Iran
Donald Trump will leave the White House, but the alliance of autocrats in the Middle East with the far right in the West is here to stay.
The announcement of a strategic partnership agreement with Iran highlights China’s ultimate will to take a more assertive geopolitical role, even if this poses a direct challenge to US policies.
The White House arguments to trigger a snapback mechanism were rejected by UN officials and other parties to the JCPOA. A group of Iranian hardliner MPs endorsed them. But why?
Iran and China seek to deepen their ties. A move that flaunts the two countries’ willingness to back each other against the US pressure. Looking closer, a long-term overarching relation might be much harder to establish.
Syria expert Bassma Kodmani explains the recent conflict between Assad and his cousin Makhlouf – and calls on Europe to take advantage of Russia’s discontent with the Syrian regime.
Semi-authoritarian regimes throughout the Middle East are looking for ways to combine the fight against coronavirus, populism and crisis management – and to weaken their opponents. To that end, Iran and Turkey are treading a similar path.
The spread of coronavirus has shone light on the various alliances and conflicts throughout the region, but the unfolding pandemic seems only to be deepening divisions rather than healing them.
Iran’s health care system is at a breaking point. While doctors accuse a powerful institution of diverting critical gear, the US government is stonewalling and seems to be pursuing a perfidious strategy.