remain deeply committed...
ANALYSIS – Lebanon Is Dragged Back Into Eye of Iranian-Saudi Storm
By Tom Perry and Ghaida Ghantous
BEIRUT, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Already mired in economic collapse, Lebanon is facing a blast of the Persian Gulf's Arab anger after a prominent broadcaster-turned-minister levelled blunt criticism at...
