In The News

UK to Look After Own Ships in the Gulf: Guardian

Patrick Wintour July 22, 2019
Britain seized an Iranian ship off Gibraltar for transporting oil to Syria before Iran seized a British ship, with a crew of mostly Indian nationals. Speaking on a US television channel, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US has plans for a military convoy to protect international shipping off the Iranian coast and suggested the UK has a responsibility to protect its own ships....

Iran Crisis – British Oil Tanker Seized: Telegraph

Harriet Alexander and Chris Graham July 21, 2019
Iran seized one British-flagged oil tanker, claiming it had violated international maritime law, and briefly detained another, in what Harriet Alexander and Chris Graham, writing for the Telegraph, called “a major escalation of tensions in the Gulf.” Oil prices are rising. The first vessel had been headed for Saudi Arabia before sailing near an Iranian island and then stopped transmitting...

British Ambassador Resigns: The Independent

Kim Sengupta and Rob Merrick July 10, 2019
British Ambassador to the US Kim Darroch resigned soon after release of his candid assessments describing the US president and his administration as inept and insecure. The UK is in the midst of a prime minister race after Theresa May failed to secure parliamentary agreement on Brexit plans. The candidates: Jeremy Hunt supported Darroch and Boris Johnson declined to do so: “it is understood [...

China Separates Muslim Children From Families: BBC

John Sudworth July 5, 2019
A parent’s love for a child is unconditional, and anxiety is intense during separations when parents can’t be sure of a child’s safety. In the western region of Xinjiang, China is placing Muslim adults in detention camps, sending children to boarding schools, and indoctrinating young and old to reject their faith and embrace Chinese culture and language. China imposes tight controls on the region...

Iran Breaches Nuclear Fuel Limit: Business Insider

Alexandra Ma July 1, 2019
Inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency confirm Iranian reports that the country has exceeded a limit on its enriched uranium hexafluoride as outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal. The United States withdrew from that Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions. Iran initially abided by those limits as requested by the European Union, but announced a change of...

Ending America’s Endless War: Foreign Affairs

Bernie Sanders June 29, 2019
Senator Bernie Sanders, a 2020 Democratic candidate for the US presidential election, has long opposed US intervention in the Middle East, starting with his vote against the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In an essay for Foreign Affairs, he outlines the history of Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and warns of consequences far more severe in a potential war with Iran. Syria, Iraq, Israel and the Persian...

US-Japanese Defense Pact: Japan Times

Tomohiro Osaki June 25, 2019
US President Donald Trump relies on equivocation and impulsivity during negotiations and staff planning – to mask his intentions, seek leverage, and keep adversaries and allies on edge. A report suggested that Trump suggested terminating the 1951 defense pact with Japan, calling it “one-sided.” Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, pointed out that Trump issued a denial and the two countries...