Iran’s Sunni Neighbors Seem Unconcerned About Nuclear Program

by Jim Lobe For all the talk about Iranian imperialism and the Sunni-Shia divide throughout the Middle East, the predominantly Sunni Muslim publics of at least some of Iran’s neighbors don’t seem too concerned about Tehran’s nuclear program.

Russia Undermining U.S. in the Middle East

by Daniel Wagner and Giorgio Cafiero The Ukraine crisis and the resulting deterioration of Russia’s ties with the West have fomented a level of geopolitical instability in Europe unseen in decades. Yet, the Middle East is arguably where Moscow and… Continue Reading

A Reformation Dialogue This Ramadan

by James Spencer Recently, the UK’s youngest suicide bomber died in Iraq, and a British convert to Islam was killed fighting for al-Shabaab against the Kenyan Army. At much the same time, President Obama has confessed that the US still doesn’t have a complete… Continue Reading

The Additional Protocol and Beyond: A Legal and Political Point of View

by François Nicoullaud Nobody knows the exact content of the Additional Protocol signed by Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in December 2003. That protocol was designed to complement and reinforce the somewhat outdated Safeguards Agreement signed by the… Continue Reading

Operations in Yemen: What’s Afoot?

by James Spencer The conflict in Yemen is frequently described as sectarian, with the Houthis usually described as “Shi’a.” In fact, the situation in Yemen, tragic as it is for Yemenis caught up in it, is far more political than… Continue Reading