Iran

( Code Pink ) – On October 1, Iran fired about 180 missiles at Israel in response to Israel’s recent assassinations of leaders of its Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), Hezbollah and Hamas. There are conflicting reports about how many of the missiles struck their targets and if there were any deaths. But Israel is now considering a counterattack that could […]

China

At UN, China slams US Sanctions on Iran, Accuses Israel of ‘Indiscriminate attacks on Civilians’

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during his first appearance at the annual UN General Assembly meeting, met on the margins of the conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He elicited from the Chinese one of the strongest statements of Chinese support we have seen. According to the UAE’s al-Khaleej, Wang […]

Featured

Woman, Life, Freedom: Rachel, Shireen, Mahsa and Ayşenur

Fariba Amini

Newark, Del. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – A few days before the invasion of Iraq by American forces under G.W. Bush, on March 16, 2003, a young woman from Seattle, Washington, who had gone to Rafah, in Gaza to help Palestinians halt the demolition of homes died under the bulldozer of the Israeli army. […]

Iran

Is it time to retire the Phrase ‘Arab-Israeli Conflict?’ Hostilities now extend beyond those Boundaries

The Conversation

By Nader Habibi, Brandeis University | – (The Conversation) – The current phase of fighting in the Middle East began almost a year ago, with the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and the subsequent pummeling of Gaza by Israel. But to many academics, foreign policy experts and international observers, what is taking place is […]

Climate Crisis

Is Climate Change Sucking the Caspian Sea Dry?

Foreign Policy in Focus

By Tarique Niazi ( Foreign Policy in Focus ) – Azerbaijan is making the most of its hosting of the UN climate summit (COP29) in November this year. Its president, Ilham Aliyev, has been on a whirlwind tour of the world to court major nations for a climate finance pact that will feature Baku’s initiative […]

Iran

Is Iran’s anti-Israel and -American Rhetoric all Bark and no Bite?

Shahram Akbarzadeh

(The Conversation) – On August 27, Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, told the newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and his cabinet that talking to the enemy may be useful. In a thinly veiled reference to Iran’s engagement with the international community – and specifically the United States – Khamenei […]

Hizbullah

Israel and Hezbollah step Back from War, but for how Long? All eyes are now on Iran’s next Move

The Conversation

By Ian Parmeter, Australian National University | – (The Conversation) – For weeks, Israel had been anticipating a major attack from Hezbollah in retaliation for its killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon at the end of July. In the early hours of Sunday, that attack finally came – and Israel was apparently ready. […]

Iran

Remembering a Democratic Iran under Mosaddegh, which the US Overthrew

Fariba Amini

Newark, Del. (Special to Informed Comment) – When I was very young, in my early teens, I remember that we always had radio Iraq on. I remember that my parents and especially my father used to listen to it on his German Grundig radio. At that time, I didn’t really understand or grasp much. As a teenager, I […]

Iran

Qatar, Upset with failed Israeli-Palestinian Talks and Haniyeh Assassination, may Turn to Mediating between Iran and West

The Conversation

By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University | – (The Conversation) – When the longtime political chief of Hamas was assassinated in late July 2024, it didn’t just leave the entire Middle East on edge. It also created a political headache in Qatar. That’s because the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the result of an apparent Israeli […]