Middle Orient

Saudi and Omani delegations held talks with Houthi officials in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday, Houthi-run media said, as Riyadh seeks a permanent ceasefire to end its military involvement in the country’s long-running war. The visit indicates progress in the Oman-mediated consultations between Riyadh and Sanaa, which run in parallel …

In February 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly confirmed that the Biden Administration supports a possible sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Turkey (Türkiye), and has engaged Congress on the issue. According to January 2023 media reports citing unnamed U.S. officials, the Administration informally notified Congress of its intent …

The 164 km Rasht-Astara railway route in Iran’s Gilan Province is of great importance in the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), because it is the only remaining rail part of this corridor, writes Valdai Club expert Vali Kaleji. In his article, Dr. Vali Kaleji, a Tehran-based expert on Central Asia …

The delegation has reportedly discussed efforts to coordinate action against Israel. As Israel staves off rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon’s border in an apparent response to the escalation in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque — Islam’s third holiest site — a Hamas delegation led by the head of …

Hemingway’s law of motion says change comes gradually, then suddenly. The other China deal Much attention has been rightly focused on China’s role in closing the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to reestablish diplomatic relations. Another deal has gotten less attention, but may be just as telling in serving …

The CIA director met the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and reportedly expressed displeasure with Washington being “blindsided” over agreements brokered by China and Russia. CIA Director Bill Burns made an unannounced trip to Saudi Arabia this week where he reportedly aired Washington’s frustrations over Riyadh’s opening to Iran …

After two days of rockets first from Gaza and then from the Lebanese border, tensions seem to have calmed, at least temporary. Israel’s Army Radio reported Friday afternoon that the Israeli military (IDF) cleared residents of the Gaza border area to resume their normal activities after a night of rocket …

The Biden Administration has created a vacuum of leadership on the global stage. If the US further pulls out of Asia, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Ukraine, Latin America — anywhere — the vacuum created will surely be filled by the new axis of China-Russia-Iran. A US pull-out is, most …

Recent leadership appointments by United Arab Emirates President and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) have clarified the succession during a time of significant regional challenges.There is debate over whether the appointment of a second UAE vice president, joining Dubai emirate leader and UAE Prime Minister …

The US has told Israel that it is considering advancing a “partial agreement” with Iran based on freezing parts of its nuclear programme in return for lifting some sanctions, Walla news site has reported. The report cited ten Israeli officials, Western diplomats and American experts. According to the sources, President …