Latest Articles about Middle East

Who’s Who in the Jordanian Opposition: Part Two

Inspired by the Arab Spring, the Salafi-Jihadists of Jordan have been holding demonstrations in several cities. As citizens take to the street to demand political reform, jihadists have shown that they are large in number and defiant, though they do not operate as an organization.... MORE

Kazakhstan Establishes Continuing Role in Iran Talks

The February 26–27 round of the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and the P5+1 group (all five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany) in Almaty went as well as might have reasonably been expected. Nobody expected a breakthrough and none occurred. Yet, the sides met... MORE

A Snapshot of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khalid Meshaal

While Ismail Haniyah is the prime minister of Hamas, many have speculated that the chief of the organization’s political bureau, Khalid Meshaal, has been the true leader of the group. Meshaal is a charismatic statesman who has maintained top leadership positions while in exile. Meshaal... MORE

If Syria is Attacked, Will Iran Retaliate?

A stark warning to the West that Tehran would retaliate if Syria was attacked came on January 26 from Ali Akbar Velayati, a close advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Velayati, Syria is the “resistance front” and any attack on Iran’s... MORE

Kazakhstan Will Host Iran Nuclear Talks

Iran has accepted Kazakhstan’s offer to host the next round of its nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 group (all five permanent United Nations Security Council members and Germany) (Trend, February 4). Citing a desire to reduce regional tensions and avert an escalation of the nuclear... MORE