Category: Middle East

Iran Starts Enriching Uranium to 60 Percent, Its Highest Level Ever

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran began enriching uranium Friday to its highest level ever, edging closer to weapons-grade levels to pressure talks in Vienna aimed at restoring its nuclear deal with world powers after an attack on its main atomic site. A top official said only a few grams an hour of uranium gas would be…


Greek, Turkish FMs Meet to Mend Ties, Trade Barbs Instead

ANKARA, Turkey—A meeting aimed to improve fraught ties between NATO allies Greece and Turkey quickly descended into a tense exchange of accusations between the two countries’ foreign ministers on April 15. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias traveled to Ankara to discuss ties with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, following a slight easing of tensions. Appearing…


Iran, World Powers Resume Nuclear Talks Amid Strains Over Enrichment, Natanz Attack

VIENNA—Iran and global powers resumed talks on April 15 to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal in an effort potentially complicated by Tehran’s decision to ramp up uranium enrichment and what it called Israeli sabotage at a nuclear site. Casting a shadow over the Vienna talks, Tehran on April 13 announced its decision to enrich uranium…


Iran’s Enhanced Combat Power Via CCP’s BeiDou Navigation System Threatens US

Right before the United States and Iran were going to hold indirect talks on April 6, the Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers signed a 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement (CSCA) in Tehran on March 27; as part of the agreement, China will provide Iran access to its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) to enhance Iran’s combat…


US Secretary of State Visits Afghanistan in Surprise Trip After Biden’s Withdrawal Announcement

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Afghanistan Thursday, less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden announced all American troops would be leaving the country by Sept. 11. Blinken in the unannounced trip met in Kabul with the country’s president, Ashraf Ghani, and another top official, Abdullah Abdullah. The overarching message was that the United…


France Asks Citizens to Leave Pakistan Amid Violent Protests

LAHORE, Pakistan—The French embassy in Pakistan on Thursday advised all of its nationals and companies to temporarily leave the country after anti-France violence erupted in the Islamic nation over the arrest of a radical leader. Saad Rizvi was arrested Monday for threatening the government with mass protests if it did not expel French envoy Marc…


White House Won’t Say Whether Special Operations Troops Will Remain in Afghanistan After Sept. 11

The White House hasn’t yet announced whether special operations troops will remain in Afghanistan after President Joe Biden on April 14 outlined a drawdown of combat troops in the region that will begin May 1 and conclude by Sept. 11. Special operations troops were the first deployed in the war in Afghanistan nearly two decades…


White House Won’t Say Whether Special Operations Troops Will Remain in Afghanistan After September 11

The White House hasn’t yet announced whether special operations troops will remain in Afghanistan after President Joe Biden on April 14 outlined a drawdown of combat troops in the region that will begin May 1 and conclude by Sept. 11. Special operations troops were the first deployed in the war in Afghanistan nearly two decades…


Biden Announces US Troops Will Be Withdrawn From Afghanistan

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that he will move to bring American troops in Afghanistan home after nearly 20 years and after his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, attempted to draw down troops several times. “We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal…


Biden Says US Troops to Be Withdrawn From Afghanistan by Sept. 11

President Joe Biden announced on April 14 that he will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, after nearly 20 years and after his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, attempted several times to draw down troop levels. “We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to…