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IRAN: Iran takes a hard line at the UN

IRAN: Iran takes a hard line at the UN | Speevr

The odds of a breakdown in nuclear negotiations with Iran have increased considerably. Iranian government statements in New York last week stressed Iran’s efforts to de-emphasize the nuclear talks and “diversify” its global diplomatic agenda. At the UN General Assembly …   Become a member to read the rest of this article Username or E-mail […]

IRAN: US-Iran ties enter new period of brinkmanship

IRAN: US-Iran ties enter new period of brinkmanship | Speevr

Iran and the US seem determined to demonstrate to each other they are not desperate for a nuclear weapons agreement. Iran may seek to hedge the destabilizing effects of its nuclear actions by lowering tensions with regional neighbors. The Biden team came in convinced th…   Become a member to read the rest of this […]

AFGHANISTAN: China and Russia look for gains, but terrorism a rising worry

AFGHANISTAN: China and Russia look for gains, but terrorism a rising worry | Speevr

China and Russia will build on the disorderly US withdrawal from Afghanistan to strike their own relationship with the new regime, protect their respective regional interests, and undermine US global influence. The return of the Taliban to power is a boost to terrorist gro…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

IRAN: Raisi inaugurated amid increased concerns about Iran

IRAN: Raisi inaugurated amid increased concerns about Iran | Speevr

Ebrahim Raisi was inaugurated as Iran’s president yesterday. Iran is already repositioning itself as a less pliable power in hopes of eliciting a sense of urgency to meet Iranian demands. Recent, aggressive behavior may be part of a recalibration in Iran’s relationship …   Become a member to read the rest of this article

IRAN: Presidential elections unlikely to surprise

The Iranian government is trying to make the 18 June presidential election as anti-climactic as possible, removing every possible stumbling block to the rise of Ebrahim Raisi. The conventional wisdom is increasingly converging on a nuclear deal being struck in the interregnu…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

ISRAEL: Hamas will not hurt the economy much, but domestic challenges rising

ISRAEL: Hamas will not hurt the economy much, but domestic challenges rising | Speevr

Hamas rockets will have negligible effect on Israel’s economy this year. A sustained political crisis and increasing polarization between Israeli Jews and Arabs is a bigger threat. Israel seems destined for a new election, which is unlikely to be anything other than wha…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

MENA: The two faces of Covid-19 in the region

MENA: The two faces of Covid-19 in the region | Speevr

Compared to predictions of a year ago, the Middle East is in very good shape. However, beneath a facade of near-normalcy is a troubling fact: the disparity between the countries that have done best in the face of COVID-19 and those that have done worst is large. Covid-19 wi…   Become a member to read […]

IRAN/US: Fallout from Natanz attack is more negotiations

IRAN/US: Fallout from Natanz attack is more negotiations | Speevr

The April 11 attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site was unusual in that Israel was fairly clear about its responsibility. Iran’s response to the attack, advertising its determination to create highly enriched uranium, represents a commitment to the negotiating track. While no q…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

EGYPT: Ever Given incident highlights Egypt’s vulnerabilities

EGYPT: Ever Given incident highlights Egypt’s vulnerabilities | Speevr

Ever Given ship accident in the Suez Canal highlights Egypt’s mixed economic picture. Covid-19 effects will continue to cloud economic growth prospects. The grounding of the Ever Given fixed the world’s attention on Egypt for more than a week in mid-March. While the sto…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

ISRAEL: Netanyahu in another toss-up election

ISRAEL: Netanyahu in another toss-up election | Speevr

Israeli politics continue to revolve around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose center-right politics have move rightward with Israeli sentiment. The election’s outcome will depend on which small parties make it over the electoral threshold for inclusion in parliame…   Become a member to read the rest of this article