Middle Orient

Iraqi Kurdish Leaders Raise Prospect Of Peace Talks Between Iran And Kurdish Opposition

Key Takeaways: Senior leaders in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region have publicly discussed facilitating peace talks between Iran and Iranian Kurdish armed opposition groups based in the autonomous region, with PUK head Bafel Talabani describing the start of a process similar to Turkey’s and noting Tehran’s positive response. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan …

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Iran Update, October 14, 2026

Key TakeawaysRecent waves of Iranian attacks on vessels in and near the Strait of Hormuz indicate that Iran retains the ability to effectively target vessels in the strait, which suggests that Iran has either overcome previous operational challenges or is adapting to such constraints through new tactics or capabilities.The Houthis …

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Red Sea Security Begins On Land – OpEd

Key Takeaways: The article argues that Red Sea insecurity originates on land, where Houthi smuggling, assembly and launch capabilities—bolstered by Iranian support—turn Yemeni territory into a platform for threatening global shipping, and that naval interceptions alone cannot remove the source. It contends that restoring full Yemeni state sovereignty over ports, …

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