April, 2021

• 21 April

  The Case for a New Engagement Consensus

  In October 2014, I hosted an American friend who has extensive policy experience and is considered a leading China hand. Over dinner in Beijing, I asked him, “Do you think the ‘engagement consensus’ still holds in Washington?” My question was laced with a sense of hidden anxiety, given the rather …

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• 21 April

  Russia-Ukraine War Alert: What’s Behind It and What Lies Ahead?

  The troops are not yet back at their bases, but the war alert along the Russo-Ukrainian border has passed. In fact, a war was never in the cards. Yet the alert, while it lasted, was profoundly disturbing. For the West, it highlighted the dangers of a large-scale direct clash between …

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• 21 April

  IAEA confirms Iran has started 60-percent uranium enrichment

  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified that Iran has started enriching uranium up to 60-percent purity level, a measure the Islamic Republic had promised to take following an Israeli act of nuclear terrorism against it. The United Nations nuclear watchdog verified the development on Saturday, and Director-General Rafael …

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• 20 April

  Messager préféré, « monsieur sécurité », cousin intime… La (jeune) garde rapprochée de Mohammed Ben Salman

  Depuis son avènement en 2017, Mohammed Ben Salman (MBS) place ses fidèles au sein de l’appareil d’État saoudien. Et a singulièrement rajeuni le visage institutionnel du royaume.

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• 20 April

  Iran shows off dozens of drones in military parade

  

  The Islamic Republic has improved the range and guidance on its drones. Iran on Sunday marked National Army Day with a military parade. The annual event was more limited than usual due to social distancing and the pandemic. Of interest was a parade of dozens of types of drones. Iran …

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• 20 April

  Did Iran order a drone attack on the US in Iraq?

  

  A day before the attack, a shadowy group told Sabereen news that it had targeted “Mossad” in northern Iraq. A drone attack last week on Erbil in northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region has all the hallmarks of an Iranian-backed attack. Drones have been used by Iran’s proxies in Yemen, and …

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• 20 April

  Did the Mossad ‘shoot’ and miss with Natanz sabotage? – analysis

  

  After initial denials, Iran has admitted that it lost the use of thousands of centrifuges plus extensive aspects of its electricity from the April 11 incident. Did Israel’s mythic intelligence agency, the Mossad, take its best shot at slowing Iran’s nuclear program last week and miss? Although Israel’s supporters were …

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• 20 April

  Iran Increases Uranium Enrichment to 60%, IAEA Says

  The International Atomic Energy Agency on Saturday confirmed that Iran had indeed upped its uranium enrichment to 60% purity, following through on its threat from late last week. The move, which is the most serious and substantial breach of the nuclear deal Tehran reached with world powers in 2015, was …

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• 20 April

  Mediterranean Allies Strike Historic Defense Deal

  Israel and Greece on Sunday signed a blockbuster defense deal, in what Jerusalem called the largest defense procurement contract ever reached with Athens and promised would strengthen economic ties between the two countries. The agreement includes the establishment and operation of an international training center for the Hellenic Air Force …

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• 19 April

  Abbas to address J Street confab as group seeks to top DC’s Israel lobby scene

  PA president expected to thank Biden for restoring aid while urging further steps, and to express continued support for two-state solution while castigating Israel over settlements Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will address J Street’s national conference on Sunday as the once marginal left-wing, pro-Israel group seeks to position itself …

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