Middle Orient

The pro-government business association MUSIAD has stood behind Erdogan’s controversial economic policies but appears concerned that both borrowing costs and foreign exchange prices remain above the desired levels. The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD), founded in 1990 as an ally of Turkey’s political Islam movement, has stood behind President …

Armenia has always made far more devastating claims against Turkey, such as genocide committed against them in 1915, than against Azerbaijan and yet, there would seem to be on the horizon a breakthrough in Armenia’s relations with Turkey while the same is not true in Armenia’s relations with Azerbaijan. Armenians …

Iraqi security authorities have announced a state of maximum alert as they anticipate armed attacks in Baghdad and other cities. Hours after the visit of the commander of the Iranian “Quds Force,” Ismail Qaani, armed factions held several meetings to discuss “mechanisms to stop Muqtada al-Sadr’s project of forming a …

The formal proceedings began 14 months after the Sweden-based dissident was lured into a “honeytrap” in Turkey before being smuggled home by Iran-assigned operatives. A “Revolutionary” court in Tehran opened the trial of Habib Chaab, the leader of a foreign-based pan-Arab movement, on terror-related charges. Reading out the indictment in …

The Biden administration on Tuesday issued sanctions against a Lebanese travel company and three businessmen for financially supporting Hezbollah, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization based in Lebanon. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sanctions designation was carried out “in solidarity with the Lebanese people, whose security and sovereignty remains threatened …

In a new attempt to improve the image of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group’s leader appeared in public in modern clothing to inaugurate a new road linking Aleppo to Bab al-Hawa. Unlike all other leaders of extremist organizations, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani attended a public event …

The Syrian military is taking more aggressive military action against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib. The Syrian government is closely watching how the military force of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is developing in Idlib governorate and is following up with concern on its supposed success in imposing its hegemony on …

A Syrian government delegation visited the Russian-backed breakaway republic this week. Ports in Syria and Crimea have signed agreements on boosting economic cooperation. Permanent representative of Crimea Georgy Muradov said yesterday that seaports in Crimea signed an agreement with Syria’s port of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast. The deals are …

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi traveled to Russia today to meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the expansion of economic ties, among other things. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has made his first trip to Russia today, where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, who …

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi’s is meeting President Vladimir Putin on January 19th on a visit that “may become a turning point in political, economic and trade relations between Iran and Russia” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was in Moscow on Wednesday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is happening as …