Why is the Iranian government opening the world’s biggest bookstore?
Holly Dagres | There is a conundrum facing Iranian officials. The government, on the one hand, wants Iranians to read more. At the same time,...
Pakistan conducts proactive engagement with Iran after Raheel Sharif leaves to head Islamic NATO
Despite political distractions domestically, Pakistan government is pro-actively pursuing its foreign policy goals in the region as it works hard to positioning itself as...
Deadlock in Geneva: who is preventing new dialogue on Syria?
Sophie Mangal | The preparations for the next meetings on Syria in Astana and Geneva scheduled for May are gaining momentum. Politicians continue to express...
Why has Ahmedinejad been disqualified from upcoming Iranian elections?
M. K. Bhadrakumar | The ‘known unknown’ in the fateful decision handed down on Thursday by Iran’s Guardian Council on the approved list of candidates...
Battle of Jewish settlements being fought on football ground..!
James M. Dorsey | Next month’s annual congress of world soccer body, FIFA, is likely to become the first international forum since US President Donald...
Recreating the map of Middle East using guns not pens
Zeeshan Munir | The term “New Middle East” was introduced to the world in June 2006 by the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It...
What will happen to Turkey now that it has “democratically” elected a “dictator”?
Dr. Muhammad Ali Ehsan | Recep Tayyip Erdogan was already ruling Turkey under a state of emergency but with Sunday's YES majority (51.7%) vote, the...
Regional dynamics ensure that Erdogan’s ‘rigged’ referendum will be overlooked
M. K. Bhadrakumar | The mystique of democratic elections will never wither away. My late father used to reminisce how agonizing the waiting was in...
What is Qatar’s Strategic Relevance in the Contemporary Middle East?
Zaheer Munir | Qatar’s Strategic Relevance in the Contemporary Middle East Qatar emerged as the regional power broker in 2006 with Israel’s war in Lebanon which...
Erdogan’s win splits Turkey in half, opposition out on streets
Tuvan Gumrukcu and Humeyra Pamuk | ANKARA/ISTANBUL - President Tayyip Erdogan declared victory in a referendum on Sunday to grant him sweeping powers in the...
Upcoming elections in Iran: one of the most significant in the regime’s history
The Iranian elections are almost a month away, scheduled for 19 May 2017. However, 11 April marked a significant day — official registration for candidates...
U.S Foreign Policy on Yemen is ‘The Mother of All Lies’
David Swanson | The Mother of All Lies is this: you can fix things by blowing them up. Alcoholics should not drink, and people who...