Russia showed Turkey and China how to bully the EU
The more meekly the EU handles other powers’ aggressive tactics, the more they will be tempted to imitate each other in novel ways to ignore, challenge, and openly attack European interests
Iran
A pragmatic partnership: Why China and Iran try to collaborate
Iran’s rumoured talks with China on a partnership agreement could have significant economic benefits and provide it with valuable geopolitical bargaining chips
Time for a reset: Iraq’s new prime minister and the US-Iran rivalry
Iraq needs to reset its relations with both Tehran and Washington in a way that protects Iraqi sovereignty and allows the central government to reassert control over the security apparatus
How Europe can avert a clash over the Iran arms embargo
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will have to decide whether to support the US cause to extend the UN embargo or oppose it. But neither option is ideal.
How Europe can help Iran fight covid-19
European governments and the EU should press the US to strengthen the humanitarian exemptions in its Iran sanctions
Infected: The impact of the coronavirus on the Middle East and north Africa
The coronavirus has hit the Middle East and north Africa at a time when the region is already burdened with multiple problems, including a series…
Iraq, Iran, and the spectre of US sanctions
European governments must seek to dissuade the US from using Iraq as a new battlefield in its struggle with Iran.
Reformists are dispirited and hard-liners resurgent ahead of Iran’s election
Some elected officials in Tehran are concerned that the security forces are gaining too much control over the political decision-making process. But reformists have been stymied by missteps of their own, as well as by US policy.
A chance for leadership: German foreign policy after the killing of Qassem Soleimani
Germany will need to do some serious soul-searching if it is to effectively de-escalate the Iran crisis and revive the damaged nuclear agreement
Europe’s new gamble: Dispute resolution and the Iran nuclear deal
The dispute resolution mechanism presents the E3 with risks but it could also buy them time to keep the nuclear deal on life support until the US presidential election in November