Iran Archives - Arab Digest

Death of an Honest Broker

13 January 2020William LawIran, Oman, USA

At a crucial moment, with tensions between Iran and the US running dangerously high, the region loses the voice of an independent honest broker.

Hamas and Israel: has the assassination of Suleimani killed an incipient deal?

9 January 20209 January 2020William LawIran, Israel, Palestine, USA

A week ago Hamas and Israel appeared to be close to a deal. The Suleimani assassination may, for the foreseeable future, have just scuppered it.

The Gulf and Global Markets

6 January 20206 January 2020William LawIran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Suleimani killing, USA

Thus far a modest market reaction and US President Donald Trump’s wish to avoid a major spike in oil prices as he gears up for his re-election campaign are signs that war is not the inevitable outcome of the Sulemaini assassination

Tilting to war: the assassination of Suleimani

3 January 2020William LawIran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, USA, Yemen

The assassination of the Iranian Quds Force general Qassem Suleimani dramatically alters the political landscape of the Middle East. How Iran responds will determine if the region is marching toward a major war.

A brief review of a tumultuous year

24 December 2019William LawAlgeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey

2019 has seen the biggest protests in the MENA region since 2011 together with ongoing wars, escalating tensions and economic and political insecurity.

Searching for multipolarity at the Doha Forum

17 December 201917 December 2019William LawDoha Forum, Iran, Turkey, USA

The goal of the 19th Doha Forum was to drive forward discussion of multipolarity in a world riven with conflicts and driven by bipolar confrontations.

Iraq’s prime minister: gone but not gone

3 December 2019William LawIran, Iraq

As Iraq’s political elite strives to hang onto power, protesters in the streets are demanding sweeping change and are prepared to face death to achieve it.

Learning lessons from a failed Arab Spring

19 November 20197 December 2019William LawAlgeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon

As authorities struggle to contain protest in countries across MENA, demonstrators are showing that they have learned from the failures of the Arab Spring

The Erdoğan Pence Agreement

18 October 201918 October 2019Hugh MilesIran, Kurds, Russia, Syria, Turkey, USA

The military balance shifts against Turkey and its Arab allies as the YPG strikes a deal agreement with al-Assad and Russia backs Syria over Turkey.

Another tanker

14 October 2019Oliver MilesIran, oil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, USA

Iranian tanker reportedly attacked off Jedda, but facts and responsibility unclear. More US forces to Saudi Arabia.