Top Hamas Figure Urges Relinking With Bashar Al-Assad
Mahmoud al-Zahar, one of the top members of the Hamas leadership is reported by the Iranian press to push for the resumption of relations between the Palestinian organization and the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Iran-Linked Militia Groups Playing Increasing Role in Mosul and Kirkuk Military Operations
A number of leaders of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have told Iran’s Fars News Agency (FNA) that their forces will play a leading military role in “liberating” 3,000 square kilometers of Islamic State-held areas in western Mosul.
Prominent Afghan Jihadi Leader Warns Iran against Supporting Taliban
Prominent Afghan jihadi leader Amir Ismail Khan has warned the Iranian government against providing military and financial assistance to the Taliban militants in Afghanistan.
Iranian Media Welcomes Flynn’s Resignation but U.S. Iran Policy Won’t Change unless Tehran Moderates Its Behavior
The Iranian media welcomed the resignation of Michael Flynn as the U.S. national security adviser, but cautioned that Washington would continue to pursue hostile policies against the Islamic Republic.
Iran Welcomes New “Attacking” Hamas Leadership
The rise of Yehya Sinwar to lead the Hamas organization in Gaza has been welcomed by Tehran.
Erdogan’s G.C.C. Trip Unnerves Tehran
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official trip to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar has prompted anxiety in Tehran. Erdogan arrived in Riyadh on Monday night after a visit to Bahrain, and he is scheduled to go to Qatar next.
Top Russian Official Cancels Trip to Tehran in Anger
Iranian media have been speculating about reasons why Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitryi Rogozin this week canceled his planned trip to Tehran. Rogozin was due to hold talks with top Iranian officials, including Defense Minister Hossein Dehgan.
Rouhani Called Out for Not Fulfilling Election Promise of Releasing Political Prisoners
The U.S. Department of State released a statement this afternoon calling for the immediate release of former Iranian opposition leaders and presidential candidates Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, as well as Mousavi’s wife and women’s rights activist Zahra Rahnavard.
Monday Briefing: Highs and Lows Before Trump-Netanyahu Meeting
In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Eran Etzion, Alex Vatanka, Gerald Feierstein, Randa Slim, W. Robert Pearson, and Marvin G.
Iran Risks Military Clash with U.S. Navy by Sending Weapons to Houthis
The New York Times reported on February 12 that Defense secretary Jim Mattis last week was exploring whether the U.S. Navy should “intercept and board an Iranian ship to look for contraband weapons possibly headed to Houthi fighters in Yemen.” But according to unnamed U.S.
Designating I.R.G.C. a Terror Organization Could Undo Iran Nuclear Deal
U.S. media reports that the Trump White House might list Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) as a terrorist entity has been met by considerable trepidation in Tehran.