Middle Orient

Iran: FM Reasserts Sovereignty Over Persian Gulf Trio Islands

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described the three islands in the Persian Gulf as inseparable and eternal parts of Iran, stressing that Tehran will by no means compromise on its territorial integrity.  “The islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf are inseparable …

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Iranian Influence Fuels Injustice In Iraq – OpEd

An Iraqi court judgment imprisoning a young man for criticizing a governmental entity sparked anger and rejection in the southern province of Nasiriyah last week, prompting hundreds of young people to demonstrate and confront the security forces, who killed at least two demonstrators. The story began when 20-year-old Haider Al-Zaidi …

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Turkey Briefing

“I wish we hadn’t had intercourse at the age of 6. Then we could be really happy. … My mom used to brush my hair and send me to you,” the woman tells her supposed “husband.” The man casually admits “it was something wrong.” This secretly recorded conversation by the …

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Evacuation of all U.S. Personnel, Including Diplomats from Northeast Syria

The U.S. position towards the Turkish operation in northern Syria is surrounded by a state of ambiguity, according to North Press. The U.S. position towards the Turkish operation in northern Syria is surrounded by a state of ambiguity, which has angered Washington’s allies, the Kurdish units. Washington’s public statements confirm …

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Russian delegation heads to Turkey amid potential Syria offensive

The top Turkish diplomat aired a rare complaint over the Russian stalling of constitutional talks between the warring Syrian actors, calling on Moscow to allow the process to resume. A high-level Russian diplomatic delegation is heading to Turkey on Thursday for talks amid repeated Turkish threats of a new ground …

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Turkey and Israel: ‘On’ Again, Only to Be ‘Off’ Again

Turkey’s Islamist strongman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, appears to be on yet another hoax charm offensive: he is faking the restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel and Egypt, and even signalling peace with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. He needs to look pretty to his Middle East nemeses to …

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The Turkish connection: How Erdoğan’s confidant helped Iran finance terror

On March 22 of 2021, several of the world’s most dangerous men descended on Beirut’s historic seaside Summerland Hotel — not to swim in the Mediterranean or explore the sumptuous resort’s “Le Beach Pop Up,” but to talk Turkey.   The meeting was a secret one, between a delegation of senior Iranian …

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U.S. Internationalizes Iran’s Unrest

The ongoing unrest in Iran since mid-September following the death of a Kurdish woman in police custody shows no signs of abating as of now. The unrest has drawn support from all social strata and assumed anti-government overtones. The efficacy of suppressing the unrest is doubtful. Iran is entering a …

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Turkey asks Finland to resume defense sales amid NATO talks

Speaking ahead of the Finnish defense chief’s visit to Turkey, the top Turkish diplomat has complained that his country is still under de facto defense sales restrictions from Finland. Finland has yet to lift arms embargoes against Turkey, a pledge that both Stochkholm and Helsinki made under a deal paving …

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Row over militarization of Greek islands peaks with Turkish warning

Mevlut Cavusoglu has stepped up rhetoric over Aegean islands that Ankara says should be free of Greek arms. Turkey’s feud with neighbor and fellow NATO member Greece resurfaced Tuesday as Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu threatened to “do whatever is necessary” unless Athens reverses the militarization of its islands off the …

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