Podcasts about north africa programme

Donald Trump says the US is inches away from sealing a nuclear deal with Iran, an Israeli hostage walks free from captivity thanks to American diplomacy and the warning lights of Gaza are flashing red as talk of a humanitarian crisis gets ever louder. Meanwhile, as the US president's headline-grabbing tour of the Middle East continues to make waves through the region, we'll unpack its significance with expert insight from Dr. Sanam Vakil of London's Chatham House. Plus - a mensch award 500 years in the making, all thanks to King Henry VIIIJoin our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreonSocial links, shop, YouTube channel and more: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Dr. Sanam Vakil is the director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. Her expertise spans Iranian and Gulf politics, regional security dynamics, and US foreign policy, with a particular focus on the evolving strategic landscape of the Middle East and its global connectivity. Topics:• Trump's Middle East Visit and Its Implications• Release of US-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander• Israel's Role in Resolving Hostage Situations• Gaza's Deepening Humanitarian Crisis and international response

Simmering threats between Iran and the US are nearing their boiling point, after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week that Tehran would retaliate if attacked. The heated tone comes after American President Donald Trump warned earlier that the US would bomb Iran and impose additional tariffs if it did not agree to a nuclear deal. Tit-for-tat warnings have sparked fears that Iran may be on the brink of weaponising its nuclear programme. Tensions have been brewing for the past several weeks as Mr Trump hawkishly tries to strike an agreement after withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action during his first term in office. But the geopolitical landscape today is drastically different to what it was back then, with Iran's assets in the region greatly weakened. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher asks whether the outcome will be conflict or resolution. She speaks to Dr Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, and Francesco Schiavi, Middle East analyst and non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute Switzerland.

Iran's Supreme Leader warns of a forceful response if the US or its allies bomb his country. That follows a threat made by US President Donald Trump if there's no deal on Tehran's nuclear programme. So, how dangerous is this stand-off? And can a solution be found? In this episode: Hassan Ahmadian, Assistant Professor, University of Tehran Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director, International Crisis Group Ellie Geranmayeh, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, European Council on Foreign Relations Host: Adrian Finighan Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Over the last two years, intelligence organizations and analysts failed to anticipate critical events in the Middle East that would roil the region. The sudden collapse of the Assad regime and the opening of a new chapter in Syria's conflict-ridden story is the latest in a fraught period that has seen an of escalation of tensions in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. What explains the Assad regime's sudden demise and the ascendance of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Sunni Islamist organizations? What do these events portend for Syria's governance and the policies of Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Israel in the region? And what would be the best policy on Syria for the incoming U.S. administration?  Join Aaron David Miller as he sits down with Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, and Charles Lister, senior fellow and the director of the Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programs at the Middle East Institute, to explore these and other issues.

In December 2024, the decades-old Assad regime in Syria fell following 13 years of brutal civil war.The Islamist rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, seized power in the capital Damascus, having co-ordinated a lightning offensive along with other opposition forces across the country.This week on The Inquiry, we examine how recent events led to the current situation, who the main players are vying for control, and the many challenges facing both the new government and the Syrian people. Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Ben Cooper Researcher: Evie Yabsley Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey Technical producer: Toby James Editor: Tara McDermottContributors:Tim Eaton, Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham HouseDr Rahaf Aldoughli, Middle East and North African Studies at Lancaster UniversityDavid Schenker, Director of the Arab politics programme at the Washington Natasha Hall, Middle East programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Germany and France's foreign ministers visit Syria telling the new leadership that lifting sanctions will depend on how the country's political future develops. So what do both sides want from each other - and what divides them? In this Episode: Haid Haid, Syrian Columnist and Consulting Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Marie Forestier, Senior Adviser, European Institute of Peace. Galip Dalay, Non-resident Senior Fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs. Host: Neave Barker Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

Syrian rebels launched the biggest attack in years against President Bashar al-Assad's government forces, reigniting a bloody civil war - but with Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel Gaza conflict just next door, the world appears to be on the brink. So, what's going to happen next, why did the rebels launch their attack now and how will the rest of the world react? On this week's episode of the Political Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is joined by Dr Lina Khatib, Associate Fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme, and our International Editor, Lindsey Hilsum, who is in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Produced by Silvia Maresca, Ka Yee Mak, Calum Fraser.

This event, organised by the LSE Middle East Centre and the Department of International Relations, LSE was a discussion around the book 'How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare' by Narges Bajoghli, Vali Nasr, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani and Ali Vaez published by Stanford University Press. Sanctions have enormous consequences. Especially when imposed by a country with the economic influence of the United States, sanctions induce clear shockwaves in both the economy and political culture of the targeted state, and in the everyday lives of citizens. But do economic sanctions induce the behavioural changes intended? Do sanctions work in the way they should? Meet the speakers Narges Bajoghli is Assistant Professor of Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins-SAIS, is an award-winning anthropologist, scholar, and filmmaker. Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins-SAIS, and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. Sanam Vakil is the director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. She was previously the Programme's deputy director and senior research fellow, and led project work on Iran and Gulf Arab dynamics. Steffen Hertog is Associate Professor in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics. He was previously Kuwait Professor at Sciences Po in Paris, lecturer in Middle East political economy at Durham University and a post-doc at Princeton University.

Professor Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, assesses the possible impact of the second Trump presidency on the Middle East.

This is the second instalment of a two-part episode. The October 7 Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel and the subsequent siege of Gaza by the Israeli military upended the Middle East. Can the conflict be contained or will the tensions between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran escalate and engulf the Middle East in a regional war? On October 27, 2024, Jeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the BBC, joined Intelligence Squared CEO Matt McAllester in conversation to reflect and make sense of what is happening in the region. Bowen has reported on all the most significant events that have shaped the region's recent history – the long and ultimately failed Middle East peace process, the tragic events of 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, plus most recently the Israel-Hamas war. Many of these events are covered in Bowen's recent book, The Making of the Modern Middle East. As a journalist and author, his deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences of its peoples makes him uniquely placed to explain its complex past and troubled present. This is a two-part discussion. Part Two, recorded on October 28, 2024, convenes Dr Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, and James Barr, a historian of the Middle East and the author of Lords of the Desert and A Line In The Sand, in conversation with BBC News presenter, Jonny Dymond. This is the second instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to the full conversation immediately as an early access subscriber, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series ... Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The October 7 Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel and the subsequent siege of Gaza by the Israeli military upended the Middle East. Can the conflict be contained or will the tensions between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran escalate and engulf the Middle East in a regional war? On October 27, 2024, Jeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the BBC, joined Intelligence Squared CEO Matt McAllester in conversation to reflect and make sense of what is happening in the region. Bowen has reported on all the most significant events that have shaped the region's recent history – the long and ultimately failed Middle East peace process, the tragic events of 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, plus most recently the Israel-Hamas war. Many of these events are covered in Bowen's recent book, The Making of the Modern Middle East. As a journalist and author, his deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences of its peoples makes him uniquely placed to explain its complex past and troubled present. This is a two-part discussion. Part Two, recorded on October 28, 2024, convenes Dr Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, and James Barr, a historian of the Middle East and the author of Lords of the Desert and A Line In The Sand, in conversation with BBC News presenter, Jonny Dymond. This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to the full conversation immediately as an early access subscriber, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series ... Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

North Korea is sending troops to Russia, but what is Kim Jong Un hoping to get from Vladmir Putin for military assistance against Ukraine? The panel also discuss the role military conscription plays in Israel, South Korea and Ukraine. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Edward Howell, the Korea Foundation fellow at Chatham House, Orysia Lutsevych, the head of our Ukraine Forum and Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our latest: As the ruling party claims victory in Georgia's disputed election, Western condemnation is no longer enough Watch: 2024 US election: What will America choose? Watch: Is the world ready for the next pandemic? Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Lina Khatib, an associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, which she led for seven years and where they first met. Together, they discuss the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, its regional impacts, and the emerging vacuum in Lebanese politics. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert to discuss the challenges of creating a comprehensive U.S. strategy in the Middle East and the ways Great Power competition affects the region's conflicts.  Transcript, "Lina Khatib: War Spreads to Lebanon," CSIS, October 15, 2024.

After a year of turmoil in the Middle East, Mishal Husain is joined by a panel of guests to ask ‘What Is the Path to Peace?'Joining Mishal are Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's International Editor; Lord Ricketts, who served as a British diplomat for many years including being on the Foreign office Middle East desk during Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982; Afif Safieh, former Palestinian Head of Mission in London, Washington, D.C. and Moscow; Ehud Olmert, who was Israeli Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009; Ambassador David Satterfield, who until earlier this year was US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues and Dr. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.The Today Debate was produced by Sinead Heekin and Louisa Lewis. The editor is Owenna Griffiths. Studio direction by Ben Andrews.

After a week of escalating tensions in the Middle East, Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, joins Emma Nelson to reflect on the week's news from the region. Then: Monocle's Helsinki correspondent, Petri Burtsoff, tells the story of a restored cultural icon in the city, and we learn about the future of digital art with the CEO of Lumen Studios, Jen Roebuck, and the director of The Lumen Prize, Gillian Varney.

Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran 'will pay' for its missile attack, while Tehran threatens a crushing response if Israel hits back. Bombs, bullets and missiles in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel. Is the Middle East inching closer to a full-blown war? In this episode: Dan Perry, Author, 'Israel and the Quest for Permanence'. Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Professor, Modern Middle East Politics, University of Cambridge. Julien Barnes-Dacey, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, European Council for Foreign Relations. Host: Nick Clark Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

AP Journalist Kareem Chehayeb & Professor Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme with Chatham House.

With the Israeli military launching sustained attacks across Lebanon against Hezbollah, we explore why Israel has decided to ramp up strikes on Hezbollah now, even as the war in Gaza rages on and tensions continue to rise in the West Bank. Bronwen Maddox is joined by The Economist's Middle East correspondent, Gregg Carlstrom. With them are Lina Khatib and Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellows with our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our latest: Could Israel's attacks on Hezbollah open the way to a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities? Illicit gold is exacerbating Ethiopia's conflicts The three key priorities new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte must get right Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast

Israel's prime minister is set to address a joint session of the US Congress next month. It's Benjamin Netanyahu's first trip to Washington since he launched his devastating war on Gaza. His speech could have big political implications for President Joe Biden, and Israel. So, what might happen? In this episode: Akbar Shahid Ahmed, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, HuffPost. Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Rami Khouri, Distinguished Public Policy Fellow, American University of Beirut. Host: Elizabeth Puranam Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Yet again, Israel is accused of committing war crimes against Palestinians, this time by a UN-backed commission of inquiry. The Palestinian armed groups also received a share of the blame. But who will enforce accountability? In this episode: Bill van Esveld, Acting Israel and Palestine Associate Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Human Rights Watch. Uri Dromi, Former Israeli government spokesman and founding president of the Jerusalem Press Club. William Law, Editor of Arab Digest, an online current affairs newsletter. Host: Neave Barker Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Today on the show, the UN Security Council approves the Biden-backed ceasefire proposal for the Israel-Hamas war. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, explains why Hamas isn't accepting the plan.    Next, the Financial Times' Gillian Tett talks about the controversial move by Western nations this week to offer a $50 billion loan to Ukraine on the back of roughly $300 billion in frozen Russian assets.   Then, Bill Gates broke ground this week on a new nuclear reactor in Wyoming. He joins the show to tell Fareed why he thinks that more investment in nuclear energy is crucial to combatting climate change.    After that, Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, discusses the positive role that AI can play in education.    Finally, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has a controversial new plan to deal with immigration. He wants to send asylum seekers all the way to Rwanda. Fareed lays out the deal that the UK government has signed with the East African nation, and how the plan is playing out in the upcoming election.    GUESTS: Sanam Vakil (@SanamVakil), Gillian Tett (@gilliantett), Bill Gates (@BillGates), Sal Khan (@salkhanacademy)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Six candidates have been cleared to run in Iran's presidential race. Who are they, how do they differ and what role will they play? The vote is less than a month after the death of the former president. So what's at stake this time around? And how could the outcome affect the country's role in the region? In this episode: Abas Aslani, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies. Sanam Vakil, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Mehran Kamrava, Director, Iranian Studies Unit, Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. Host: Laura Kyle Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Associate Fellow at Chatham House, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Elham Fakhro.

Rishi Sunak called a 4 July election saying the world is more dangerous than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Bronwen Maddox discusses those threats with Chatham House experts Olivia O'Sullivan, director of our UK in the World; David Lubin, our Michael Klein Senior Research Fellow in our Global Economy and Finance Programme; and Tim Eaton, senior research fellow in our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our latest: An election for ‘dangerous times' Three foreign policy priorities for the next UK government Is the Kremlin behind Georgia's foreign agents law? Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast

An ultimatum for the Israeli prime minister. War cabinet member Benny Gantz threatens to quit the unity government if Benjamin Netanyahu fails to present a post-war plan for Gaza by June the 8th. What could this mean for the future of Netanyahu's administration? In this episode: Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Alon Liel, Lecturer, Conflict Resolution Programme, Tel Aviv University. Udi Goren, Cousin of an Israeli hostage who was killed while being held captive in Gaza. Host: Cyril Vanier Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Overwhelming support at the UN General Assembly for Palestine's bid for full membership. It comes as condemnation of Israel's war on Gaza increases. But the US says it will veto the motion again at the Security Council. So what difference could the resolution make? In this episode: Jeffrey Sachs, Former Advisor, UN Secretary Generals. Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary, Palestinian National Initiative. Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Host: Neave Barker  Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

US intelligence agencies have concluded Hamas cannot be destroyed - a core aim of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's merciless onslaught on Gaza. So why is the US continuing to arm Israel - to fight a war it doesn't believe can be won? In this episode: Glenn Carle, U.S. National Security and Foreign Policy Specialist. Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Tamer Qarmout, Assistant Professor, Public Policy, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. Host: James Bays Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Head of Advocacy at the Norwegian Refugee Council, Samad Hadid, and Associate Fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, Professor Yossi Mekelberg

Tim Eaton and Leah de Haan (Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme) discuss their research on the transnational links between the movement of people and armed conflict – from Edo State in Nigeria, through Niger, to Libya. This episode was produced with support from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy, and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by UK International Development. Follow the Africa Programme on Twitter. Read our research: Stability at what cost? Smuggling-driven development in the Libyan city of Kufra Subscribe to Africa Aware wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe.

The consequences of Israel's war on Gaza is causing a maritime crisis in the Red Sea, one that has drawn in major powers like the United States, the UK and China. So, is the Red Sea becoming fully militarised?  In this episode: Betul Dogan-Akkas, Researcher at Ankara University. Stavros Karamperidis, Head of the Maritime Transport Research Group at the University of Plymouth.  Farea Al-Muslimi, Research fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme.  Host: Mohammed Jamjoom Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We get expert analysis from Professor Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme.

Arab Digest editor William Law welcomes Sanam Vakil director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.Their conversation focusses on the role of Iran and the Axis of Resistance in the Gaza war. As Israel continues its brutal assault there is a growing risk that tit for tat responses in other theatres of action will blend into a full-blown regional war. The podcast was recorded 22 January before the UK, for the second time, joined the US in strikes on Yemen's Huthis. Sign up NOW at ArabDigest.org for free to join the club and start receiving our daily newsletter & weekly podcasts.

The fourth episode of ECFR's WOMENP mini-series, recorded during the 2023 Doha Forum, looks at the regional reverberations of the war in Gaza, particularly from the perspective of key Arab Gulf monarchies such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The podcast unpacks how these countries have reacted to the 7 October attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza, the prospects of ongoing normalisation deals and negotiations between Arab Gulf monarchies and Israel, domestic dynamics in these countries, and potential future scenarios. How is Qatar managing the new cycle of violence in Israel and Palestine, and what role has it played? How have different Gulf countries positioned themselves on the war in Gaza? What is the state of Saudi-Israeli negotiations following the 7 October attacks? In this episode, ECFR's Cinzia Bianco speaks to Dania Thafer, executive director of the Gulf International Forum and lecturer at Georgetown University and Elham Fakhro, associate fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. This podcast was recorded on 11 December 2023.

Professor Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, assesses the evolving situation in the Middle East.

Professor Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, gives his assessment on the evolving situation in the Middle East.

The BBC's Mishal Husain is joined by a panel of guests to discuss what happens when the Israel Gaza war ends. On the panel are Jeremy Bowen, BBC International Editor; Daniel Levy, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations; Lord Ricketts, former chair of the UK's intelligence committee under Tony Blair and former national security adviser to David Cameron, former national security advisor and chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee; Ghada Karmi, Palestinian academic and author and joining from Washington Evelyn Farkas, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for President Obama.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a whistle stop tour of the Middle East earlier this week, as part of a frantic diplomatic effort to de-escalate the Israel-Gaza crisis. His visit comes as China calls for a ceasefire in a bid to position itself as the neutral arbiter in the region. US politicians have labelled Russia, China and Iran as the ‘axis of evil' - so should the West be worried? And how have the wars in Ukraine and Gaza deepened those relationships? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ahmed Aboudouh, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CGTN, PBS Newshour, The Times, France 24, United Nations, C-SPAN, Sky News, BBC News, NBC News, The Telegraph, Fox News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Questions over Iran's involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict have run rampant since the terrorist attacks of October. How would the nation benefit from chaos in the Middle East and what would it take for Iran to join the war? Today in The Bunker, Alex Andreou sits down with Dr Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, to ask: what does Iran want? “Iran is not a natural partner with Hamas, they have significant religious differences.” – Dr Sanam Vakil “There is a concern that escalation can come not because of choice but because of mistakes." – Dr Sanam Vakil “Iran is exploiting deep divisions between the global north and south over this war.” – Dr Sanam Vakil  www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producers: Liam Tait and Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, We embark on a thought-provoking journey into the realm of China's involvement in conflict resolution within the region. Your host, Jonathan Fulton, is joined by the insightful voices of Helena Legarda and Dr. Sanam Vakil. Together, they dissect China's strategic approach to mediating conflicts and its consequential impact on the Middle East.Amidst a landscape seeking fresh perspectives in conflict resolution, a pertinent question emerges: Can China wield transformative influence? As we navigate the intricate terrain, we invite you to delve into the nuances, obstacles, and potential avenues presented by China's mediation role in this dynamic region. Brace yourselves for an enlightening discourse that promises to reshape your vantage point on global politics.TakeawaysChina's Mediation Quest in the Middle EastCraving China's Role: Appetite for InvolvementChina's Rise: Crafting a Responsible Power ImageNon-Interference Story: China's Investment NarrativeDeep Dilemma: Skepticism on Complex InvolvementUnfolding Potential: China's Gradual Mediation RoleHope Amidst Doubt: China's Complex InvolvementGeopolitical Ambitions: China's Shaping InfluenceDiplomatic Magic: China's Outreach and PersonaEconomic Drive: China's Role in StabilityQuotes"Change awaits. Yet, for now, our reality is navigating these inner boundaries and encapsulated processes shapes our path forward." – Helena Legarda"Bridging the ambition-action gap can reshape the region, inspiring meaningful dialogues and enduring resolutions." – Dr. Sanam VakilFeatured in the EpisodeJonathan FultonNonresident Senior Fellow for Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council. Assistant Professor of Political Science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabihttps://ae.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fulton-2627414bhttps://twitter.com/jonathandfultonHelena LegardaLead Analyst, Mercator Institute for China Studies(MERICS) In Berlinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hlegarda/Dr. Sanam VakilDirector of Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham Househttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sanam-vakil-6b036b3a/Chapters00:12 - Introduction01:59 - Global Ambitions: Mediation and Geopolitical Dynamics08:17 - Economic Engagement: China's Rising Role12:14 - Commitment Gaps: China's Mediation Challenges14:23 - Tensions and Uncertainties: China's Role in Saudi Arabia and Iran18:25 - Geopolitical Partnerships: China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia22:51 - Limitations Unveiled: China's Struggles in Conflict Mediation27:29 - Global Reach: China's Quest for Influence31:52 - Unraveling Israel-Palestine Peace Plans34:01 - Middle East's Reaction to China's Involvement37:44 - GCC Tensions: China's Priorities and Missteps40:24 - Iran's Concerns: Analyzing China's Rising Influence41:22 - OutroProduced by Heartcast Mediawww.heartcastmedia.com

Arab Digest editor William Law's guest this week is Renad Mansour, a Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme and the Project Director of the Iraq Initiative at London's Chatham House. Their conversation ranges widely, looking at the current government in place for nearly a year, the continuing role of Iran, what needs to happen to curb the corruption throttling the country and the determination of young Iraqis to replace a system that denies them with one that empowers their hopes and enables their aspirations. Sign up NOW at ArabDigest.org for free to join the club and start receiving our daily newsletter & weekly podcasts.

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by Iran's so-called ‘morality police' - enforcers of Iran's Islamic dress code - sparked widespread anti-government protests across the country. Thousands of mostly young Iranians took to the streets. Women burnt their headscarves in a defiant act of resistance and cut their hair in solidarity. Next week marks a year since the death of Ms Amini who allegedly had hair visible under her headscarf when she was arrested in Tehran on the 13 September. She fell into a coma shortly after collapsing at a detention centre and died three days later in hospital. The force denies reports officers beat her head with a baton and banged it against one of their vehicles. Despite the protests, the Iranian parliament are currently debating a Hijab and Chastity Bill that could impose a raft of new punishments on women who fail to wear the headscarf. At the same time, President Ebrahim Raisi is under mounting domestic pressure to deal with Iran's economy dogged by ongoing sanctions, spiralling living costs and rampant inflation. So, a year on, what has changed? What do the protests reveal about the complexity of Iranian society? How much of a factor is Iran's economic troubles? Despite the unrest, many still support Iran's conservative government so what are their views on the situation? Shaun Ley is joined by: Azadeh Moaveni, Director of Global Journalism at New York University Sanam Vakil, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House Haleh Esfandiari, Director Emerita, Middle East Program, Wilson Center Also featuring: Dr Seyed Mohammed Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran An anonymous teacher in Tehran who attended the protests Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group Photo: Iranian women walk past a cleric in a street in Tehran, Iran, 19 September 2022. Credit: ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, we hear from Professor Yossi Mekelberg, an Associate Fellow for the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. We ask him what it will take to normalise diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, if Joe Biden has any chance of achieving peace in the Middle East before the elections, and whether Palestinians could finally be guaranteed their own state.

This week on the podcast we look at the latest developments relating to Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO. This week the Hungarian parliament finally ratified Finland's membership to the alliance, two weeks after President Erdogan in Turkey gave his seal of approval following a meeting with the Finnish president. Sweden however remains trapped in limbo, with both Turkey and Hungary delaying Stockholm's membership and Erdogan in particular asking for more concessions. We discuss why Turkey and Hungary took issue with Sweden and Finland, what the strategic situation in the Baltic looks like now with only Finland in NATO, and the challenges facing Sweden amid fraught ties with President Erdogan? We also look ahead to Turkey's presidential election in May. Recent opinion polls point to a neck-and-neck race with some polls even showing President Erdogan falling behind the opposition. Turkish voters cast their votes on 14 May, so we discuss what the sentiment is like in Turkey ahead of the election, and how will the world respond to a potential change of power in Ankara for the first time in 20 years? Joining Bronwen Maddox on the podcast his week is Henri Vanhanen, a Research Fellow with Finnish Institute of International Affairs and Galip Dalay, an Associate Fellow with our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our expertise: Russian nuclear intimidation The Abraham Accords and Israel–UAE normalization Russia's aggression and a crisis for multilateralism Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Alex Moyler

This week on the podcast we mark twenty years since the start of the invasion of Iraq led by the US. Launched amid fears that Saddam Hussein was acquiring weapons of mass destruction, the war changed the Middle East and inflicted huge damage on Iraq and many civilian casualties, with effects that persist today. We discuss the invasion with those who were in power here in London when the decision was made to commit UK forces to the invasion, and with those in Iraq who lived with the consequences.    Joining Bronwen Maddox on the podcast is Clare Short, the former Secretary of State for International Development, who served in Tony Blair's cabinet and resigned after the invasion began, becoming one of the best-known critics of Prime Minister Blair's approach to the war. Joining her is Dr Patricia Lewis, the Director of our International Security programm; Dr Lina Khatib, the Director of our Middle East, and North Africa Programme; Dr Renad Mansour is a Senior Research Fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme and the Project Director of our Iraq Initiative and Hayder Al-Shakeri, a Research Associate with the MENAP programme.  Read our expertise: From Iraq to Ukraine: What did governments learn? Iraq 20 years on: Insider reflections on the war and its aftermath What two decades of Iraqi struggles can teach us about modern conflict Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Matthew Docherty.

In Iran, since September the country has been swept by thousands of women-led protests, demanding an end to the morality police and the even the fall of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile at Chatham House this week, we hosted our long-awaited Iraq conference, which delved heavily into the multiple challenges facing Iraq two decades on from the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Joining Bronwen Maddox on the podcast this week are Dr Sanam Vakil, the Deputy Director of our Middle East and North Africa programme, Dr Renad Mansour, a Senior Research Fellow, for the Middle East and North Africa Programme and the Project Director of our Iraq Initiative and Sanya Burgess, a digital investigations journalist with Sky News. Read our expertise: Iraq initiative conference 2022 The Sadrist movement in Iraq Iran protests highlight its crisis of legitimacy Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Robin Gardner.

Arab Digest editor William Law's guest this week is Lina Khatib, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the London-based think tank Chatham House. Their conversation focusses on the political and business elites that are plundering Lebanon. Ordinary people are suffering huge deprivation, with 80% of the population now below the poverty line, as the economic crisis caused by the insatiable greed of the elites grows ever deeper. Sign up NOW at ArabDigest.org for free to join the club and start receiving our daily newsletter & podcasts.

In the midst of economic collapse and ongoing demonstrations, Lebanese citizens were awaiting the verdict of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was to issue its ruling on the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on August 7th. However, days before this announcement, Beirut was devastated by an explosion that left thousands homeless, wounded, or dead. In response to accusations of negligence, the Lebanese cabinet soon resigned en masse, leading many to wonder how the relief process will move forward. Will the verdict of the Special Tribunal, now to be released on August 18th, introduce accountability to a country plagued by turmoil? Join us when Nadim Shehadi, Executive Director of the Lebanese American Universtiy New York Headquarters and Academic Center and Associate Fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, discusses the forces that led Lebanon to such a tragic situation.---This Virtual Briefing Series event was originally hosted on August 20th, 2020.Upcoming events: https://network2020.org/upcoming-events/ Follow us at:Twitter: @Network2020LinkedIn: Network 20/20Facebook: @network2020Instagram: @network_2020Follow us at:Network2020.orgTwitter: @Network2020LinkedIn: Network 20/20Facebook: @network2020Instagram: @network_2020

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Tehran for meetings with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This week on The New Arab Voice, we're exploring the relations between Russia and Iran. What is the current state of relations between the two countries? How has the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected the relationship? Are Russia and Iran now competitors in the black market for oil? Will Iran provide Russia with its domestically produced military drones. This week, we speak with Sanam Vakil (@SanamVakil), Deputy Head & Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House (@CH_MENAP), and Hamidreza Azizi (@HamidRezaAz), CATS Fellow at the German Institute for International Security Affairs, focusing on Iranian foreign policy. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge). Theme music by Omar al-Fil (@elepheel). Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk

This webinar, as part of the LSE Middle East Centre's Kurdish Studies Series, was the launch of Marouf Cabi's latest book 'The Formation of Modern Kurdish Society in Iran: Modernity, Modernization and Social Change 1921-1979' published by Bloomsbury Publishing. Although the Kurds have attracted widespread international attention, Iranian Kurdistan has been largely overlooked. This book examines the consequences of modernity and modernisation for Iran's Kurdish society in the 20th century. Marouf Cabi argues that while state-led modernisation integrated the Kurds in modern Iran, the homogenisation of identity and culture also resulted in their vigorous pursuit of their political and cultural rights. Focusing on the dual process of state-led modernisation and homogenisation of identity and culture, Cabi examines the consequences of modernity and modernisation for the socioeconomic, cultural, and political structures as well as for gender relations. It is the consequences of this dynamic dual process that explains the modern structures of Iran's Kurdish society, on the one hand, and its intimate relationship with Iran as a historical, geographical, and political entity, on the other. Using Persian, Kurdish and English sources, the book explores the transformation of Kurdish society between the Second World War and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, with a special focus on the era of the 'White Revolution' during the 1960s and 1970s. Marouf Cabi is a historian focusing on Iran and its ethnic structures from World War II to present day. His most recent articles include “The Roots and the Consequences of the Iranian Revolution: A Kurdish Perspective” (2020) and “The Duality of Official and Local: Historical and Intellectual Foundations” (2021) both published in Middle East Studies. His PhD (2019) thesis explores the impact of the modernisation of Iran on twentieth-century Kurdish society. He has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate courses on Introduction to Middle Eastern History and Middle Eastern Cultural and Literary Contexts at the University of St Andrews. He also regularly presents his research in Kurdish and Iranian communities in Europe. For more on his works see https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7259-4504. Robert Lowe is Deputy Director of the Middle East Centre and co-convenor of the Centre's Kurdish Studies Series. His main research interest is Kurdish politics, with particular focus on the Kurdish movement in Syria. Robert was Manager and Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House from 2001–2010. He held a Research Fellowship from The Leverhulme Trust from 2008 to 2010 and was an Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, from 2008 to 2010.

A wave of protests are sweeping through Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. Retribution in Iraq and Iran has been swift and savage, and hundreds of young people have been killed - but what lies behind the unrest? David Aaronovitch explores the common themes - unemployment, crony sectarianism, corruption and hopelessness. These were the issues that led countless thousands onto the streets in many middle eastern countries during the Arab Spring ten years ago. What lessons have governments and protesters learnt since then? The young people are hoping for sustained political and economic change this time. What chance is there of that happening? CONTRIBUTORS: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East EditorDr Lena Khatib, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham HouseMichael Safi, International Correspondent, The GuardianPesha Magid, Journalist Lizzie Porter, Journalist Producer: Rosamund Jones Editor: Jasper Corbett