DUBAI (Reuters) – An Iranian government spokesman on Saturday described as a “cowardly attack” an incident that Iranian media have called the apparent targeting by missiles of an Iranian-owned oil tanker, and said Iran would respond after the facts had been studied. The tanker Sabiti was hit in Red Sea waters off Saudi Arabia on Friday, Iranian media have reported, ...
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Iran’s Mad Max Navy Could Give Donald Trump a Giant Headache in a War
Key point: In terms of ‘civilian boats,’ the IRGCN musters hundreds of fast-in-short boats are on the pattern of the open-cabin ‘Boston Whaler’ motorboat, typically fitted with unguided rocket launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank missiles and recoilless rifles. On May 16, 2019, U.S. officials cited reports that Iran had installed missiles on civilian motorboats in the Persian Gulf as a justification for ...
Read More »It’s Time to Talk to Iran
With tensions rising in the Middle East and Iran suffering under sanctions, this may be the last best opportunity to walk back from the brink. This month, six years ago, we were in the midst of secret talks with Iran that led to the comprehensive nuclear agreement. It was a moment when diplomacy carried considerable risk, and considerable promise. Today, ...
Read More »What Trump’s “Baffling Decision” Means For The Saudi-Iran Crisis
The attack on an Iranian oil tanker last week reignited tensions between Tehran and Riyadh. Iran and Saudi Arabia had seemingly pulled back from the brink of war last month, and tensions were on the wane as the U.S. and Saudi Arabia showed no appetite for military conflict following last month’s attack on Abqaiq. But on October 11, an Iranian ...
Read More »Iraq protests blamed on ‘malicious hands’ as death toll passes 100
Interior ministry spokesman denies claims security forces clashed with demonstrators An Iraqi interior ministry spokesman has said an investigation is underway to determine how protesters were shot dead during six days of unrest that have killed more than 100 people and injured thousands. Twelve anti-government demonstrators were killed on Sunday in ongoing protests in Baghdad. Saad Maan, a spokesman for ...
Read More »Iraq’s Abdul Mahdi orders inquiry into protester deaths
Prime minister forms new commissions to investigate deaths of more than 100 people in recent anti-government protests. Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has established a commission to investigate the deaths of more than 100 people in recent anti-government protests. In a statement on Saturday, Abdul Mahdi said the inquiry panel will investigate and bring to justice soldiers who acted illegally ...
Read More »Iraq protests are a cry for a better life
In Iraq, we call them the Pubg and Snapchat generations. These are youngsters born shortly before or after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. They are generally considered a hopeless generation since they spend most of their time on social media; the only thing they care about is their hairstyles or looks. I remember the sounds of bullets and ...
Read More »Turkish assault in Syria weakens Iraq Kurds, strengthens regional powers
A Turkish border offensive against Syrian Kurdish forces will further weaken Iraq’s divided Kurds next door and embolden regional rivals who have one thing in common – they want no Kurdish state. The assault, following an American troop pullback that in effect gave Turkey a U.S. green light, alarmed inhabitants of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. It ended Syrian Kurdish rule ...
Read More »Israeli farmers sweat as land they worked for decades to be given back to Jordan
Jerusalem will soon have to cede control of two parcels of land after Amman refused to extend lease outlined in peace accord; tenants say the government has failed them Dozens of Israeli farmers are facing an uncertain future after being informed that the land that they have been working for decades will soon be handed back to Jordan. The area ...
Read More »Basketball legend Michael Jordan lists modern Utah retreat for $7.5 million
Up in the mountains of Utah, Michael Jordan is shooting his shot. The NBA legend has listed a scenic retreat in the affluent ski community of Park City for sale at $7.5 million. Built in 2006, the hillside mansion is owned through a limited liability company tied to Jordan and his associates, records show. The Park City spread is a ...
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