Middle East

Washington (AFP) – The United States announced it was halting funding for the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees Friday after declaring the organization was “irredeemably flawed. Washington has long been the UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) largest donor but is “no longer willing to shoulder the very disproportionate share of the burden,” State […]

Israel/ Palestine

Singer Lana Del Rey cancels Israel Show after Boycott Pressure

AFP

Jerusalem (AFP) – American singer Lana Del Rey said Friday she was postponing a performance in Israel after failing to set up a show “in Palestine.” The surprise cancellation came after a campaign by pro-Palestinian groups calling for a cultural boycott of Israel over its occupation of the West Bank. “It’s important to me to […]

Iran

Despite Trump’s Violation of it, Iran is Still Abiding by Nuclear Deal, UN Says

AFP

Vienna (AFP) – Iran is sticking to the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, a UN atomic watchdog report showed Thursday, despite ongoing uncertainty over its future. The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency showed that Iran was still complying with the key parameters of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), […]

Iran

Israel Renews Threat to Attack Iran Targets in Syria

AFP

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israel on Wednesday renewed its threat to attack Iranian military targets in Syria, after the two Muslim allies signed an accord on security cooperation. “The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will continue to take strong and determined action against Iran’s attempts to station forces and advanced weapons systems in Syria,” Prime Minister Benjamin […]

Iran

“A Deadly Blow:” Why is Iran Persecuting and Killing Sufi Mystics?

Golnaz Esfandiari

Washington, D.C. (RFE/RL) – Thirty-three-year-old Mostafa Abdi, a member of Iran’s largest Sufi order and editor of a news outlet focused on the Gonabadi dervish community, appears set to spend the most productive years of his life in an Iranian prison. Abdi was reportedly sentenced earlier this month to more than 26 years, and 148 […]

Turkey

Turkey’s big Problem isn’t Collapsing Currency, but Lack of Democracy under Erdogan

The Conversation

By Gary M. Grossman | – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is presiding over the damaging loss of value of the Turkish currency, the lira, against foreign currencies. It’s the most severe economic crisis the country has faced since he assumed power. Erdoğan has been the dominant figure in Turkish politics for almost two decades. […]

Iran

Iran Parliament rakes Pres. Rouhani over Coals on Economy as Centrists Weaken

Eric Randolph

Tehran (AFP) – Iran’s parliament declared its dissatisfaction with President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday, voting to reject his answers after grilling him over the deteriorating economy. It was the first time Rouhani had been summoned by parliament in his five years in power, and MPs demanded answers on unemployment, rising prices and the sharp depreciation […]

Yemen

Yemen: Saudis, UAE, US and Houthis All Guilty of War Crimes – UN

AFP

By Nina LARSON | – Geneva (AFP) – All sides in Yemen’s bloody conflict may have committed war crimes, UN investigators said Tuesday, highlighting deadly air strikes, rampant sexual violence, and the recruitment of young children as soldiers. In their first report, a team of UN-mandated investigators said they had “reasonable grounds to believe that […]

Featured

Saudi Crown Prince vows Yemeni Children will “Shiver,” but is He on Way Out?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Mohamed Bin Salman, the thirty-two-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia, is finding his wings clipped, by his father and by the heavy hand of reality, so severely that some are speculating about whether he can survive politically. Alkhaleejonline.net reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman recently met with his […]