In The News

After the United States abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – an international agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear weapons program – and reinstated sanctions, Iran remained defiant, this despite economic hardship accompanyng reduced oil exports and high inflation. The United States expresses a willingness to talk, but Iran refuses without some sanctions relief. “Over the past three...

Conflicts in the Middle East tend to attract interventions and proxy wars with regional players trying to reduce the influence of rivals. A team of writers for the New York Times reports that a shadow war between Israel and Iran is escalating with Israel pushing back at Iran's expansion in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. “Israel accuses Iran of trying to establish an overland arms-supply...

The Syrian government, Russia and Iran continue to conduct air raids against remaining rebel holdouts in northwest Syria. The United Nations reports more than 100 civilians have been killed during the past 10 days with more than 400,000 people displaced during the past three months alone. Syria’s government claims it responds to ceasefire violations, including fighters balking at withdrawing from...