Middle Orient

Iran and Russia agreed to build a railway between two Iranian cities as they continue to develop their trade relations despite US sanctions. Iran and Russia signed a major railway agreement on Wednesday. The deal is part of the International North–South Transport Corridor the two countries are developing with India …

The extension came as Erdogan prepares to face his rival in the presidential runoff election on May 28. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday that the Black Sea deal that allows Ukraine, the world’s top grain supplier, to export to world markets would continue. The extension grants Turkish strongman …

It was reported last week that Russian troops had retreated in Bakhmut due to a “severe shortage of credible combat units.” Moscow rushed to deny the news. While Westerners are rejoicing in every Russian setback, they should be careful what they wish for. The last thing the West needs is …

A photo Beijing released on March 6th of Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a seismic shock in Washington. There was the Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party standing between Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, and Saudi National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban. They were awkwardly …

The Palestinian Authority (PA) wants the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and punish them for speaking out against, or combatting, terrorism. Instead of demanding that ICC punish the terrorists — who are intentionally firing rockets at Israeli civilians — the PA is asking the …

A return to a parliamentary democracy system—the opposition’s most important electoral promise—is highly unlikely if Erdogan remains in power. This would be bad news for Turkey’s Western allies. After a dynamic and unfair campaign, the interim results of Turkey’s dual election send the two main presidential contenders to a second …

A Saudi national in al-Qassim was executed for forming and orchestrating a terrorist group and for being in contact with other extremist groups in the region with the aim of carrying out attacks within the Kingdom, the Ministry of Interior said. Yasser bin Mohammed al-Asmari was executed on Monday after …

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence forces have disbanded a terror network affiliated with Daesh Khorasan (Daesh-K) in Iran’s southern province of Fars. The IRGC Intelligence Department, in cooperation with Fajr Intelligence Organization of Fars Province, spotted and busted the operational and media network of Daesh-K, an offshoot of …

​​​​​​​Today, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the arrest of a leader of ISIS mercenaries and the dismantling of a terrorist cell in the southern countryside of Hasaka. The Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces stated that: “Our SDF Special Units conducted, last Monday, a meticulously executed security operation, dismantling …

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani issued an open invitation on Monday to international energy companies, asking them to develop 13 of the country’s untapped oil and gas fields and exploration blocks, a move that underscores Iraq’s push to bolster its fossil fuel industry. These prospective areas are scattered across …