Iran vows ‘harsh retaliation’ after US airstrike kills Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday warned that a “harsh retaliation is waiting” for the U.S. after an airstrike on an airport in Baghdad killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. The Iranian state TV carried a statement by … Read More

Why Iraq is at the center of the dispute between Iran and the United States

posted in: Middle East, News

Protesters burn property in front of the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday. (Khalid Mohammed/AP) Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated throughout 2019, but on New Year’s Eve these tensions were illustrated by a dramatic new … Read More

Six charts that show how hard US sanctions have hit Iran

posted in: Middle East, News

The value of Iran’s currency hit record lows as a result of the US sanctions – AFP The United States reinstated economic sanctions on Iran after President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in May 2018. Mr. Trump says … Read More

Middle East Disaster: Nuclear War Between Russia and Israel Is Possible

Middle East Disaster: Nuclear War Between Russia and Israel Is Possible Although unlikely. Key point: Were the Israelis and Russians to come to blows, or if Moscow were to seriously threaten military force against Israel, could the United States risk … Read More

U.S. Buildup Not Cowing Iran

posted in: Middle East, News

Bottom Line Up Front The top commander for U.S. forces in the Middle East warned that the growing U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf might not be enough to deter Iran from attacking Gulf states. The comments by CENTCOM … Read More

Saudi king repeats anti-Iran claims, urges GCC to ‘confront’ Islamic Republic

posted in: Middle East, News

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Royal Palace shows Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2-R), Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (L) and Qatar’s Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani  (back-R) attending the … Read More

Iraq in Worst Political Crisis in Years as Death Toll Mounts From Protests

posted in: Middle East, News

After three months of demonstrations, the politicians and the protesters are talking past each other, there’s no prime minister and Iran maintains its influence. A funeral for a man who was killing during an anti-government protest in Baghdad in November. … Read More

Why Syria’s small oil reserves have become the linchpin for political control in the region

KEY POINTS In 2010, before conflict erupted, Syrian wells produced around 385,000 barrels per day, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy. That amounted to just 0.5 percent of global production — around what North Dakota produced that … Read More

U.S. says Iran may have killed up to 1,000 protesters

U.N. human rights chief says video footage shows Iranian security forces “shooting to kill.” WASHINGTON — The U.S.’s special representative for Iran Brian Hook has said that more than 1,000 Iranian citizens may have been killed in recent protests. On … Read More

Iran’s security forces shot and killed ‘rioters’ in gas price protests, state TV reports

Iranian security forces gunned down “rioters” in multiple cities during recent protests over an increase in government-set gasoline prices, the country’s state television admitted Tuesday, as unease continues to grip the Islamic Republic. The report – which the Associated Press said … Read More

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