Recent Posts

Selling Normalization in the Gulf

On August 13, 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made headlines as the first Arab Gulf country to normalize relations with Israel. Its leadership framed the decision as a continuation of the UAE’s long-standing policy of support for the Palestinians, one that would bring them closer to statehood by halting …

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Engaging Iran Remains Vital after Presidential Election

What distinguished these elections in Iran? o Iranian election since 1979, when the Islamic Republic was founded, has been free and fair by international standards. There were nonetheless two key differences between the 2021 presidential election and the others held since 1997, when Iran started orchestrating more competitive races and …

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Turkey attacks Kurdish militants in northern Syria

The fighters attempted to infiltrate territory held by Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies, according to Turkish state media. Turkish soldiers “neutralized” three Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters in northern Syria, the Turkish state media outlet Anadolu Agency reported Thursday. The Turkish military uses the term “neutralized” to refer to …

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Iran’s Rouhani blames hard-liners for deadlock with US

The statement was yet another sign of frustration from the outgoing president, who has found hard-liners closing windows on a deal between his government and the United States. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani blamed “parliamentary bureaucracy” for the delay in the lifting of US sanctions that have almost brought the Iranian …

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