Saudi-Iranian Rivalry in the European Parliament

by Eldar Mamedov Saudi-Iranian rivalry is not limited to the Middle East but also plays out in the ministries and parliaments outside the region. Such was the case this week in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament adopted two human-rights-related resolutions:… Continue Reading

India’s Hidden Message to UN on Iran

by Kaveh L. Afrasiabi In a remarkable and somewhat unprecedented rebuke of the US administration, India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has announced that India will not respect unilateral U.S. sanctions on Iran and will recognize “only the UN sanctions.” Bound… Continue Reading

Motivations for the Dead-End Policy on Iran

by Paul R. Pillar Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent speech on Iran, although titled “After the Deal: A New Iran Strategy,” was not new at all. It was mostly a recitation of the same arguments, with the same fallacies… Continue Reading

Iraq Elections: A Step Toward Rebuilding Popular Power

by David Bacon The U.S. media quickly dismissed the results of Iraq’s national elections on May 12. Journalists were puzzled by what the followers of Muqtada al-Sadr and the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP) might have in common, and even more,… Continue Reading

The Iraqi Elections: Implications for Regional Politics

by Shireen T. Hunter  The victory of the electoral list supported by Muqtada al-Sadr called Sairoon has led to speculation about the future orientation of Iraq in regard to its regional and international ties. The early verdict pronounced by Arab… Continue Reading