According to many sources, an agreement on re-instating the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 is likely, and the terms of its provisions have begun to take shape. Here are some of the sticky points that Iran is insisting on and that are likely to be part of the agreement: What the IRI Read more
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During the Iraqi-Turkish Business Forum for Investment and Contracting, which took place in Istanbul on November 19, Iraq, represented by its Ministry of Trade, Muhammad Hanoun, called for building an economic bloc that includes Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. A very intriguing proposal, but does it make sense? First, let’s consider some of divisive and integrative Read more
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The wars in Syria, Libya, and Yemen reshaped relations between regional powers in Southwest Asian and North Africa. The rise of the erratic prince to power in Saudi Arabia created even more uncertainty, instability, and violence. None of that seem to be enduring, though. Just months ago, Turkey and Egypt were at odds over Read more
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By Huyam Qusifi Tuesday 26 October 2021 The event of summoning the head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Dr. Samir Geagea, specifically to the Ministry of Defense, which he left in 2005 after 11 years in prison, constitutes a political juncture, expressed by the allied spiritual and political forces and references, amid the silence of Read more
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Speculation increased about the summit that took place between the Turkish and Russian presidents in Sochi about what the two leaders had agreed upon, especially since the summit took place behind closed doors and did not include the presence of any additional officials from the two parties, although Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan was among Read more
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Since breaking free from the French colonial rule, Algeria has had very uneasy relationship with Morocco, reaching the point of direct armed conflict at one point (Sep 25, 1963-4). Then, Morocco, eager to capitalize on a moment of weakness in Algeria whose army consisted of Mujahideen fighters trained to fight asymmetrical war against the French Read more
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by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* Intrigued by a fake photograph used by the BBC in its coverage of the war in Syria ten years ago, our interest in qualifying and quantifying the media bias while covering events in Southwest Asia and North Africa took a life of its own. Over the span of ten years, we Read more
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by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* Most commentators would argue that Tunisia has been the only success story of the so-called Arab spring. The validity of such a statement would depend on the definition of success. The success that most people might have in mind could mean transition to representative governance without civil war and violence. To Read more
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On July 25, the president of Tunisia, Kais Saied, cited article 80 of the ratified 2014 constitution to declare a national emergency. The presidential order suspended the parliament for 30 days, dismissed the prime minister, and lifted immunity on parliamentarians. Here is a translation of the article that the president is relying on to justify Read more
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