January 2016
Three Explosions in Damascus Leave at Least 45 Dead
Three explosions in Damascus, claimed by ISIS, have resulted in at least 45 deaths and 40 injuries, occurring near a significant Shia shrine. This violence…
Reactions to France's Position on the Middle East Peace Process
France plans to host an international conference to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the possibility of recognizing Palestine if peace talks fail. Reactions from Palestinian…
Conditional Promise from France to Recognize the State of Palestine
France has announced a conditional promise to recognize Palestine if peace talks with Israel fail. This initiative aims to revive the stalled peace process and…
US Welcomes Syrian Opposition's Decision to Participate in Geneva Talks
The US has welcomed the Syrian opposition's decision to participate in the Geneva peace talks, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid and the implementation of…
Iran: Saudi Arabia Must Stop Provocative Actions in the Region
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister has urged Saudi Arabia to cease actions that escalate regional tensions, particularly regarding Syria. The ongoing conflict between Iran and Saudi…
UN: Syrian Government Ignored Major Humanitarian Aid Requests
The UN has reported that the Syrian government ignored the majority of humanitarian aid requests in 2015, leaving millions in need. Only a small fraction…
Lavrov: Neither Assad asked us for asylum nor did we make such a request
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied that Moscow requested Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down or seek asylum in Russia. He emphasized the importance…
Biden Emphasizes Intensified Efforts to Push Back ISIS from the Turkish Border
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden announced a joint effort with Turkey to combat ISIS along the Turkish-Syrian border, emphasizing military options if peace talks fail.…
Joe Biden Criticizes Freedom of Speech Situation in Turkey
Joe Biden criticized Turkey for its poor record on freedom of speech during a visit to Istanbul, highlighting the detention of journalists and academics. He…
Kremlin: Putin Did Not Ask Assad to Step Down
The Kremlin denied reports that Putin asked Assad to resign, despite Western intelligence sources claiming otherwise. This denial highlights the ongoing support Russia provides to…
Russia: British Commission's Report on Litvinenko's Death Lacks Credibility
The Kremlin has dismissed a British commission's report on Alexander Litvinenko's death as politically motivated and lacking credibility. The report suggests that Litvinenko was likely…
Lift of Sanctions and 'Increased Influence and Power of the Revolutionary Guards'
Reuters reports that the IRGC has gained significantly during international sanctions and will likely benefit the most from the lifting of these sanctions, increasing its…
Defense Ministers of Seven Main Countries in Anti-ISIS Coalition to Meet
Defense ministers from the U.S., France, and five other countries are meeting in Paris to discuss strategies against ISIS and the situation in Libya. This…
Iran Continues Proxy War Against Israel
General Gadi Eisenkot of the Israeli Army claims Iran will continue its proxy wars against Israel through Hezbollah, especially following the implementation of the JCPOA.…
City Under Siege by Assad's Army; Price of Milk for Children is $313!
The city of Madaya is suffering from extreme famine due to a siege by Assad's forces and Hezbollah, with reports of deaths from starvation and…
Massacre of 300 Syrians in Deir ez-Zor by ISIS
ISIS has reportedly killed at least 300 Syrians in a recent massacre in Deir ez-Zor, including many women and children, while also abducting hundreds more.…
Iranian Ambassador Meets with Tajik Foreign Minister
The Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan met with the Tajik foreign minister to discuss cooperation against extremism following Tajikistan's protest over the visit of an opposition…
Houthis Release Two Saudi Nationals in Their Custody
Two Saudi religious teachers held by the Houthis in Yemen for over nine months have been released and returned to Saudi Arabia. Their release coincides…
Tehran to Host Chinese President on January 21 and 22
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Iran on January 21 and 22, leading a high-level delegation to discuss regional issues and sign multiple cooperation agreements.…
Cost and Benefit of Iran in Syria
The article discusses the recent deaths of five Iranian military personnel in Syria, highlighting the ongoing costs of Iran's involvement in the conflict. While Iranian…
Ban Ki-moon: Starving the People in Syria is a War Crime
Ban Ki-moon has condemned the Syrian government's actions leading to famine as war crimes, emphasizing the need for urgent humanitarian aid. Western nations are pushing…
Summoning of Swedish Ambassador in Israel Following Tensions in Bilateral Relations
Israel summoned the Swedish ambassador to protest comments made by Foreign Minister Margot Wallström about the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians. The tensions highlight the deteriorating…
Kremlin: Obama and Putin Call for De-escalation of Tensions Between Tehran and Riyadh
The Kremlin announced that Presidents Obama and Putin have called for reducing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia amid a diplomatic crisis following the execution…
Kuwait Sentences an Iranian Citizen to Death in Absentia
Kuwait has sentenced an Iranian citizen, Abdolreza Heydar, to death in absentia for espionage and planning an attack. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Iran…
Iran's Interior Minister Emphasizes Tehran's Support for the Syrian Government
Iran's Interior Minister reaffirmed Tehran's support for the Syrian government during a visit to Damascus, highlighting Syria's improved position in the conflict. The meeting coincides…
Tajikistan Halts Student Dispatch to Iran
Tajikistan has suspended sending students to Iran due to security concerns and Iran's failure to fulfill its commitments regarding student admissions. This decision follows recent…
Aid to Starving Syrians Delayed
Aid to famine-stricken Syrians has been delayed due to technical issues, with reports of deaths from starvation among besieged populations. The situation is critical as…
De Mistura: Tensions Between Tehran and Riyadh Will Not Affect the Resolution of the Syrian Crisis
UN envoy Stefan de Mistura reported assurances from both Iran and Saudi Arabia that their diplomatic tensions will not hinder the Syrian peace process. The…
Donation of Confidential Documents by Ardshir Zahedi to a University in the U.S.
Ardshir Zahedi, former Iranian Foreign Minister, donated his confidential documents to Stanford University to preserve them and share Iran's historical context with future generations. This…
Iran's Ambassador to Kuwait: The Level of Relations Between the Two Sides Has Not Changed
Iran's ambassador to Kuwait has clarified that relations between Iran and Kuwait remain unchanged despite Kuwait recalling its ambassador following attacks on Saudi diplomatic sites…
The Middle East in the Past Year; Syria
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has resulted in over 250,000 deaths and millions of refugees. In 2015, the conflict intensified with the…
De Mistura's Visit to Riyadh and Tehran to Assess the Consequences of Diplomatic Break
Stefan de Mistura, the UN envoy for Syria, is visiting Riyadh and Tehran to assess the impact of the recent severance of diplomatic relations between…
Hezbollah Lebanon Attacks Israeli Soldiers' Patrol at the Border
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on an Israeli patrol at the Lebanon-Israel border, resulting in casualties among Israeli soldiers. This incident marks a…
Saudi Embassy in Baghdad Reopened After 25 Years
Saudi Arabia has reopened its embassy in Baghdad after 25 years, marking a significant step towards improving relations between the two countries. The new ambassador…