Iran
Iran keeps saying it’s nuking up – despite what its Western apologists say
The same problem keeps occurring for the megaphones of Iranian propaganda in the West: they keep being let down by their own side. Every time another op-ed appears in the… Continue reading
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An arms race in the Middle East is a real possibility
The war with Iran has already been raging for many months. So far, Western powers have largely confined themselves to covert operations designed to thwart Tehran’s nuclear aspirations. However, the… Continue reading
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‘Unprecedented’ sanctions could still be powerless
Are sanctions among the most pointless tools in contemporary diplomacy? That certainly seems to be the case in Syria where sanctions have been in place against the Assad regime ever… Continue reading
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Iran and oil are still on the agenda
For all the talk about Greece and France and the Eurozone, it’s telling just how much our politicians are focusing on Iran. Indeed, some of the most concrete political settlements… Continue reading
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Encouraging signs from talks with Iran
The weekend’s six power talks with the Iranians about their nuclear programme were more fruitful than many, including I, expected. It seems that the EU sanctions on Iranian oil and… Continue reading
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Behind Galloway’s grin
George Galloway has tragically demonstrated that sectarian politics are now alive and well in Britain. The other week Ken Livingstone appeared at a London mosque and promised to make London… Continue reading
49 CommentsToday in Stupidity: Who Lost Syria?
Perhaps I should apologise to Leon Wieseltier? His recent column is not a patch on Jennifer Rubin’s latest screed which may be the most stupid and contemptible thing I’ve yet… Continue reading
6 CommentsWar Games: Syria & Iran Edition
The past is always a different, better place and never more so than when commentators dip into American history to salvage some justification for their favoured approach to any contemporary… Continue reading
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Will Israel strike?
While we’re on the subject of conflict in the Middle East, it’s worth pointing out the cover story to this week’s edition of the magazine. It’s by the Atlantic’s Jeffrey… Continue reading
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McCain’s on the warpath (again)
Senator John McCain was on the radio again this morning, urging us to intervene on behalf of Syria’s rebels. ‘It’s not a fair fight,’ he said, as if that were… Continue reading
27 CommentsIran Hawks Circling
At National Review, Mario Loyola offers a pretty succinct summary of the conservative (that is, American conservative) case for attacking Iran: [I]n an editorial, the Wall Street Journal makes the same… Continue reading
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Hague’s ‘Cold War’ warning
William Hague has gazed into his Middle Eastern crystal ball and doesn’t like what he sees. In an interview in today’s Telegraph, he says of Iran: ‘It is a crisis… Continue reading
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Our enemy’s enemy
It’s unusual for The Guardian and The Spectator to agree on anything, but Seamus Milne and our own John R Bradley are sceptical about these Syrian rebels whom we’re being… Continue reading
25 CommentsDoes Iran Actually Want the Bomb?
The obvious answer to this is, Yes of course it does. Were I advising the Iranian regime I’d probably be pretty keen on developing a nuclear capability too. At the… Continue reading
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An Israeli strike on Iran?
Will they or won’t they? Most political parlour games involve a question of this kind and the one about whether Israel will strike Iran – played out regularly in Washington,… Continue reading
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Uncertainty reigns in Syria
The Syrian situation is worsening by the day. Now the Arab League has pulled back its monitors in recognition of their failure to ease the violence. Foreign Secretary William Hague… Continue reading
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Would Iran block the Strait of Hormuz?
With the EU agreeing a new round of sanctions on Iran – outlawing European oil and gas purchases from Iran in six months, freezing Iran’s Central Bank and banning trade… Continue reading
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Push off now, Press TV, and take your conspiracy theories with you
A week that began with an insane decision from the European Court of Human Rights has come to an end with a sensible decision from Ofcom. The Iranian government’s propaganda… Continue reading
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Dire straits
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to intensify, with Defence Secretary Philip Hammond showing that, like his predecessor, he is not shy of pushing back when he gets… Continue reading
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