Since 12 April, there have been five rounds of American-Iranian nuclear talks, held in Muscat and Rome under Omani auspices. These negotiations have yet to lead to a breakthrough. Yet, as fragile as they are, the talks appear to have some momentum. This offers a measure of cautious optimism that …
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Is Europe finally taking action over Israel’s genocide in Gaza?
Seventeen of the European Union’s 27 foreign ministers last week backed a review of trade ties with Israel over its egregious actions in the Gaza Strip and the failure to fully lift its over 11-week blockade of aid as Palestinians starve to death. The bloc decided to launch a long …
Read More »Syria’s long and fragile path to transitional justice
Without a clear mandate, inclusivity, or enforcement mechanisms, transitional justice in Syria could become a political gesture instead of a transformative tool In a move that could redefine Syria’s post-war trajectory, the country’s interim government has announced the creation of a Transitional Justice Commission (TJC). The body, unveiled in early …
Read More »Democracy Digest: Poland’s Presidential Race Climaxes with Pimping Claims
Karol Nawrocki, the PiS-allied presidential candidate, was involved with a network that supplied prostitutes to clients of a luxurious hotel in Gdansk while working there as a security guard during his student years, according to an investigation published on Monday by onet.pl. The report is based on claims by two …
Read More »Hurras al-Din: The Rise, Fall, and Dissolution of al-Qa`ida’s Loyalist Group in Syria
Abstract: Despite concerns about al-Qaida’s influence in Syria, the organization experienced a reversal in its fortunes over the course of the Syrian civil war. This article traces the history of the rise of Syria’s al-Qaida-loyalist outfit Hurras al-Din (“Guardians of the Religion”), its subsequent marginalization by the then dominant insurgent …
Read More »Kavkaz Investment Forum 2025: Geoeconomic Outlook
Executive Summary This report provides an analytical assessment of the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD) based on developments presented at the Kavkaz Investment Forum 2025, recent macroeconomic data, and ongoing geopolitical dynamics. This analysis evaluates investment prospects, pinpoint sector-specific opportunities, and assesses the wider strategic ramifications of current regional economic …
Read More »Yerevan Dialogue and Iran’s Partnership with Armenia
Executive Summary This report examines Iran’s strategic posture in the South Caucasus following Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh’s remarks at the Yerevan Dialogue 2025 forum. Highlighting Tehran’s stance on regional stability, his address stressed the importance of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement and the Armenia-Iran corridor’s geopolitical significance. The analysis provides …
Read More »Iraq Is Buffeted by Regional Crosscurrents
The security calculations of the Shia Muslim-dominated government in Baghdad were upended by the collapse of the Assad regime in neighboring Syria, which brought Sunni Muslim Islamists to power on Iraq’s western border. The Türkiye-backed political change in Syria leaves Iran as Iraq’s main remaining regional ally. Iraqi Shia leaders …
Read More »THE LEGACY AND EVOLUTION OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN SYRIA
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Read More »The file of foreign fighters in Syria: between entitlement and risk
This paper examines the complex situation of foreign fighters in Syria after the change of the former regime, details their composition, explores the long-term challenges and risks arising from their integration into the new Syrian army, their leadership roles, and the consequences of this locally and internationally, and addresses the …
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