In Depth

Detained media magnate Nabil Karoui and academic Kaïs Saïed made it through to the second round of Tunisia’s presidential election, the countries independent Electoral Commission announced earlier this week. THE LEVANT NEWS EXCLUSIVE – By Arthur Blok* | Just 45 percent of the roughly seven million strong electorate turned up …

By Seyed Hossein Mousavian   Tehran should abandon the nuclear deal and suspend its membership of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Then real talks with the US can begin US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the landmark Iran nuclear agreement, and his pursuit of the ill-advised “maximum pressure” policy, have taken …

Tunisia will head to the polls Sunday to elect a new president. More than seven million eligible voters both in Tunisia and abroad can choose from 26 presidential candidates in a fiercely contested election. By Arthur Blok* | Tunisia’s first democratically elected president Beji Caid Essebsi died on July 25 …

By Emad El-Din Aysha, PhD     I made the mistake of watching a horror movie once late, late at night. Had drunk a cappuccino earlier in the day so I couldn’t sleep and I thought watching one would keep me sharp. And, knowing me, I agreed to go along …

If planting more trees can replenish forests and remove carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere, then could we also repopulate the Arctic with ice? That’s a question posed by a team of Indonesian designers with an eye-catching response to the climate crisis: iceberg-making submarines. The idea, recently named runner-up in an international design competitionappealing …

Interview with Federico Pieraccini, Independent Geopolitical Analyst Specialized in International Relations, Conflicts, Politics and Strategies at the Strategic Culture Foundation. The interview was conducted by Damir Nazarov, a Russian journalist based in Moscow.   1 – The USA has an advantage in all major types of weapons of mass destruction. Why …

By Dr. Aqel Salah*     This study discusses the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the continuing Israeli war by all means against Hamas. The study is based on a fundamental question: Is the war on Gaza aimed at rocket warheads or the head of Hamas? In order …

By Damir Nazarov   While Erdogan seeks to hold meetings with Putin and sometimes Rouhani in relation to Syria every two months, the Turkish occupants are actively pursuing a policy of assimilation of the Syrian cities captured during two interventions. For example, on the twelfth of February, the deputy governor of …

The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements said in his latest weekly report , that Israeli elections is to be held on next Sept. 17th, settlers voices calling for intensifying settlements and annexing Areas C to apply full sovereignty on settlements built in the occupied West Bank. Moreover, …

“Who Lost Turkey?” Graham E. Fuller (grahamefuller.com) 5 August 2019 Here we go again, another phase of witch-hunting over “Who lost —-(fill in the blanks) country.” It was once who lost China in 1949, then Cuba in 1959, then Iran in 1979, and others. The latest iteration is now “Who …

By Lamis Jdid* | In 2008, Thomas Friedman wrote a book that was considered a revolutionary way of rethinking our planet earth explaining the social and ecological challenges facing us and its serious consequences that could threaten life on earth. Spreading awareness on the impact we have on our planet …

By Seyed Hossein Mousavian The underlying assumptions on the part of Trump administration to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) were the following: 1) by implementing the “maximum pressure” policy, Iran’s oil exports would reach zero; its financial transactions would be fundamentally hindered and Iran’s economy would collapse; …

By Emad El-Din Aysha, PhD     It’s being taken as a given that the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is going to be built on the Blue Nile and that the downstream countries, Sudan and Egypt, are going to have to face the consequences. If the so-called Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam …

By Hossein Mousavian*   In May 2018, the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was designed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and had been agreed on after 12 years of exhaustive negotiations. The US began to impose new economic and …

By Gouthama Siddarthan   When my book, ‘I travagli politici del viaggio nel tempo’ – (Translation by Davite Mana), was published in Italian, it was Domenico Attianese, who for the first time introduced it. It was thanks to his introduction that my book hogged a widespread attention. Also, Vincenzo Barone …

By Faris Samuri   Recently the U.S. President Donald Trump formally launched his 2020 re-election campaign in front of a large crowd in Orlando, Florida. The campaign is gaining momentum. We have already seen the celebrities and politicians speeches, preliminary ratings and even the economic models of the New York …

Exhibitions are a powerful way to showcase your brand and the products/services you offer. But you must make sure that the system you choose works for your business. Not only will the wrong exhibition display fail to attract visitors, but it can also jeopardize your hard-earned brand reputation and become …

By Graham E. Fuller | Is American foreign policy,  so long drifting towards collapse and irrelevance, about to be revolutionized? An article written by veteran journalist Stephen Kinzer in the Boston Globe today contains exciting news with revolutionary implications for US foreign policy, America’s place in the world, and a …

According to the International Institute for Iranian Studies, a Saudi think tank based in Riyadh, the US maximum pressure strategy to lower Iranian oil exports to zero has led Iran “reacting in an aggressive manner and exposing itself further regionally and internationally, with it engaging in a number of belligerent …

By Graham E. Fuller  (grahamefuller.com) 6 June 2019 The “Deal of the Century”—Trump’s modestly named new proposal for peace  between Israel and the Palestinians—has long been said to be nearing completion. Ongoing turmoil in Israeli politics makes that presumed launch date  less certain. But whether or not Bibi Netanyahu will …

By Seyed Hossein Mousavian*   There is copious academic research on why the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is mired in ethnic and sectarian violence. However, the specific question of what workable models can be presented that would not only be effective in ending conflicts but also bring …

By Dr. Haytham Mouzahem* — A year ago, I was invited to a closed seminar with an Iranian diplomat in Beirut, which brought together some 12 researchers and journalists to discuss the implications of the US sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump on Iran following its withdrawal from the …

By Dr. Haytham Mouzahem — The Nakba of Palestine took place due to the Israeli occupation of most of Palestine and the creation of “Israel” entity on May 15, 1948. The 71st anniversary of the Nakba comes this year, weeks before the announcement of the U.S. administration of its peace …

By Hossein Mousavian and Abdulaziz Sager*   We write as citizens and foreign policy veterans of two countries that most Americans presume are locked in mortal combat: Iran and Saudi Arabia. In fact, after decades of proxy conflict and frozen ties between our countries, we believe now is the time …

May 2, 2019 by Graham E. Fuller • Blog • Tags: China, East Asia, Japan, nuclear weapons, US • Japanese Nukes—On the Horizon? Graham E. Fuller (bozorgg@aol.com) Membership in the nuclear club is jealously guarded. The fewer the members the better. And the latest member to work his way in …

By Elias Farhat* In the aftermath of the 9,11 attacks, the US under president George W. Bush announced the Global war on terror. This terror was recognized as al-Qaeda and its offshoot Taliban.  Al Qaeda owned the ideology, the mobilization and sleeper cells all around the world, while Taliban owned …

By Areej Zaher*   Apparently, the machine of war is not going to stop in the near future, while its transforming from armed conflict and bloodshed to economical and social conflicts when powerful countries are fighting each other on Syrian territory to get the lion’s share of its treasures and …

American president Donald Trump remains a strong supporter of the Saudi-led war in Yemen. At the same time the military intervention garners unconditional support at the home front. By Arthur Blok* Trump issued the second veto of his presidency earlier this week halting a congressional resolution that would have sought …

  Hello, Mr.Gouthama, welcome to Melange ! Could you please tell us about you and what you are ?   From the International arena, you welcome me and my writings. I thank you and International readers of sci-fi as well on behalf of Tamil.   I am primarily a fiction writer …

By Abdallah Ahmad* — The problem is that we deal with is a nonlinear and dynamic international relations environment, it is clear that in the short and medium term (from one to four to five years) the course of the world order will be determined, It is also clear that …

By Dr. Akil Mahfoud* — The results of the municipal elections in Turkey (March 31, 2019) show that politics sometimes takes in what the politician thinks it gives, and may hit him from his safe haven, and lose in terms of his expected victory. The Turkish President Rajab Tayeb Erdogan …

A New Zealand nurse visited the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, where she met a Bedouin seller of souvenirs and loved him and lived with him in his cave. By Dr. Haytham Mouzahem — ‘”Where you staying?” the Bedouin asked. “Why you not stay with me tonight – in …

By Gouthama Siddarthan* The Discovery Channelhas been doing a yeoman’s service in visually capturing day-to-day activities of dangerous animals and rare birds in forests untouched by human footfalls, animals living in depths of oceans and animals facing extinction threat.It has been winning laurels for reconstructing the life of tribals and …

Dr. Haytham Mouzahem is a Lebanese analyst and researcher who specializes in Islamic and Middle East affairs. He has authored many books on Islam, Shiism, Iran, and Islamic and Jihadi groups. He currently heads the Beirut Centre for Middle East Studies. He spoke to International Affairs Review on the current …

By Sarah Safa* — General context The American administration, a leading force of a chaotic scene on the international arena:   For almost a decade, the world is falling into a horrific situation introduced by the wake of the so called “Arab Spring”. With violence, wars and bloody conflicts, waged …

By Dr. Haytham Mouzahem – The sectarian and religious conflicts ruling the Islamic world today are not a unique or new phenomenon, nor in the political and authoritarian dimensions when religion was used to mobilize support for rulers or regimes. The Christian west also witnessed conflicts and sectarian divisions between …

Much has been discussed about a resolution about the plight of Kashmiris and the Babri Masjid that was passed by the forty-sixth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Abu Dhabi in February this year. The resolution condemned India for its terrorism in Kashmir. The Contact Group on Jammu …

By Areej Zaher -In a country which adopted socialism as a way of life, economic difficulties will be its penalty. The Syrian war brought not only blood and terror but also EU sanctions to Syrian stock holdings and ventures, and the Syrian people were most affected. Government expenditure especially defense …

A distinguished mix of business, general and commercial aviation and aerospace exhibitors gathered this week at Riyadh’s Thumama Airport for the first ever Saudi International Airshow. THE LEVANT NEWS EXCLUSIVE – Riyadh – by Arthur Blok* — For the first time in Saudi history it was possible to make a …

By: Labib Faleh Taha   When the harsh terms of peace were imposed on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 at the end of the First World War, the seeds of World War II were grew; the war which was more ferocious and brutal than its predecessor. When …

By Seyed Hossein Mousavian — In a statement issued on 20 February, more than 50 pro-diplomacy organisations representing millions of American voters urged US policymakers to respect the Iran nuclear deal, which verifiably blocks Iran’s pathway to a nuclear weapon, supports good-faith diplomacy and opposes war with Iran. Earlier last month, as millions …

With ISIS’ leader nowhere to be found, deep fissures have emerged within the crumbling terrorist organisation as desperate militants make a last stand. by Chris Massaro for FOX NEWS — As the once-powerful Islamic State (IS) crumbles, and its desperate fighters make a last stand in its final enclave surrounded …

By Areej Zaher* — Since the autumn of 2015, former US president Barack Obama gave orders to send US militants as part of a coalition against the Islamic state, ISIS. Seemingly, the president now in office, Donald Trump, has a different prospective regarding the American administration and its foreign policies …

This is an interview conducted by Emad El-Din AyshaBy with the Indian analyst and editor of International Affairs Review, Aditi Bhaduri on the Pakistani- Indian recent clashes: The Levant News: What is the Indian position now? Does it want escalation of the hostilities? What does India want from Pakistan that …