In September, Iraqi Kurds voted 92% in favor of a referendum to transform their self-administered region in northern Iraq, often called Iraqi Kurdistan, into a sovereign nation. Although the referendum failed to yield an immediate result... more
In September, Iraqi Kurds voted 92% in favor of a referendum to transform their self-administered region in northern Iraq, often called Iraqi Kurdistan, into a sovereign nation. Although the referendum failed to yield an immediate result it is a signal to Iraq and the international community that Iraqi Kurdistan will seek to secede from Iraq, although no timeline has been made clear of when this will happen. Iraq reacted critically to the referendum, shutting down the Kurdish airspace and threatened to send troops to quell dissidence in the region. Turkey, a key trading partner with Iraqi Kurdistan, threatened to cut off all trade and to close the Ceyhan-Kirkuk oil pipeline, which passes through Turkey, through which most of Kurdistan's oil flows. Iran, a powerful foreign influence in Iraq, mobilized militia groups loyal to it and sent them to aid the Iraqi Army in the recapturing the key oil-producing city of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces.
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Throughout the course of the Syrian civil war, observers and analysts have made much of Syria’s strategic alliance with both the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran. While both continue to be important allies in Bashar... more
Throughout the course of the Syrian civil war, observers and analysts have made much of Syria’s strategic alliance with both the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran. While both continue to be important allies in Bashar al-Assad’s fight to remain in power, they are not his only friends in high places, however. In a rare interview with Chinese media last month, the Syrian president called China, “a real friend, a friend that you can rely on.”
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It is unlikely in any event that Donald Trump will be able to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin to abandon Russian support for Iran.
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Sudan has been dodging Saudi and Iranian ambitions in Africa for some time now. A discussion is merited on the precedent and reasons for the recent change in Khartoum’s policy towards the Persian Gulf powers.
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Pragmatism seems to be the name of the game in Khartoum, as Sudan drastically shifts its allegiance from one regional superpower, the Islamic Republic of Iran, to the other, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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With the recent announcement that South Africa intends to sell Iran weaponry worth R1.5 billion, including the Umkhonto surface-to-air missile, the country may contend that it is time to change its foreign military sales policy towards... more
With the recent announcement that South Africa intends to sell Iran weaponry worth R1.5 billion, including the Umkhonto surface-to-air missile, the country may contend that it is time to change its foreign military sales policy towards the Persian Gulf region.
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Iran-North Korea relations aren’t as deep or important as Western observers sometimes assume.