Iran

Toplines US President Donald Trump condemned on January 27 the Shia Coordination Framework’s nomination of State of Law Coalition head and former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki as prime minister designate.[1] It is unclear if the framework will insist on Maliki’s nomination or bow to US pressure against Maliki. …

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Oil prices rose on Thursday, extending gains for a third consecutive day as concerns grew that the United States could take military action against Iran—a key Middle Eastern oil producer—potentially disrupting regional supplies. Brent crude futures rose by 94 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to $69.34 a barrel by 07:30 …

Dans les couloirs de la décision stratégique américaine, l’Iran n’est plus considéré comme un simple dossier régional. Les relations avec Téhéran sont désormais indissociables de la compétition entre grandes puissances. La coordination entre l’Iran, la Russie et la Chine dépasse le simple alignement situationnel pour se cristalliser en ce que …

Comme souvent ces jours-ci, une attaque décisive contre l’Iran revient, en dernière analyse, à la personnalité de Trump et à son besoin d’attirer l’attention de tout le monde. Il comprend que même si ses déclarations maximalistes ont l’air – et elles le sont – folles, elles sont néanmoins généralement comprises …

Les forces américaines se sont massées en Jordanie en prévision d’une éventuelle guerre contre l’Iran, dans le but d’éloigner les représailles précoces des Israéliens et d’exploiter la puissance aérienne américaine, tout en risquant une erreur de calcul stratégique et un dépassement de leurs capacités. Au cours de la semaine dernière, …

Toplines The Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) may agree to extend the US-mediated ceasefire, according to Kurdish sources and mediators. The Syrian government and SDF agreed to a ceasefire on January 20 that gave SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi four days to secure other SDF leaders’ agreement to …

Toplines The Syrian government surrounded Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters in Kobani, likely as the first part of a multi-stage operation to reduce the SDF forces there. Civilians have fled to Kobani as fighting approached their villages south of Kobani, leading to a larger than standard population there.[1] Civilians in …

Three experts discuss the rapidly changing situation in Iran, including the status of opposition elements on the ground, the U.S. interests at play in the crisis, and Washington’s policy options for bolstering both. On January 14, The Washington Institute held a virtual Policy Forum with Holly Dagres, Michael Eisenstadt, and …

US President Donald Trump has faced mounting pressure to respond militarily to Iran’s crackdown on protesters across the country. Although Trump has, for the moment, refrained from authorising a strike, a military operation against Iran remains a distinct possibility. US officials indicate that another critical decision point may arise in …