“Grand Waffle” in the Middle East

Amb. Chas Freeman (ret.) spoke to a Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) forum on U.S. Grand Strategy — or, in his words “Grand Waffle” — in the Middle East on Capitol Hill yesterday and has graciously agreed to have the… Continue Reading

Iran Shoots Itself in the Foot

By Robin Yassin-Kassab In August 2012 Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi attended a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran. His presence at the conference was something of a diplomatic victory for the Iranian leadership, whose relations with Egypt, the pivotal Arab… Continue Reading

Iran-Turkey Relations Heading into a Tough Year

Since the advent of the Syrian Revolution and tightening transatlantic sanctions against Iran in 2011, Tehran and Ankara have had a particularly tough time maintaining a facade of mutual amity and cooperation. Last December, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hastily cancelled a… Continue Reading

New Push in U.S. for Tougher Sanctions, War Threats Against Iran

via IPS News Four U.S. non-proliferation specialists are urging the Obama administration to impose tougher economic sanctions against Iran and issue more explicit threats to destroy its nuclear programme by military means. In a 155-page report, the specialists, who were… Continue Reading