Middle Orient

In July 2021, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin described the US theft of oil from the areas it occupies in eastern Syria as “bandit behavior.” The same term was previously used by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other officials in statements denouncing Washington’s violation of Syria’s sovereignty. The official …

In January 2022, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Moscow to discuss monetary and banking issues between Russia and Iran, and the two sides agreed to the removal of trade barriers to increase trade between one another to $10 billion per year (Middle East Monitor, April 2). During his time …

The US says the two allies are giving each other ‘unprecedented support’ in Ukraine. Iran is now Russia’s biggest military backer. That’s the warning from the US National Security Council. John Kirby, the national security spokesman, says the Ukraine war is pulling the two countries into what he calls a …

Iran and Russia have reportedly agreed to a deal which will allow Russia to produce Iran-designed armed drones for use Ukraine. Iranian leaders assess Russia’s direct production of armed drones will enable Tehran to skirt the imposition of further U.S. and European sanctions on Iran’s drone production infrastructure. The drone …

In Iran, the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, believed to be beaten following her arrest by the “Morality Police” on the grounds that her hair was visible, instigated the Iranian people to flood the streets, starting with women. The demonstrations, which began with demands against the Morality …

The pomp and ceremony of the recent visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia has drawn comparison with the banality and frigid atmosphere surrounding the U.S. President Joe Biden’s trip to the kingdom in July. However, the main difference is that the Saudis organized three separate regional summits …

The protests across the Islamic Republic are going beyond those of 2019 and 2009. They are certainly rocking the Islamic republic. But will they succeed in rolling it? The protesters have called for a three-day general strike. And observers warn: “even if it were confirmed, the abolition of the morality …

US Central Command forces conducted a successful helicopter raid in eastern Syria at 2:57 a.m. local time on December 11, killing two ISIS officials including Anas, an ISIS Syria Province Official who was involved in the group’s deadly plotting and facilitation operations in eastern Syria, according to a CENTCOM statement. …

The foreign ministers of Iran and India called for the expansion of relations between the two countries in various fields.  In a telephone conversation on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar talked about a range of regional and international issues and subjects relating to cooperation …

The U.S. Navy in Greece had earlier detained the Lana before the Greek Supreme Court ordered the cargo be returned to Iran, according to Athr Press. A source in the city of Baniyas confirmed to Athr Press the arrival of an oil tanker carrying 700 thousand barrels of crude oil, …