June, 2021

• 16 June

  Likely new Iranian president Raisi embraces possible nuke deal

  

  A mark of his campaign has been Iranian self-resilience and the “resistance economy” having the ability to overcome American sanctions. Iran presidential front-runner and Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi has embraced the possibility of returning to the 2015 nuclear deal as long as Iran’s interests are met, Iranian media reported earlier …

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• 16 June

  Khamenei set to tighten grip in Iran vote as frustrations grow

  

  The front-runner in a carefully vetted field is Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline judge seen by analysts and insiders as representing the security establishment at its most fearsome. Iranians elect a new president on Friday in a race dominated by hardline candidates close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with popular …

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• 16 June

  UAE, Bahrain welcome new Israeli government, signaling Abraham Accords stability

  

  Historic normalization deals between Israel and 4 Arab nations were hallmark of Netanyahu and Trump administrations; FM Lapid indicates eagerness to expand on ties The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on Monday welcomed the new Israeli government, indicating that the historic normalization deals forged by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu …

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• 16 June

  IDF prepares for fresh Gaza conflict amid tensions over Jerusalem flag march

  

  Tuesday’s parade by ultranationalist Jews through Old City will be first major test for new government amid Palestinian threats of violence; US embassy issues travel warning The Israel Defense Forces was braced for a resurgence in Gaza fighting and a flare-up of clashes across the West Bank on Tuesday amid …

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• 16 June

  G7 and China: Fault lines in the world order

  

  Surely, the friendly ambience has helped Biden to inject a certain Cold War overtone to the G7 proceedings…But without doubt, the G7 has brought to the fore that there is sharp disagreement among the United States and its allies about how to respond to China’s rising power. Europe — especially, …

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• 16 June

  On ‘Conflict’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Genocide’: Time for New Language on Palestine and Israel

  

  On May 25, famous American actor, Mark Ruffalo, tweeted an apology for suggesting that Israel is committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza. “I have reflected and wanted to apologize for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing ‘genocide’,” Ruffalo wrote, adding, “It’s not accurate, it’s inflammatory, disrespectful and …

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• 16 June

  New Israeli Government, Same Israeli Apartheid

  

  After 12 years, Israel finally inaugurated a new prime minister. While being hailed by many as the opportunity for a fresh start, Naftali Bennett is at best a continuer of Netanyahu’s policies and at worst an ideologue whose positions are to the right of Netanyahu’s. In 2013, as Middle East …

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• 16 June

  Lebanese Army Foils Attempt to Smuggle Migrants to Cyprus

  

  The Lebanese Army Command said on Sunday it has foiled an attempt to smuggle Syrians by sea from northern Lebanon. “A navy patrol unit intercepted a boat that was spotted at a distance of 5.5 nautical miles off the coast of Tripoli, while attempting to smuggle 10 Syrians and one …

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• 16 June

  G7 is divided over China

  

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• 16 June

  Iran’s Reformists asked to put forward presidential candidate

  

  Former presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi has called on Reformists to pick a candidate. Mehdi Karroubi, the 2009 presidential candidate who was put under house arrest for challenging the result of those elections, has urged Iranians to vote despite the shortcomings of the election process. According to his son Hossein, Karroubi …

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