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In his weekly radio show, Middle East Report, on Radio Islam International James M. Dorsey discusses US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's tour of the region, prospects for Israeli resettlement of Gaza, and planned joint Saudi-Iranian naval exercises.
Two recent soccer incidents suggest that beyond optics little has changed in the Saudi-Iranian rivalry since China mediated the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries a year ago.
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We delve into the harrowing experiences of hostages recently freed from 50 days of captivity, revealing the harsh conditions and brutal treatment they endured. Saudi Arabia extends a diplomatic gesture to Iran, proposing a deal to curb Tehran's role in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. A closer examination of the situation at America's borders, as surprise inspections unveil severe overcrowding and extended detentions at CBP facilities. In the Back of the Brief, an unexpected act of nature poses a significant setback to Russia's military capabilities in Crimea. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. Email: PDB@TheFirstTV.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
RR The Wire 2330Z October 21, 2023 PRECEDENCE: ROUTINE RRDTG: 233021Z OCT 23ICOD: 230021Z OCT 23CONTROLS: Public ReleaseQQQQBLUF: ISRAEL CONTINUES TO MANDATE EVAC OF NORTHERN GAZA.-----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East Front: Israeli forces continue to drop leaflets urging a total evacuation of northern Gaza. Leaflets indicate that Israel will likely consider any person north of Wadi Gaza to be a threat. Israeli officials express concern with what is likely to become the Northern Front upon the invasion of Gaza. Local reports indicate small convoys carrying humanitarian aid have crossed the Rafah border crossing, with the Red Crescent taking the lead in distribution of aid resources. How much aid has been distributed is not currently known.Saudi/Iranian relations deepen following talks to impose sanctions on Israel. Sporadic drone attacks continue to target US military bases throughout the Middle East.Europe: Pro-Palestine demonstrations continue to grow in size and severity. In London today, over 100,000 protestors rallied to show support for Palestine.-HomeFront-USA: POL markets tighten as uncertainty in the Middle East impacts crude prices. Perhaps more significantly, OPEC members continue to cut production by 1.3 million BPD. Border Crisis: The US reports a total of 2.47 million encounters for FY 2023, which is the highest number of illegals encountered since records began.-Analyst Comments-While the world awaits Israel's next move, the Arab world is making moves of their own. Saudi Arabia and Iran, two nations which have historically had an icy relationship have experienced a thawing of tensions. Though no confirmation can be obtained, reportedly the IRGC Quds Force commander, BG Ismail Qa'ani has arrived in western Syria to coordinate the various pro-Iranian militant groups staged on the Israeli border. Though the veracity of this reporting cannot be judged, this would be another sign of preparations being made with the expectation of this conflict rapidly expanding. From the nation-state level, down to individual tribes, it is possible that many Islamic groups are putting aside their differences for the time being in order to focus on a common enemy: Israel and the nations that support her. These factors will play a role in everything from economics to general street violence as groups align with their historic allies, and even forge new temporary alliances as well.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst: S2AEND REPORTNNNN
In a rapidly-transforming Middle East, the ascendant roles of China and Russia are reshaping the region's security landscape. This comes in tandem with the startling normalization of relations between erstwhile rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, a move orchestrated by China. Professor Vali Nasr decodes these developments and their potential implications for the United States. This conversation aims to clarify the ever-changing alliances and power equations in the Middle East, as nations endeavor to break away from Western hegemony.
In the latest Contours episode, host Carolyn Moorman sits down with experts Jerome Marston, Katherine Zimmerman, and Alexander Kochenburger to dive into the Yemeni civil war's effects on Yemen's education sector and if recent geopolitical developments, including a protracted cease-fire and Saudi-Iranian normalization, will allow for greater international focus on reconstruction efforts.
Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, discusses reported negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to agree to an unwritten deal. The JCPOA, or Iran nuclear deal, which was a legacy of the Obama administration, seems to be a thing of the past; yet de-escalation and an agreement on a smaller range of issues would be advantageous to both the U.S. and Iranian administrations. As in the case of Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, the role of China, Oman, and Iraq in facilitating these discussions is politically noteworthy. While the U.S. and Iran are nowhere near signing a comprehensive written deal which could be legally enforced and regulated internationally, a more limited unwritten deal would unfreeze at least 7 billion US dollars' worth of Iranian assets, which would go towards purchasing food and medicine for Iranians.
China is becoming ever more important to global affairs. But political and geopolitical challenges, as well as the covid-19 pandemic, have diminished Europeans' ability to engage with Chinese thinkers and understand their views and ideas about the world. In this mini-series, Mark Leonard and Janka Oertel try to change that by engaging in conversations with some of the best Chinese academics, researchers, writers, and journalists on diverse topics in Chinese internal debates that matter most to Europeans. -- In this episode, we are joined by research assistant professor of political science at Tsinghua University, Duan Jiuzhou, who is an expert on the Middle East and North Africa with a special interest in civil-military relations and the political economy of development. Duan talks us through how Chinese scholars view the dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as China's role in the region. Which countries do Chinese experts view as the major players? What does the Saudi-Iranian detente mean for China's ambitions as a global peace-broker? And what does the development of Chinese-Middle Eastern relations mean for the world order in the coming decade? China-Egypt Relations During the BRI Era and Beyond by Duan Jiuzhou in Routledge Handbook on China-Middle East Relations Initiative and Visions: Synergy between Development Strategies of China and the Arab States in Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies by Duan Jiuzhou & She Gangzheng This podcast was recorded on 19 May 2023.
On March 10, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced that they had agreed to resume diplomatic relations, in an agreement brokered by the Chinese government. As part of the negotiations, they agreed to continue official visits between the countries, as well as re-open mutual embassies. In recent years, Iran and Saudi Arabia have been jostling for power across the Middle East as regional rivals and as Islamic powers. Beyond being a major diplomatic win for Beijing, what is the impact of the announcement on Israel? Will Saudi Arabia continue to look at Tehran and its nuclear program suspiciously, or has Israel lost a sympathetic ear inside the Saudi kingdom? Joining us to help shine some light on these negotiations is Rafael Castro. He is a political analyst based in Berlin. His writings have appeared in a number of Israeli publications. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehonestreport/message
Episode 26 of the Israel Defense and Diplomacy Forum (IDDF) – with Prof. Chuck Freilich, former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor, and Danny Ayalon, former Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Washington. In this episode, Danny advocates a more forceful response to rocket attacks from Gaza, including the cautious response to the recent round in which Hamas fired 104 rockets at Israel. The threat is unacceptable, he argues, and Israel must launch a major operation to strengthen its deterrence and create new rules of the game. Chuck believes that there is a reason that all governments for the last 20 years, left to right, including the current ultra-right wing one, have refrained from a major response, which is that the cost in lives, primarily of IDF soldiers, will be far greater than the price of the current situation. If and when Israel develops an offensive capability that buys more than a few months, at a price it is willing to pay, he too will advocate offensive action, but for the meantime, he supports reliance primarily on defense. Chuck and Danny then turn to the regional realignment currently underway, in which the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement was a critical turning point. The UAE and other Sunni states are also trying to reduce tensions with Iran, Iran is continuing to expand its influence in the region, including through the current visit by President Raisi to Syria, and Syria is being reintegrated in the Arab world. None of these developments bode well for Israel.Join us as Chuck and Danny agree and disagree, in detail and in-depth, always respectfully, on the critical issues Israel faces.The MirYam Institute. Israel's Future in Israel's Hands.Follow Chuck:https://www.ChuckFreilich.comFollow The MirYam Institute Twitter: https://bit.ly/3jkeUyxFollow Benjamin Anthony Twitter: https://bit.ly/3hZeOe9Like Benjamin Anthony Facebook: https://bit.ly/333Ct93Like The MirYam Institute Facebook: https://bit.ly/2SarHI3Follow Benjamin Anthony Instagram: https://bit.ly/30m6uPGFollow The MirYam Institute Instagram: https://bit.ly/3l5fvED
Whether you call it the Persian Gulf - as the Iranians see it from its Eastern Shore, or the Arabian Gulf from a Western perspective, its waters have always been tense. There are competing regional powers such as Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and even lesser ones that are still energy and economy powerhouses due to their oil wealth and world powers. But recently, calmer winds seem to be blowing in the Gulf, first with a Saudi-Iranian rapprochement helped by China, and now the resumption of relations between Bahrain and Qatar after a six-year break. Does this add up to a new and more peaceful phase in the unfolding history of the Gulf, or is it just a short pause before tensions resume? Panel: - Jonathan Hessen, Host. - Amir Oren, Editor at Large, Host of Watchmen Talk and Powers in Play. - Dr. Nir Boms, Research Fellow, Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University - Mr. Eran Etzion, Former Deputy Head, Israeli National Security Council. Articles on the topic: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/israel-offers-to-broker-sudan-talks/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/iran-saudi-arabia-restore-ties/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/iran-russia-syria-turkey-hold-talks/ You are welcome to join our audience and watch all of our programs - free of charge! TV7 Israel News: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/563/ Jerusalem Studio: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/18738/ TV7 Israel News Editor's Note: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76269/ TV7 Europa Stands: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/82926/ TV7 Powers in Play: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/84954/ TV7 Israel: Watchmen Talk: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76256/ Jerusalem Prays: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/135790/ TV7's Times Observer: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/97531/ TV7's Middle East Review: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/997755/ My Brother's Keeper: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/53719/ This week in 60 seconds: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/123456/ Those who wish can send prayer requests to TV7 Israel News in the following ways: Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Email: israelnews@tv7.fi Please be sure to mention your first name and country of residence. Any attached videos should not exceed 20 seconds in duration. #IsraelNews #tv7israelnews #newsupdates Rally behind our vision - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/donate/ To purchase TV7 Israel News merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/tv7-israel-news-store Live view of Jerusalem - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/ Visit our website - http://www.tv7israelnews.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/tv7israelnews Like TV7 Israel News on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Follow TV7 Israel News on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tv7israelnews/ Follow TV7 Israel News on Twitter - https://twitter.com/tv7israelnews
On a relatively lighter note, we welcome national baseball writer for the New York Times, Tyler Kepner, to talk about issues in the sports world in general but more specifically about his latest book “The Grandest Stage: A History Of The World Series.” Also joining the conversation will be friend of the program, Ken Reed, policy director of League of Fans, whose book “How to Save Sports: A Game Plan” has been updated. Plus, Ralph pays tribute to the late activist and entertainer, Harry Belafonte and has some choice words for Bernie Sanders' early endorsement of Joe Biden's 2024 presidential campaign.Tyler Kepner is national baseball writer for the New York Times, where he has covered every World Series Game of the last two decades. He's not just a sports reporter, he's a sports historian. He is the author of K: A History Of Baseball In Ten Pitches, and The Grandest Stage: A History Of The World Series.Certainly, it's the apex of the season— the thing that every fan ultimately looks forward to. The World Series as an event has had some challenges—certainly the Super Bowl has overtaken it in terms of eyeballs. But that's just one game. The World Series is a weeklong event. It's always fascinating to me the history behind it, the way it's managed within the games, the way certain players respond to that spotlight, the way momentum can turn so quickly.Tyler Kepner, author of "The Grandest Stage: A History of the World Series"Dr. Ken Reed is Sports Policy Director for the League of Fans and the author of How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan, Ego vs. Soul in Sports: Essays on Sport at Its Best and Worst, and The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place. Ken's writing has been highly praised by legendary sports writers Robert Lipsyte and Frank Deford, and he is a long-time sports marketing consultant, sports studies instructor, sports issues analyst, columnist, and author.Some people ask me “Why do you hate sports?” or “Why are you so angry about sports?” Ironically, I'm probably one of the most passionate people there are about sports. But I think if you love sports, you have to be angry at some of these issues that we've talked about. I always go back to a RFK quote that I love— “The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country.” And I think that applies to me with sports, and that's why we do what we do at League of Fans.Ken Reed policy director "League of Fans"Harry Belafonte was a great entertainer and a great social activist for justice, civil rights, and African Americans. He grew up in the Caribbean, and he never faltered. He never was co-opted. He never put ambition before his candid statements, again and again, on the violations on the civil rights of people who were powerless.Ralph NaderI think it was a strategic mistake. [Bernie Sanders] endorsed [Joe Biden] without any conditions. He didn't get any commitments from Joe Biden for his endorsement. And because of his leadership role among progressive politicians, he's undermined progressive legislators from holding out and pulling Biden and the corporate Democrats more into progressive territory. I was shocked.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. Who is behind the recent campaign to deregulate child labor? A new Washington Post report finds that a Florida based right-wing think tank called the Foundation for Government Accountability, and its lobbying arm the Opportunity Solutions Project, have been the prime movers behind the laws passed in Arkansas and Iowa, as well as efforts to do the same in Minnesota, Ohio, and Georgia. This campaign goes beyond the pale even for some traditional conservative groups. Randy Zook, president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview that his state's law was “a solution looking for a problem.”2. From the Intercept: The war in Yemen appears to be winding down, as Saudi Arabia and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have agreed to a long-term ceasefire brokered by China. Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, weighed in, saying “Biden promised to end the war in Yemen. Two years into his presidency, China may have delivered on that promise.” This breakthrough comes amid a broader Saudi-Iranian rapprochement – also driven by China – which has taken on the role of peacemaker both in the Middle East and in Ukraine in the absence of strong peace leadership from the US. Rep. Ro Khanna tweeted “It's past time for Saudis to end their brutal eight-year war and blockade on Yemen, as I've advocated for years. This will create the opportunity for the Yemeni people to decide their own political future.”3. Arizona activist Kai Newkirk reports that “By an overwhelming vote, the Arizona Democratic Party...passed a resolution calling on Democrats nationwide — from grassroots activists to party leaders — to pledge to support the winner of the Democratic primary to replace Kyrsten Sinema.” Moreover, Jezebel reports that a new Public Policy Polling survey shows that Ruben Gallego would pull 42 percent of the vote, in a three-way race, with election-denying Republican Kari Lake drawing 35 percent, and Sinema just 14 percent. Sinema also lags behind Gallego in terms of fundraising, bringing in just $2.1 million in the first quarter compared to Gallego's $3.7 million, with just 0.3 percent of her donations were from small dollar donors, per NBC News.4. From Reuters: Reinvigorated with new funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS was able to provide live support to 87% of customer calls this tax season, up from just 15% last year. The average time on hold decreased from 27 minutes to just four.5. A new article in the American Prospect covers the insidious new ways corporations are surveilling and targeting low-income consumers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP. Since the pandemic, the Department of Agriculture has allowed SNAP recipients to order groceries online, but have not erected sufficient data privacy protections. The Center for Digital Democracy, which has monitored the program, finds that the lack of oversight results in this data being exploited by predatory advertisers hawking junk food and even financial products like payday loans.6. Socialist Seattle City Councilor Kshama Sawant announced via Twitter that Seattle has passed her bill to cap late rent fees at $10 per month. The national standard late rent fee is between 5 and 10 percent, meaning this could save renters a considerable chunk of change.7. From Rolling Stone: The film How to Blow Up a Pipeline, adapted from the book of the same name, is causing quite a stir among law enforcement. At least 23 separate federal and sate entities, including the FBI, have sent out at least 35 warnings about the film, which is a work of fiction. The film also holds a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.8. The Lever reports that on Monday, Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi received an award from the American Hospital Association or AHA, for “her incredible efforts in advancing health care.” The Lever alleges that she received this award for “blocking consideration of Medicare for All or any other major reforms to the insurance-based health care system.” The AHA, a top lobbying group for hospitals, raised $129 million in 2021 and represents large hospital chains like CommonSpirit Health, Ascension, and Tenet Healthcare.9. The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that Myles Cosgrove, the police officer who killed Breonna Taylor by mistake in a no-knock search, has been rehired by the Carroll County Sheriff's Department, about one hour northeast of Louisville. Cosgrove was fired by the Louisville Metro Police Department in January 2021.10.The Pentagon has requested an additional $36 million to fund research and treatment for “Havana Syndrome,” per the Intercept. Many doubt the very existence of Havana Syndrome, especially since a US Intelligence assessment in March found that the symptoms were “not caused by [an] energy weapon or foreign adversary,” as had long been alleged.11. According to the Washington Post, The brand-new Smithsonian American Women's History Museum announced last month that Nancy Yao will serve as its founding director. Yao currently runs the New York City-based Museum of Chinese in America and has been sued multiple times for wrongful termination, retaliation against whistleblowers, and protecting sexual harassers.12. Greenpeace USA announced that they have won the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPP case, that they've been embroiled in. The suit was brought against Greenpeace by a Canadian logging company, who sued for $100 million dollars Canadian, in an attempt to “silence and bankrupt” the organization. Greenpeace added that they are “now able to turn our attention to what lays ahead in this continued fight: We can't allow corporate polluters to stand in the way of climate justice by manipulating our legal system and our democracy.” Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
The handshake between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Beijing represents a major win for China and another blow to American interests in the Middle East and Asia. 5) CIA director flies to Saudi Arabia to complain about being blindsided by Saudi-Iranian rapprochement; 4) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. condemns collapse of US influence with Saudis; 3) Law professor falsely accused of sexual assault by AI-powered ChatGPT; 2) Mixed signals in new survey of American Christians; 1) New research claims global warming responsible for some of the increase in home runs in Major League Baseball.
Friday was an open mic. In addition, journalist Khalil Hachem reviewed current events with editor John Mulcahy, ranging from the arraignment of former President Donald Trump to the Saudi-Iranian resumption of relations and the shaping of a new world order. The episode was broadcast on April 7, 2023 US Arab Radio can be heard on wnzk 690 AM, WDMV 700 AM, and WPAT 930 AM. Please visit: www.facebook.com/USArabRadio/ Web site : arabradio.us/ Online Radio: www.radio.net/s/usarabradio Twitter : twitter.com/USArabRadio Instagram : www.instagram.com/usarabradio/ Youtube : US Arab Radio
Chinese government agencies denounce the meeting between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan's leader, Tsai Ing-wen. Google CEO Sundar Pichai says the company plans to add AI features to its search engine. Keith Collins hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group. They talk about the Saudi-Iranian agreement to resume diplomatic ties, how it fits into Iran's wider foreign policy strategy around the region, and the prospects for a broader détente between Iran and its Arab neighbors in the Gulf. Vaez suggests that a regional nuclear agreement between Iran and Arab states in the Gulf might be a more viable path forward than an agreement between Iran and the West. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Caleb Harper, discussing what this all means for U.S. policy toward Iran and in the rest of the region. Ali Vaez, “The Long Twilight of the Islamic Republic,” Foreign Affairs, February 2, 2023. Jon Alterman, "Saudi Arabia Steps Out," CSIS, March 23, 2023. Jon Alterman, "Why Did China Help Saudi Arabia and Iran Resume Diplomatic Ties?" CSIS, March 10, 2023. Transcript, "Iran's Regional Policy," CSIS, April 4, 2023.
China is on a mission to build world peace, but why now? What qualifications do they have to be a mediator? Will the peace they bring about be a stable, lasting one? Are they better than the UN? Is neutrality a core feature of a good third-party mediator? What do they stand to gain from the Saudi Arabia-Iran deal? Is their plan for peace between Ukraine and Russia viable? Is democracy a prerequisite for peace in the modern world? Will globalisation perish or flourish as a result in the rise of transactional peace?So many questions. About 2, maybe 3, answers.00:00 Intro00:57 Context questions: what is going on?02:06 What makes a good mediator?12:24 The quest for global governance15:49 The Saudi-Iran deal21:21 The end of the Russia Ukraine War?24:49: Does it matter that China isn't neutral?30:16 The democracy problem35:19 A new world order?SourcesThe Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-319-74319-6China Daily, Nation hailed for brokering Saudi-Iranian agreement https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/15/WS6411031ea31057c47ebb4741_1.htmlChina's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/202302/t20230224_11030713.htmlThe Economist, The world according to Xi, https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/03/23/the-world-according-to-xiContemporary Peacemaking: Peace Processes, Peacebuilding, and Conflict, Roger Mac Guinty and Anthony Wallis-St. John eds.Support the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod
The Israeli judicial reform conflict erupts. Netanyahu protects our right to share the gospel. Socialism in Our Schools. Will the China brokered Saudi/Iranian agreement last and where does it leave Israel and the United States? These and so many other topics are prophetic and dominating the headlines. We'll analyze these events and more on this edition of The Endtime show!
Scott talks with Trita Parsi about an op-ed he wrote in the New York Times on the Saudi-Iranian agreement to reestablish diplomatic ties. Although the agreement does not mark an end to the rivalry between the two governments, it did establish a way to manage that rivalry with words. Also, the talks were brokered by the Chinese government. Parsi explains why this is a big deal. They also talk about the news that the Saudis agreed to resume ties with Syria in talks brokered by Russia. Discussed on the show: “The U.S. Is Not an Indispensable Peacemaker” (New York Times) “Saudi Arabia, Syria Close to Resuming Ties in Russia-Brokered Talks” (Wall Street Journal) Trita Parsi is the Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and the author of Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy. Parsi is the recipient of the 2010 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. Follow him on Twitter @tparsi. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Download Episode. Scott talks with Trita Parsi about an op-ed he wrote in the New York Times on the Saudi-Iranian agreement to reestablish diplomatic ties. Although the agreement does not mark an end to the rivalry between the two governments, it did establish a way to manage that rivalry with words. Also, the talks were brokered by the Chinese government. Parsi explains why this is a big deal. They also talk about the news that the Saudis agreed to resume ties with Syria in talks brokered by Russia. Discussed on the show: “The U.S. Is Not an Indispensable Peacemaker” (New York Times) “Saudi Arabia, Syria Close to Resuming Ties in Russia-Brokered Talks” (Wall Street Journal) Trita Parsi is the Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and the author of Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy. Parsi is the recipient of the 2010 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. Follow him on Twitter @tparsi. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjY
Episode 23 of the Israel Defense and Diplomacy Forum (IDDF) – with Prof. Chuck Freilich, former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor, and Danny Ayalon, former Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Washington. In this episode, Chuck and Danny interview Avi Bell, a professor of law at Bar Ilan University and University of San Diego. Prof. Bell is also a senior fellow at the Kohelet Policy Forum, which is the think tank behind the current push for far-reaching legal change in Israel. He is an eloquent and well-informed proponent of the reforms and although he did not convince either Chuck or Danny, he certainly presented his case effectively.Following the interview, Chuck and Danny continue their ongoing analysis of the unprecedented legal and political crisis Israel is undergoing. Chuck notes the statements by the heads of virtually all state institutions, including the former heads of the Shin Bet, Mossad, atomic energy committee, chiefs of staff, almost all former Supreme Court justices, attorneys general, and more, who have come out strongly against the proposed changes. Danny is essentially in full agreement and is particularly worried about the impact on relations with the United States. He notes that the Prime Minister has yet to receive an invitation to visit the White House, and the unprecedented nature of Pres. Biden's open criticism of the reforms. Both Chuck and Danny deplore the fact that Israel is totally preoccupied with its domestic convulsions at the expense of dealing with the truly important issues, such as Iran's growing uranium program. They conclude the podcast with a discussion of the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, brokered by China, and its ramifications for the region and Israel. One big question stemming from this rapprochement is whether we are seeing the beginning of the Chinese era in the Middle East, at the expense of the American leadership role in the region.Join Chuck and Danny as they agree and disagree, in detail and in-depth, always respectfully, on the critical issues Israel faces.The MirYam Institute. Israel's Future in Israel's Hands.Follow Chuck:https://www.ChuckFreilich.comFollow The MirYam Institute Twitter: https://bit.ly/3jkeUyxFollow Benjamin Anthony Twitter: https://bit.ly/3hZeOe9Like Benjamin Anthony Facebook: https://bit.ly/333Ct93Like The MirYam Institute Facebook: https://bit.ly/2SarHI3Follow Benjamin Anthony Instagram: https://bit.ly/30m6uPGFollow The MirYam Institute Instagram: https://bit.ly/3l5fvED
On this episode of SEPADPod Simon speaks with Abdolrasool Farzam Divsallar and Eyad Al Refai about the Saudi-Iran deal. Eyad is a Fellow with SEPAD and a PhD Student at Lancaster University. He is the author of a number of articles and opinion pieces on regional security in the Middle East including on transforming the Saudi-Iranian rivalry (with Samira Nasirzadeh). He is on twitter at @eyadalrefaei. Abdolrasool Divsallar is a visiting professor at the Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, focusing on Iran's military affairs, Russia-Iran relations, and Persian Gulf security architecture. He is also a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington. Dr. Divsallar co-founded and led the Regional Security Initiative at the European University Institute (EUI) from 2020-22. He is on twitter at @divsallar. On this episode Simon, Farzam and Eyad talk about the deal and its impact on security and defence policies, how to transform relations, the nuclear question, the role of the US and China, Yemen, Syria and much more.
This week on Sinica, Kaiser welcomes Tuvia Gering of Israel's Institute of National Security Studies, where he focuses on China's relations with Israel and other countries of the Middle East. Tuvia breaks down the agreement to normalize relations between Riyadh and Tehran, which Beijing brokered during secret talks that were only revealed, along with the fruit they bore, on March 10.6:05 – How was China able to broker the Saudi-Iran normalization?17:00 – Notable commitments from Saudi, Iran, and China25:01 – China's non-energy interests in and engagement with the Middle East29:03 – Reactions from world capitals39:28 – Saudi's balancing act between U.S. security partnership and engagement with China49:52 – Implications for China as a mediator in Ukraine and other international conflict zones52:44 – Overview of China-Israel relationsA complete transcript of this podcast is available at TheChinaProject.com.Recommendations:Tuvia: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard on YouTubeKaiser: The Venture of Islam by Marshall G. S. HodgsonMentioned:Tuvia's Discourse Power SubstackThe China-Global South PodcastTuvia's interview with retired PLA Colonel Zhou BoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Pesach and Doug talk with security expert Elliott Chodoff about the recent agreements between Saudi Arabia and Iran that were brokered by China . They look at what it means for the world and US foreign policy, as well as the repercussions for Israel and the Abraham Accords. Don't miss this deep dive into a very serious development on the world stage that may have far-reaching implications for all of us.
On this episode of SEPADPod - the first (that we are aware of) to bring Saudi and Iranian scholars together - Simon speaks with Banafsheh Keynoush and Aziz Alghashian about recent diplomatic developments between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Banafsheh is a scholar of international affairs who has conducted fieldwork in the Middle East for two decades, including in Saudi Arabia and Iran. She is the author of Saudi Arabia and Iran: Friends or Foes? (Palgrave, 2016) and The World Powers and Iran: Before, During and After the Nuclear Deal (Palgrave, 2022). She is on twitter @banafshehkeynoush. Aziz is a Saudi researcher who is fascinated with the elusively of Saudi foreign policy. He obtained a PhD from the University of Essex in 2019 where he taught International Relations, and Politics and Middle Eastern Studies for several years. He is on twitter @azizalghashian. On this episode, Simon, Banafsheh and Aziz talk offer a critical reflection on the normalisation agreement, the drivers of the agreement, how it was received in both countries, the US role, and the importance of scholars and civil society actors in helping transform perceptions of the other. Truly not to be missed.
A Chinese-mediated Saudi-Iranian reconciliation potentially casts a spotlight on fundamentally flawed security policies of regional powers, including not only the kingdom and Iran but also the United Arab Emirates.
Last week, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China. The two countries had broken off ties in 2016, after Saudi authorities executed a prominent Shiite cleric and dissident, prompting protesters in Tehran to sack the Saudi embassy. Last week's deal follows several rounds of talks, hosted by Iraq and Oman over recent years, between Iranian and Saudi officials. It comes at a time of deepening Iranian ties to Russia, with Iran sending weapons to help Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine. In contrast, Tehran's relations with Europe and the U.S. are at a new low, due partly to anger in Western capitals at the Islamic Republic's brutal repression of the protests, often led by young women, that have engulfed the country over recent months. Western leaders are incensed, too, by Iran's support for Russia in Ukraine. Talks over Iran's nuclear program are on hold, even as it has advanced dramatically. This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood is joined by Ali Vaez, Crisis Group's Iran project director and senior adviser to the president, to shed light on the Saudi-Iranian deal, Tehran's evolving foreign relations and the looming crisis over its nuclear program. They discuss the recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia and what both sides, and China, get from the deal. They look at efforts to end Yemen's war and Iran's influence over Huthi rebels. They talk about what is driving the change in Iran's relations with Russia. They also discuss Iran's worsening relations with Europe and the U.S. and prospects for diplomacy to head off a confrontation over its rapidly advancing nuclear capability. For more on the situation, check out our latest Q&A How Beijing Helped Riyadh and Tehran Reach a Detente and Crisis Group's extensive analysis on our Iran country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode focuses on Israel's internal tug-of-war and the Saudi-Iranian thaw as perceived by leading world powers. Other topics for discussion include US policy toward Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confronts Palestinian terrorism as well as domestic anti-government protests, China's success in mediating détente between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and Russian military deals with the Islamic Republic. The panel explores if there has been a real regional realignment with long-range implications concerning all of these current developments. Panel: - Host: Amir Oren, TV7 Editor at Large, Host of TV7 Watchmen Talk. - Amb. Danny Ayalon, Co-host TV7 Middle East Review, Powers-in-Play Panelist, NYU Lecturer, former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the US. - Col. (Ret.) Dr. Eran Lerman, Co-Host of TV7 Middle East Review, Powers in Play Panelist, JISS VP and Editor in Chief of the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune. - Col. (Res.) Miri Eisin, Co-Panelist of TV7 Powers in Play, Israeli Public Diplomacy, Security, Intelligence Expert at the ICT, the Reichman University. - Col. (Res.) Reuven Ben-Shalom, Co-Panelist of TV7 Powers-in-Play, Cross-Cultural Strategist and Associate at the ICT, Reichman University. You are welcome to join our audience and watch all of our programs - free of charge! TV7 Israel News: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/563/ Jerusalem Studio: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/18738/ TV7 Israel News Editor's Note: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76269/ TV7 Europa Stands: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/82926/ TV7 Powers in Play: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/84954/ TV7 Israel: Watchmen Talk: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76256/ Jerusalem Prays: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/135790/ TV7's Times Observer: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/97531/ TV7's Middle East Review: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/997755/ My Brother's Keeper: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/53719/ This week in 60 seconds: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/123456/ Those who wish can send prayer requests to TV7 Israel News in the following ways: Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Email: israelnews@tv7.fi Please be sure to mention your first name and country of residence. Any attached videos should not exceed 20 seconds in duration. #IsraelNews #tv7israelnews #newsupdates Rally behind our vision - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/donate/ To purchase TV7 Israel News merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/tv7-israel-news-store Live view of Jerusalem - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/ Visit our website - http://www.tv7israelnews.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/tv7israelnews Like TV7 Israel News on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Follow TV7 Israel News on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tv7israelnews/ Follow TV7 Israel News on Twitter - https://twitter.com/tv7israelnews
Chinese mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran potentially signals paradigm shifts in Middle Eastern diplomacy and alliances.
Jacob welcomes Kamran Bokhari back to the podcast for an emergency discussion on the normalization of Saudi Arabia-Iran relations announced in China last week. They discuss the interests of all the different players and analyze what to take seriously – and what is just a PR moment. From there, they look at how different countries in the region will see the deal, including Israel, Turkey, and India. After a brief dive into the evolution of the Saudi nation state, they close with thoughts on Kamran's prediction from December that the end of the Iranian regime is nigh.--Timestamps:(0:00) - Intro(1:49) – The Saudi-Iranian-Chinese agreement.(30:20) – Turkey's view + a brief aside on the evolution of Saudi Arabia(47:28) – The role of India52:00 – The future of Iran--CI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognitive-investments/CI Website: https://cognitive.investmentsCI Twitter: https://twitter.com/CognitiveInvestJacob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416/Jacob Twitter: https://twitter.com/JacobShapSubscribe to the Newsletter: https://investments.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=156086d89c91a42d264546df7&id=4e31ca1340--Cognitive Investments is an investment advisory firm, founded in 2019 that provides clients with a nuanced array of financial planning, investment advisory and wealth management services. We aim to grow both our clients' material wealth (i.e. their existing financial assets) and their human wealth (i.e. their ability to make good strategic decisions for their business, family, and career).--Referenced In The Show:--Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on Cognitive Dissidents should be considered as investment advice. Please always do your own research & speak to a financial advisor before putting your money into the markets.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
China just announced that it had brokered a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations, for the first time since they were officially severed in 2016. But this news begs more questions than it answers. To help us understand what it means for Washington, Jerusalem, Beijing, Tehran, and Riyadh, Rich Goldberg joins […]
China just announced that it had brokered a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations, for the first time since they were officially severed in 2016. But this news begs more questions than it answers. To help us understand what it means for Washington, Jerusalem, Beijing, Tehran, and Riyadh, Rich Goldberg joins the podcast. Rich is a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. From 2019-2020, he served as a Director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction for the White House National Security Council. He previously served as a national security staffer in the US Senate and US House. He was a founding staff director of the House U.S.-China Working Group and was among the first Americans ever to visit China's human space launch center. A leader in efforts to expand U.S. missile defense cooperation with Israel, Rich played a key role in U.S. funding for the Iron Dome. Rich is an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve with military experience on the Joint Staff and in Afghanistan.
On this week's Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and CavasShips co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for a deal to raise America's borrowing limit, update on Russia's war on Ukraine and the prospects for deliveries of new capabilities including combat aircraft as two Ukrainian pilots undergo assessment on F-16 simulators, whether Turkey or Hungary will allow Sweden to join NATO, the implications of Moscow's transfer of highly enriched uranium to Beijing, Xi Jinping's new muscular anti-American rhetoric, analysis of the AUKUS deal to be announced Monday by President Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that would equip Australia first with US-made attack subs until a suitable UK design is developed and enters production, first impressions of the Biden administration's $842 billion defense spending request that falls short of expectations, and Beijing's role in brokering a Saudi-Iranian on diplomatic recognition and its implications on the rising strife between Israel and Palestinians.
On this episode of SEPADPod Simon is joined by Edward Wastnidge, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at the Open University where he is also the Director for the International Studies programme. Eddie is the author of a range of publications on Iran and the Middle East and co-director of SEPAD. On this episode, Simon and Eddie talk about their new edited volume with Manchester University Press titled 'Saudi Arabia and Iran: The Struggle to Shape the Middle East'. In a wide ranging conversation Simon and Eddie talk about relationships and rivalries, sectarianism and Islam, moving beyond proxy wars, the importance of time and space, the complexities and contingencies of political life across the Middle East, approaching the study of Saudi-Iranian relations and much more!
Iran nuclear deal negotiations appear frozen and the Biden administration is busy pouring fuel onto the Ukrainian fire and trying to encircle China. To help us understand why attempts to salvage an agreement with Iran have not succeeded, Rania Khalek was joined by Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and orientalism at the University of Tehran. Prof. Marandi also speaks about recent events in the region.TIME CODES0:00 Intro1:56 Why is there no agreement yet? Who's at fault?11:55 Western dishonesty18:34 What do the Europeans want?22:56 Did Russia obstruct an agreement?28:12 American sanctions 31:23 What's wrong with Biden's negotiating team? What do the Americans want?36:27 An escalatory cycle? 41:56 Yemen, Syria, Palestine45:50 Saudi-Iranian talks58:42 Increased cooperation between UAE & Iran1:04:33 America is starving Afghanistan1:11:58 Assassination of IRGC officer in Tehran (we recorded this before the Israelis took credit)1:22:23 The PKK in the region
If one was tasked with coining a catchphrase to sum up Iran's current nuclear policy, it may well be “stall and install.” The new government in Tehran under President Ibrahim Raisi is taking its sweet time in negotiating over prospects of negotiations - trying to squeeze American concessions as the price for drafting a renewed edition of the 2015 deal. While the world waits, the centrifuges keep rolling, racing toward enough fissile material for a single atomic bomb. At the same time, there is an apparent trend in the region to acknowledge the reality of American military withdrawal, with a Saudi-Iranian dialogue conducted in a semi-secret channel. What does it all add up to? Panel: - Jonathan Hessen, Host. - Amir Oren, TV7 Analyst and Host of Watchmen Talk. - Col. (Res.) Reuven Ben-Shalom, Cross-Cultural Strategist and Associate at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Herzliya. - Mr. Meir Javedanfar, Iran lecturer, IDC Herzliya. Articles on the topic: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/iran-saudi-talks-progress/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/eu-iran-not-ready-to-resume-nuclear-talks/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/israel-to-expand-iran-strike-budget/ You are welcome to join our audience and watch all of our programs - free of charge! TV7 Israel News: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/563/ Jerusalem Studio: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/18738/ TV7 Israel News Editor's Note: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76269/ TV7 Israel: Watchmen Talk: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/76256/ Jerusalem Prays: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/135790/ TV7's Times Observer: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/97531/ TV7's Middle East Review: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/997755/ My Brother's Keeper: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/53719/ This week in 60 seconds: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/vod/series/123456/ Those who wish can send prayer requests to TV7 Israel News in the following ways: Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Email: israelnews@tv7.fi Please be sure to mention your first name and country of residence. Any attached videos should not exceed 20 seconds in duration. #IsraelNews #tv7israelnews #newsupdates Rally behind our vision - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/donate/ To purchase TV7 Israel News merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/tv7-israel-news-store Live view of Jerusalem - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/ Visit our website - http://www.tv7israelnews.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/tv7israelnews Like TV7 Israel News on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Follow TV7 Israel News on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tv7israelnews/ Follow TV7 Israel News on Twitter - https://twitter.com/tv7israelnews
Boasting an almost 1,000-kilometer border with Iran and a history of troubled relations between the Iranians and Sunni Muslim militants, including the Taliban, Afghanistan could become a bellwether for the future of the rivalry between the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia.
The leaking in recent months of an alleged 25-year economic and military cooperation agreement between China and Iran has sparked intense debate among Western and Middle Eastern policymakers, pundits and journalists. If indeed signed, the agreement would significantly alter the balance of power in the Middle East, potentially draw China into the Saudi–Iranian conflict, and add one more dimension to tension between the United States and China. The impact of a signed agreement would be magnified by the likely failure of US attempts to persuade the United Nations Security Council to extend an arms embargo that prevents Iran from acquiring conventional weapons. Discussion about the alleged draft agreement inevitably involves debate about China's evolving Middle East policy. Broadly, two camps have emerged in the debate about what is real and what is shadow boxing in reports about the agreement. One school of thought takes the reported draft at face value and focuses on what it would mean for the Middle East as a region as well as individual Middle Eastern states. The other school sees the leaking of the alleged draft as a tactic employed by Iran and China in a bid to advance their separate objectives. Middle East Institute scholars James M Dorsey and Asif Shuja will discuss the two different camps. In doing so, they will provide a basis for discussion of Iran's and China's perspectives on creating a regional security architecture in the region that could reduce tension and help ensure that regional conflicts do not spin out of control.
Kim Ghattas joins Jon to discuss her new book, Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East. Kim and Jon trace 40 years of competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran, starting with 1979 and ending with today. Then, the Middle East Program’s new senior fellow, Natasha Hall, joins Jon and McKinley for a discussion on the U.S. role in Saudi-Iranian competition. Jon Alterman, “Covid-19, the Iranians, and Us,” CSIS, July 21, 2020. Kim Ghattas, “The painful truth for Saudi Arabia: it needs the Iranian regime to survive,” The Guardian, January 29, 2020. Kim Ghattas, “What Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder Tells Us About the Saudi-Iran Rivalry,” The Atlantic, October 2, 2019. Episode transcript, “The History of Saudi-Iranian Competition,” CSIS, July 28, 2020. We would love your feedback! Please follow us @CSISMidEast on Twitter, send us an email at middleeastprogram@csis.org or leave a review on iTunes.
The state of Saudi-Iranian relations and the how Saudi's growing relationship with China might impact the country's economic and political future.
Biggest trend expected in 2020
The crisis in northeastern Syria has for a while pushed from the headlines another regional point, the Saudi-Iranian relationship. A month and a half after Iranian missiles and drones scored a direct hit on major Saudi oil facilities, the Kingdom still seems to be bracing for further attacks, with no effective response and complete dependence on American assistance. Panel: - Jonathan Hessen, host. - Amir Oren, analyst. - Samuel Wilner, Research Fellow at Ezri Center for Iran & Persian Gulf Studies. - Mr. Meir Javedanfar, Iran lecturer, IDC Herzliya. - Dr. Nir Boms, Research fellow, Moshe Dayan center at Tel Aviv University. Articles on the topic: https://www.tv7israelnews.com/saudi-minister-only-maximum-pressure-will-bring-iran-to-negotiations/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/tv7-special-report-us-troop-deployment-to-saudi-arabia/ https://www.tv7israelnews.com/iranian-oil-tanker-struck-by-missiles-off-the-coast-of-saudi-arabia/ #IsraelNews #tv7israelnews #newsupdates Rally behind our vision - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/donate/ Live view of Jerusalem - https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/ Visit our website - http://www.tv7israelnews.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/tv7israelnews Like TV7 Israel News on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tv7israelnews Follow TV7 Israel News on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tv7israelnews/ Follow TV7 Israel News on Twitter - https://twitter.com/tv7israelnews
How two feuding countries are tearing apart the Middle East. The Saudis and Iranians have never actually declared war on each other. Instead, they fight indirectly by supporting opposing sides in other countries and inciting conflicts. This is known as proxy warfare. And it's had a devastating effect on the region. Countries, especially poor ones, can't function if there are larger countries pulling strings within their borders. And that's exactly what's happening in the Middle East. The Saudi-Iranian rivalry has become a fight over influence, and the whole region is a battlefield. Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com
Fears of a potential military conflict with Iran may have opened the door to a Saudi-Iranian dialogue against the backdrop of a rethink of US military logistics, involving at least a gradual partial relocation to the United States of command and control operations based in the Gulf for almost four decades.
A recent ban on a militant, Iranian-backed Shiite group raised the spectre of the Saudi Iranian rivalry spilling onto Nigerian streets as security forces launched a manhunt to find the alleged Boko Haram operatives who killed 65 people attending a funeral.
Yemen is a benighted country just south/southwest of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy has overseen a 2004 Shiite uprising, and directly connected to its existential foe in the Middle East – Iran. The Saudi monarchy pointed its accusatory finger at Iran for stirring up unrest in Yemen, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Saudis, fearing that the Houthi contagion might spread to its own significant Shiite population, decided to enter the fray in 2015 and snuff out this rebellion. But the international community has on the whole been quiet on the war in Yemen. To discuss these issues, we'll be joined today by SAGE International Australia's Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Beyond. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yemen is a benighted country just south/southwest of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy has overseen a 2004 Shiite uprising, and directly connected to its existential foe in the Middle East – Iran. The Saudi monarchy pointed its accusatory finger at Iran for stirring up unrest in Yemen, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Saudis, fearing that the Houthi contagion might spread to its own significant Shiite population, decided to enter the fray in 2015 and snuff out this rebellion. But the international community has on the whole been quiet on the war in Yemen. To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by SAGE International Australia’s Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Beyond. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify. Support the show.
On this episode of SEPADPod Simon speaks with Robert Mason, Associate Professor and Director of the Middle East Studies Center at The American University in Cairo. His research focus is on the international relations of the Middle East, with an emphasis on the Gulf states – particularly Saudi Arabia and Iran – as well as U.S., Russian, U.K. and European Union foreign policy, Islam and the state, security and development studies. Mason is the author of myriad books and articles pertaining to Middle Eastern IR including Reassessing Order and Disorder in the Middle East: Regional Imbalance or Disintegration? (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017) and Foreign Policy in Iran and Saudi Arabia: Economics and Diplomacy in the Middle East,(I. B. Tauris, 2014). On this episode Simon and Robert talk about Saudi-Iranian relations, Israel-Palestine, the Horn of Africa and structural factors that shape relations across the region.
Jonathan Fulton's China's Relations with the Gulf Monarchies (Routledge, 2018) sheds light on China's increasing economic role at a moment that the traditionally dominant role in international oil markets of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers is changing as a result of the United States having become more or less self-sufficient, China replacing the US as the Gulf's foremost export market, and members of the Organization of Oil-Producing Export Countries (OPEC) becoming increasingly dependent on non-OPEC producers like Russia to manipulate prices and regulate supply demand. Fulton's book is also a timely contribution to discussion of the changing global balance of power as Gulf states increasingly see the United States as an unreliable and unpredictable ally. In describing China-Gulf relations as one of “deep inter-dependence,” Fulton charts with three case studies – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – the rapid expansion of the region's economic relations with China and its importance to China's infrastructure and energy-driven Belt and Road initiative even if the Gulf has not been woven into the initiative's architecture as one of its key corridors. The fact that the Gulf is not classified as a corridor suggests the potential pitfalls of China's determination to avoid being sucked into the region's multiple conflicts, including the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and the 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that has so far failed to subjugate the Gulf state. Acknowledging that even though Gulf states welcome China's refusal to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and hope that it can secure its interests through win-win economic cooperation China may not be able to sustain its foreign and defense policy principles, Fulton makes a significant distribution by not only charting and analysing the deepening China-Gulf relationship but suggesting that Chinese policy is in effect putting the building blocks in place to ensure that it can respond to situations in which it ultimately may have to become politically and perhaps even militarily involved. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jonathan Fulton's China's Relations with the Gulf Monarchies (Routledge, 2018) sheds light on China’s increasing economic role at a moment that the traditionally dominant role in international oil markets of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers is changing as a result of the United States having become more or less self-sufficient, China replacing the US as the Gulf’s foremost export market, and members of the Organization of Oil-Producing Export Countries (OPEC) becoming increasingly dependent on non-OPEC producers like Russia to manipulate prices and regulate supply demand. Fulton’s book is also a timely contribution to discussion of the changing global balance of power as Gulf states increasingly see the United States as an unreliable and unpredictable ally. In describing China-Gulf relations as one of “deep inter-dependence,” Fulton charts with three case studies – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – the rapid expansion of the region’s economic relations with China and its importance to China’s infrastructure and energy-driven Belt and Road initiative even if the Gulf has not been woven into the initiative’s architecture as one of its key corridors. The fact that the Gulf is not classified as a corridor suggests the potential pitfalls of China’s determination to avoid being sucked into the region’s multiple conflicts, including the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and the 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that has so far failed to subjugate the Gulf state. Acknowledging that even though Gulf states welcome China’s refusal to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and hope that it can secure its interests through win-win economic cooperation China may not be able to sustain its foreign and defense policy principles, Fulton makes a significant distribution by not only charting and analysing the deepening China-Gulf relationship but suggesting that Chinese policy is in effect putting the building blocks in place to ensure that it can respond to situations in which it ultimately may have to become politically and perhaps even militarily involved. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jonathan Fulton's China's Relations with the Gulf Monarchies (Routledge, 2018) sheds light on China's increasing economic role at a moment that the traditionally dominant role in international oil markets of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers is changing as a result of the United States having become more or less self-sufficient, China replacing the US as the Gulf's foremost export market, and members of the Organization of Oil-Producing Export Countries (OPEC) becoming increasingly dependent on non-OPEC producers like Russia to manipulate prices and regulate supply demand. Fulton's book is also a timely contribution to discussion of the changing global balance of power as Gulf states increasingly see the United States as an unreliable and unpredictable ally. In describing China-Gulf relations as one of “deep inter-dependence,” Fulton charts with three case studies – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – the rapid expansion of the region's economic relations with China and its importance to China's infrastructure and energy-driven Belt and Road initiative even if the Gulf has not been woven into the initiative's architecture as one of its key corridors. The fact that the Gulf is not classified as a corridor suggests the potential pitfalls of China's determination to avoid being sucked into the region's multiple conflicts, including the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and the 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that has so far failed to subjugate the Gulf state. Acknowledging that even though Gulf states welcome China's refusal to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and hope that it can secure its interests through win-win economic cooperation China may not be able to sustain its foreign and defense policy principles, Fulton makes a significant distribution by not only charting and analysing the deepening China-Gulf relationship but suggesting that Chinese policy is in effect putting the building blocks in place to ensure that it can respond to situations in which it ultimately may have to become politically and perhaps even militarily involved. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/national-security
Jonathan Fulton's China's Relations with the Gulf Monarchies (Routledge, 2018) sheds light on China’s increasing economic role at a moment that the traditionally dominant role in international oil markets of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers is changing as a result of the United States having become more or less self-sufficient, China replacing the US as the Gulf’s foremost export market, and members of the Organization of Oil-Producing Export Countries (OPEC) becoming increasingly dependent on non-OPEC producers like Russia to manipulate prices and regulate supply demand. Fulton’s book is also a timely contribution to discussion of the changing global balance of power as Gulf states increasingly see the United States as an unreliable and unpredictable ally. In describing China-Gulf relations as one of “deep inter-dependence,” Fulton charts with three case studies – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – the rapid expansion of the region’s economic relations with China and its importance to China’s infrastructure and energy-driven Belt and Road initiative even if the Gulf has not been woven into the initiative’s architecture as one of its key corridors. The fact that the Gulf is not classified as a corridor suggests the potential pitfalls of China’s determination to avoid being sucked into the region’s multiple conflicts, including the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and the 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that has so far failed to subjugate the Gulf state. Acknowledging that even though Gulf states welcome China’s refusal to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and hope that it can secure its interests through win-win economic cooperation China may not be able to sustain its foreign and defense policy principles, Fulton makes a significant distribution by not only charting and analysing the deepening China-Gulf relationship but suggesting that Chinese policy is in effect putting the building blocks in place to ensure that it can respond to situations in which it ultimately may have to become politically and perhaps even militarily involved. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jonathan Fulton's China's Relations with the Gulf Monarchies (Routledge, 2018) sheds light on China’s increasing economic role at a moment that the traditionally dominant role in international oil markets of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers is changing as a result of the United States having become more or less self-sufficient, China replacing the US as the Gulf’s foremost export market, and members of the Organization of Oil-Producing Export Countries (OPEC) becoming increasingly dependent on non-OPEC producers like Russia to manipulate prices and regulate supply demand. Fulton’s book is also a timely contribution to discussion of the changing global balance of power as Gulf states increasingly see the United States as an unreliable and unpredictable ally. In describing China-Gulf relations as one of “deep inter-dependence,” Fulton charts with three case studies – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – the rapid expansion of the region’s economic relations with China and its importance to China’s infrastructure and energy-driven Belt and Road initiative even if the Gulf has not been woven into the initiative’s architecture as one of its key corridors. The fact that the Gulf is not classified as a corridor suggests the potential pitfalls of China’s determination to avoid being sucked into the region’s multiple conflicts, including the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and the 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that has so far failed to subjugate the Gulf state. Acknowledging that even though Gulf states welcome China’s refusal to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and hope that it can secure its interests through win-win economic cooperation China may not be able to sustain its foreign and defense policy principles, Fulton makes a significant distribution by not only charting and analysing the deepening China-Gulf relationship but suggesting that Chinese policy is in effect putting the building blocks in place to ensure that it can respond to situations in which it ultimately may have to become politically and perhaps even militarily involved. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jonathan Fulton's China's Relations with the Gulf Monarchies (Routledge, 2018) sheds light on China’s increasing economic role at a moment that the traditionally dominant role in international oil markets of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers is changing as a result of the United States having become more or less self-sufficient, China replacing the US as the Gulf’s foremost export market, and members of the Organization of Oil-Producing Export Countries (OPEC) becoming increasingly dependent on non-OPEC producers like Russia to manipulate prices and regulate supply demand. Fulton’s book is also a timely contribution to discussion of the changing global balance of power as Gulf states increasingly see the United States as an unreliable and unpredictable ally. In describing China-Gulf relations as one of “deep inter-dependence,” Fulton charts with three case studies – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – the rapid expansion of the region’s economic relations with China and its importance to China’s infrastructure and energy-driven Belt and Road initiative even if the Gulf has not been woven into the initiative’s architecture as one of its key corridors. The fact that the Gulf is not classified as a corridor suggests the potential pitfalls of China’s determination to avoid being sucked into the region’s multiple conflicts, including the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and the 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that has so far failed to subjugate the Gulf state. Acknowledging that even though Gulf states welcome China’s refusal to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and hope that it can secure its interests through win-win economic cooperation China may not be able to sustain its foreign and defense policy principles, Fulton makes a significant distribution by not only charting and analysing the deepening China-Gulf relationship but suggesting that Chinese policy is in effect putting the building blocks in place to ensure that it can respond to situations in which it ultimately may have to become politically and perhaps even militarily involved. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jonathan Fulton's China's Relations with the Gulf Monarchies (Routledge, 2018) sheds light on China’s increasing economic role at a moment that the traditionally dominant role in international oil markets of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers is changing as a result of the United States having become more or less self-sufficient, China replacing the US as the Gulf’s foremost export market, and members of the Organization of Oil-Producing Export Countries (OPEC) becoming increasingly dependent on non-OPEC producers like Russia to manipulate prices and regulate supply demand. Fulton’s book is also a timely contribution to discussion of the changing global balance of power as Gulf states increasingly see the United States as an unreliable and unpredictable ally. In describing China-Gulf relations as one of “deep inter-dependence,” Fulton charts with three case studies – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – the rapid expansion of the region’s economic relations with China and its importance to China’s infrastructure and energy-driven Belt and Road initiative even if the Gulf has not been woven into the initiative’s architecture as one of its key corridors. The fact that the Gulf is not classified as a corridor suggests the potential pitfalls of China’s determination to avoid being sucked into the region’s multiple conflicts, including the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and the 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that has so far failed to subjugate the Gulf state. Acknowledging that even though Gulf states welcome China’s refusal to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and hope that it can secure its interests through win-win economic cooperation China may not be able to sustain its foreign and defense policy principles, Fulton makes a significant distribution by not only charting and analysing the deepening China-Gulf relationship but suggesting that Chinese policy is in effect putting the building blocks in place to ensure that it can respond to situations in which it ultimately may have to become politically and perhaps even militarily involved. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the latest episode of DipoPod, Jen Psaki interviewed Carnegie senior fellow Karim Sadjadpour and former BBC reporter and Carnegie senior visiting fellow Kim Ghattas to talk about the long standing rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Karim and Kim, experts on the region, discussed how the rivalry impacts the region and the sudden rise of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Saudi Arabia. They also chatted about the shadow of American politics in the region including the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and the recent appointment of John Bolton as U.S. national security adviser. More about Sadjadpour - https://carnegieendowment.org/experts/340 More about Ghattas - https://carnegieendowment.org/experts/1407
Bob Sinche, Amherst Pierpont Global Strategist, predicts U.S. bond yields will go higher next year. Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs Editor, says one of the interesting things to watch in 2018 is the Saudi-Iranian relationship. Jens Nordvig, Exante Data CEO and Founder, foresees an institutional chapter in the cryptocurrency market. Sony Kapoor, Re-Define Managing Director, says he never lost faith in the EU's ability to stay together and be resilient, even in the depths of the European crisis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Bob Sinche, Amherst Pierpont Global Strategist, predicts U.S. bond yields will go higher next year. Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs Editor, says one of the interesting things to watch in 2018 is the Saudi-Iranian relationship. Jens Nordvig, Exante Data CEO and Founder, foresees an institutional chapter in the cryptocurrency market. Sony Kapoor, Re-Define Managing Director, says he never lost faith in the EU's ability to stay together and be resilient, even in the depths of the European crisis.
On this week's podcast, Marc Lynch speaks with Toby Matthiesen about sectarianism in the Gulf, particularly looking at Saudi Arabia and Iran. "What I'm going to try to do in my new project is to look at the impact of the Iranian revolution on Shia movements— and on the regional more broadly— but also the reaction towards Iran," said Matthiesen. "I think we are living in a new era. More spaces have opened up for confrontations, and there's a stronger I 'internationalization' of particular, local conflicts— and a connection to each other, and a correction of that to the broader kind of Saudi-Iranian or Iranian-versus-a-lot-of-others rivalry, which was there to a certain extent before, but the Syrian war has just opened up." Matthiesen is a Senior Research Fellow in the International Relations of the Middle East at the Middle East Centre, St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford. He is the author of several recent books including The Other Saudis: Shi’ism, Dissent and Sectarianism recently published by Cambridge University Press and Sectarian Gulf: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Spring That Wasn't. "In the context of the Arab uprisings, and the crackdown on Shia protest movements, you have almost the whole clerical leadership of the Shia community in Saudi Arabia now backing the state line. Telling people not to protest, not to make any trouble, just stay quiet and basically work together with the ruling family. One of the only people who didn't do that was Nimr al-Nimr and he's been executed. But people from all the different movements— whether they're pro Iranian or anti-Iranian or old clerical families— more or less agree on the politics of no confrontation with the Saudi state." "What I'm trying to do is combine a kind of broad IR, and international history perspective that looks at archives around the world with interviews, and sources from the region, memoirs and publications." said Matthiesen. "History is always written from where we are right now— that's why we write history. So we can't get around that fact. But we obviously shouldn't impose narratives on the past just because we think they are relevant today."
Stephen Sackur talks to the political analysts Mohammad Marandi in Tehran and Jamal Khashoggi in Jeddah. Is there any way to take the heat out of the Saudi-Iranian confrontation?(Photo: Prof Mohammad Marandi, Univesity of Tehran (L) and Jamal Khashoggi, columnist and author)
The international communities' hopes for pushing back ISIS and ending the humanitarian crisis in Syria have been dealt a major blow by Saudi Arabia as it doubles down its regional rivalry with Iran. Vali Nasr, one of the world's top authorities on the Middle East, thinks the worsening conflict between Riyadh and Tehran could be a tipping point for an already dangerously destabilized Middle East.
Sectarian Politics in the Gulf: From the Iraq War to the Arab Uprising Frederic Wehrey, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Middle East Program The spillover of Syria's war into Lebanon and Iraq, combined with the widening involvement of Iran and Saudi Arabia, has spawned dire predictions of sectarian conflict engulfing the entire Middle East. But Shi'a-Sunni tensions are only one layer of a multi-dimensional conflict, often masking deeper political and economic dynamics. And although the Saudi-Iranian rivalry plays a role in aggravating Shi'a-Sunni identities, the real roots of sectarianism are found at the local level—in the weakness of political institutions, economic disparities, and in the elite manipulation of Sunni-Shia differences. Nowhere is this more evident than in the three Gulf Arab states most affected by sectarianism: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.