By Fatemeh Salehi

Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and its internal crises

The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council nowadays, instead of focusing on ‘cooperation’, has turned into a hotbed of tension among Arab countries.

By Salman Parviz

PGCC migrant labor camps Covid-19 hotspots

Impoverished migrant workers desperate, unable to return home

The two things the six Persian Gulf Co-operation Council (PGCC) member countries rely most on are revenue from oil/gas exports and foreign workers, both have been hit hard due to Covid-19 outbreak. 

By staff and agency

MBS asks new Iraqi PM to mediate between Riyadh and Tehran: Middle East Eye

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has asked new Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to mediate between the Saudi kingdom and Iran, senior Iraqi political sources have told Middle East Eye.

By Salman Parviz

Saudis react to economic squeeze

Saudi Arabia and the UAE introduced the five percent Value Added Tax (VAT) in January of 2018, a first for the Persian Gulf region which had long prided itself on its tax-free, cradle-to-grave welfare system. On the same day, Saudi Arabia announced a petrol price hike of 127 percent. Measures were taken to boost revenues, cut spending, and lowering the ballooning budget deficits.

When self-deceiving MBS imagines himself as super hero in a supposed David-and-Goliath-style story!

The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS), the de facto ruler in Riyadh, has proved that he can't tolerate any opposite view, any dissident or any criticism in any field as the MBS imagines that his thoughts have their roots in somewhere out of the world, unaware that his self-deceiving character has caused even his close friends to abandon him gradually.     

Iran’s Foreign Ministry slams UK for huge arms exports to Saudi Arabia to pound Yemen

Tehran reaffirms support for Yemen’s unity, territorial integrity

TEHRAN — Tehran has reaffirmed its support for Yemen’s unity and territorial integrity, condemning Saudi Arabia for pushing Yemen on the brink of the worst humanitarian crisis, according to the Foreign Ministry website.

Iran submits bid to host 2027 AFC Asian Cup

TEHRAN – Iran has officially submitted its bid for hosting the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, the spokesman of the national federation confirmed on Sunday.

Iran says SIPRI report reveals who is advancing arms race in region

TEHRAN - Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said on Monday that the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s report on 2019 world military expenditure is quite revealing about who is advancing arms race in the West Asia region.

How Saudis victimize OPEC members for the sake of Trump's wealthy supporters!

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's so-called oil war against Russia and Riyadh's move to increase oil supply and subsequent drop in price just helped Donald Trump's wealthy supporters cope easier with decline in the US oil production due to COVID-19 restrictions, a senior economic expert said, noting that OPEC members have realized that they have been victimized by MbS for the sake Saudis' American friends.

U.S. must stop supporting Saudis' war on Yemen as COVID-19 hitting the poor nation

The United States should step up immediately and withdraw support for the Saudi war efforts in Yemen as the war-hit country has registered the first cases of coronavirus infection which can kill millions of Yemenis easier than any other nation, an expert in the battlefield issues underscored. 

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Yemeni forces have little reason to trust Saudi proclamations: Prof. Cavell

TEHRAN– The history of Saudi deception and dishonesty has led to Yemeni forces’ distrust towards their announcements, says professor of political science Colin S. Cavell.

Temporary Saudi ceasefire in Yemen not solution: advisor

TEHRAN — Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian Parliament speaker, says Saudi Arabia’s ceasefire in Yemen, which is intended to rebuild its forces to resume aggression, is not the solution to the Yemeni problem.

By: Ebrahim Fallahi

Russia, Saudi end oil feud but is it enough?

TEHRAN – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their non-OPEC allies, on Thursday, reached a tentative agreement to cut the global oil output by at least 10 million barrels for May and June to balance the oil market which literary doesn’t have any more capacity to store the supplied oil.

By Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh

Iran's budget most non-oil reliant in history: energy expert

TEHRAN – Ex-Iranian lawmaker and senior energy expert says despite some concerns about Iran's economy under coronavirus pandemic and the cut in its oil revenues, the country has planned a budget which is the most oil-independent one in its history.

Iran calls Yemen war 'stupid', predicts U.S. will leave Yemen in disgrace

TEHRAN - As the U.S.-backed Saudi war on Yemen enters its sixth year, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement predicting that Washington will be forced to leave Yemen "in disgrace".

By Salman Parviz

COVID-19 cases in the region

As cases soar affected countries scramble to action

TEHRAN - The coronavirus (COVID-19) is thought to have originated in Wuhan, China last December, has spread to more than 135 countries and territories. The global death toll from the virus as of March 16 passed 6,684 with more than 174,134 cases confirmed worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

By Payman Yazdani

Bin Salman fears oppositions from royal family: Zonis

TEHRAN– Professor international political economy believes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's fear of the senior royal family is the reason behind the recent detention of senior royals and top officials earlier this month.

By Zahra Mirzafarjouyan

‘Russia, Iran, Venezuela can team up to confront U.S., SA triggered oil price war’

TEHRAN – Mehmet Ogutcu, Chairman of London Energy Club believes that while the USA, Saudi Arabia, and the Persian Gulf countries can work together in the coming period to influence the markets, Russia can team up with important OPEC producers such as Iran and Venezuela and assume the leadership of non-OPEC producers.

By Payman Yazdani

Reducing oil price would benefit Russia to influence U.S. oil export: energy expert

TEHRAN– Omid Shokri believes that Russia's disagreement with cuts in OPEC Plus production could be a good opportunity for Moscow to influence US oil exports.

By Javad Heirannia

MbS condition will get worse after Salman death: Paul Pillar

TEHRAN – Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA intelligence analyst for 28 years, tells that the death of Salman and the need to select a new king will bring to a head the competition between MBS and those members of the royal family who oppose his acquisition of absolute power.

By Mahdi Azizi

MbS and the risky adventure of seizing the throne

TEHRAN - Informed diplomatic sources have described the continued detentions by bin Salman in Saudi Arabia as the last move by the crown prince to capture the throne.

Tehran urges Riyadh not to politicize coronavirus outbreak

TEHRAN — Tehran has rejected Riyadh’s claim about the reason why the passports of Saudi nationals arriving in Iran are not stamped, urging Saudi Arabia not to politicize the coronavirus disease.

By Salman Parviz

Resurgence of violence as Saudi-Houthi talks collapse

Houthis capture strategic Al-Hazan city, 70,000 displaced

Informal talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis began last September but the resurgence of violence since January has shattered the calm. The United Nations has been trying to re-launch political negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement.

By Javad Heirannia

‘Primary purpose of arresting Saudi’s princes is consolidation of power by MbS’

TEHRAN - Mehran Kamrava, a professor of the Middle East Studies in Georgetown University of Doha, said that “The primary purpose of the arrest of Saudi princes appears to be further consolidation of power by Mohammed bin Salman.”

Detention of Saudi princes related to deterioration of King Salman’s health

TEHRAN – According to the latest reports, Saudi Arabia has detained three members of the royal family on Friday, implying that King Salman bin Abdulaziz is not in good health.

Widespread outbreak of coronavirus in Saudi Arabia and WHO responsibility

TEHRAN - With the spread of coronavirus known as COVID-19 in many countries, some states have attempted to block any information about the outbreak of the virus. 

Widespread outbreak of coronavirus in Saudi Arabia and WHO responsibility

TEHRAN - With the spread of coronavirus known as COVID-19 in many countries, some states have attempted to block any information about the outbreak of the virus. 

By Mohammad Homaeefar

Guardian reporter speaks out on Neda Agha-Soltan, Jamal Khashoggi, Iran International TV, Masih Alinejad

Saeed Kamali Dehghan: I was naive to believe the Western narrative on death of Neda Agha-Soltan

TEHRAN — Guardian journalist Saeed Kamali Dehghan has opened up about an HBO documentary film he co-produced about Neda Agha-Soltan, an Iranian woman who was shot dead in Tehran on June 20, 2009 during the post-election unrest, saying, “I regret making that documentary because I was naive to believe the Western narrative about her death.”

By Salman Parviz

Saudis join shale gas race

If you can’t beat them join them

Saudi Arabia fought a price war aimed at putting the U.S. shale industry out of business just six years ago and ultimately failed. Last week Aramco Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser told Reuters that the company is launching the biggest shale gas development outside the U.S. to boost domestic gas supply to be used to replace oil to firepower generation plants.

By Javad Heirannia

Saudis see Trump as unpredictable and fear who might be the next American President: Askari

TEHRAN – Professor Hossein Askari, an expert on Saudi Arabia who also teaches international business at the George Washington University, believes that “The Saudis see Trump as unpredictable and fear who might be the next American President.”