Category: Middle East

Turkish elections and Erdogan
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Ankara-Tehran relations in the light of upcoming Turkish elections

The upcoming Turkish elections might affect Ankara-Tehran relations if the opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu will defeat the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and, thus, change domestic and foreign policies.

During the meeting between Smailov and Raisi, the parties discussed trade and export between countries
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Central Asia Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Kazakhstan’s plans to increase exports to Iran emphasised Astana’s regional foreign policy

Kazakhstan’s desire to increase exports to Iran might hugely impact geopolitical dynamics in Eurasia, considering Astana’s desire to diversify and enhance its trade and economic partners to decrease Russia and China’s influence and Tehran’s necessity to overcome Western sanctions.

US soldiers in Syria (CENTCOM)
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Terrorism United States

CENTCOM eliminated a senior Islamic State Syria leader and highlighted the US commitment to the Middle East

CENTCOM’s killing of a senior Islamic State Syria leader stressed the US commitment to fighting the terrorist threats and emphasised the persistent instability in the Middle East related to jihadist and terrorist activities.

US Dollar banknote
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 China Middle East Monitoring & Analysis United States

Can Saudi Arabia switch from the US dollar to the Chinese yuan?

Oil transactions between Saudi Arabia and China could be denominated in the Chinese yuan, a significant development in the evolving international economic and geopolitical landscape. If this move happens, it could have far-reaching implications for the US dollar’s status as the dominant global currency, as well as for US-Saudi relations and broader regional dynamics in the Middle East.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Abbas Mousavi.
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Caucasus Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Will Growing tension between Azerbaijan and Iran destabilise the Southern Caucasus?

The recent ‘diplomatic crisis’ between Iran and Azerbaijan, which has involved the Iranian diplomatic staff in Baku, underlined the potential political and military escalation between the countries, whose consequences might hugely influence the security in the South Caucasus.

Iran a geopolitical scenario of the new escalation with Israel and Azerbaijan SpecialEurasia e1680615964621
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Caucasus Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Iran: a geopolitical scenario of the new escalation with Israel and Azerbaijan

The South Caucasus and the Middle East have long been at the epicentre of geopolitical, ideological and ethnic tensions. While the Israel-Iran hybrid war is experiencing a new momentum, ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan might open a second front in which both Tel Aviv and Tehran might be involved.

Iran Special Economic Zone and Special Industrial Zone
Posted in Maps Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Persian Files ISSN 2975-0598

Iran: Special Economic Zones and Trade-Industrial Free Zones Map

Iran has been making great strides towards bolstering its economy and proving itself an attractive investment destination. The key factors driving the country’s economic growth are the Iran Special Economic Zones and the Iran Trade-Industrial Free Zones.

Kosmos vol1 2023 Silvia Boltuc SpecialEurasia
Posted in Monitoring & Analysis Middle East United States

Lo scontro tra Stati Uniti/Israele e Iran riaccende i riflettori sul Medioriente

Questo paper ha come obiettivo quello di analizzare le recenti dinamiche mediorientali e la strategia degli Stati Uniti ed Israele volta a contenere e contrastare la politica estera dell’Iran nella regione.

Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan
Posted in Central Asia Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan continue strengthening investment cooperation and bilateral relations

Recent negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan on investment cooperation confirmed Riyadh’s strategy in Central Asia based on financial support to local governments’ infrastructural projects and humanitarian aid.

Iran Saudi Arabia Middle East globe
Posted in Monitoring & Analysis China Middle East Persian Files ISSN 2975-0598

Riyadh-Tehran reconciliation sponsored by Beijing, what next?

Iran and Saudi Arabia, longtime regional rivals, have agreed to resume friendly diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies after Chinese-led negotiations in Beijing. The two governments announced the agreement via their respective state media agencies and China’s Xinhua News Agency.

Eurasian Economic Union and UAE flag SpecialEurasia
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Central Asia Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

United Arab Emirates and Eurasian Economic Union might establish a free trade zone

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Eurasian Economic Union  (EAEU) member countries discussed the establishment of a free trade zone, which might become a significant step in strengthening Emirati financial and economic presence in the Eurasian geopolitical chessboard and support Russian financial strategy to contrast Western sanctions’ consequences.

FSB officer
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Russia Terrorism

Russian FSB neutralised terrorist organisations’ supporters operating in different regions

In Russia, the detention of five people connected with the terrorist organisation Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and a person linked to Katiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad confirmed FSB’s effort to guarantee regional security and avoid the link between local Russian citizens and terrorist organisations operating in the Middle East.

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman (Credits: Image by Makalu from Pixabay)
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Ukraine

Ukraine conflict, Oman’s mediator role and Tehran’s foreign policy

Following the allegations of Iran being involved in the Ukrainian conflict by delivering weapons to Russia, Tehran has been under severe international pressure and sanctions. Given its good relationship with Iran and its neutral foreign policy, Oman might emerge as a strategic regional mediator and help resolve critical issues such as the revival of the Iranian nuclear deal and the dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Kazan Forum 2023
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Russia

Kazan Forum 2023 e la strategia russa nel mondo islamico

Il forum economico “Russia – Mondo islamico” che si svolgerà a Kazan nel maggio 2023 sottolinea l’importanza che il mondo musulmano ha nella politica estera russa, in special modo a seguito delle imposizioni delle sanzioni occidentali che hanno spinto Mosca a riversare i propri interessi su mercati alternativi.

Qatar and Tajikistan business meeting
Posted in Central Asia Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Tajikistan attracts interests and investments from the Arab-Muslim world: might Qatar become an important regional asset?

The meetings between Tajik representatives and officials from Qatar and the Islamic Development Bank highlighted Tajikistan’s strategy to attract foreign investments from the Arab-Muslim world and Doha’s desire to play a significant role in the local and regional market.

Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union reached an agreement on a free trade zone (Credits: MapChart.net)
Posted in Monitoring & Analysis Middle East Persian Files ISSN 2975-0598

Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union signed an agreement on a Free Trade Zone

The agreement on creating a Free Trade Zone between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union stressed the rising diplomatic and economic efforts that Tehran and Russia are sustaining to counter Western sanctions and find alternative solutions for their economies and import-export activities.

Geopolitical risk Iran and the Caucasus SpecialEurasia
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Caucasus Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Geopolitical risk of Iran and the Caucasus: what to watch in 2023

In 2023, military escalations, domestic political turmoil, and economic crises might increase Iran and the Caucasus’ geopolitical risk and threaten regional security, whose consequences might broadly destabilise the Eurasian strategic chessboard.

Iraq flag
Posted in Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Terrorism

Iraq: the Islamic State continues threatening regional security

Recent violent attacks in Iraq demonstrated that Islamic State continues to pose a severe threat to civilians and security forces, even though the government declared its ‘total defeat’ in 2017.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Zhaparov and the UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri e1670930221441
Posted in Monitoring & Analysis Central Asia Middle East

Kyrgyzstan and the Middle East: Zhaparov discussed joint projects with UAE

Zhaparov’s official visit to Abu Dhabi confirms Kyrgyzstan’s interest in developing an economic partnership with the United Arab Emirates and the Emirati desire to enhance its presence and influence in the Central Asian republic.

Saudi Arabia map
Posted in Monitoring & Analysis China Middle East United States

China’s economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia threatens U.S. regional interests

Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying an official visit to Saudi Arabia to affirm Beijing’s influence in the Gulf and contrast the U.S. presence in the region. 

Turkey military operation in the Middle East
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Geopolitics of Turkey’s military operation in Syria

After the November 13th terrorist bombing attack in Turkey, Ankara started a military operation targeting Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq. While Russia is concentrated on Ukraine and Iran is facing internal turmoil, Turkey is gaining ground in the Middle East.

The President of Turkmenistan Sardar Berdimuhamedov
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Central Asia Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Turkmenistan and United Arab Emirates strengthened their relations

Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates confirms Turkmenistan’s interest in expanding ties with the Gulf monarchies and Abu Dhabi’s desire to increase its presence in Central Asia.

Iran protest in Munich
Posted in Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Persian Files ISSN 2975-0598

Protests in Iran: popular demand or enemy provocations?

The mass demonstrations that swept Iran in the past months have subsided significantly, but the protest mood in the country does not fade away. This analysis investigated international interest in Iranian protests and national political parties.

North Caucasus SpecialEurasia Monitoring Risk Analysis Map
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Caucasus Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Russia

The North Caucasus connects Russia with the Middle East and Africa

The Stavropol territory welcomed representatives from the Middle East and Africa in the event “North Caucasus in the Changing World”, whose goal was to create a link between the region and potential foreign investors and markets.

Avar Theatre in Makhachkala Dagestan
Posted in Monitoring & Analysis Caucasus Kavkaz Files ISSN 2975-0474 Middle East Russia

United Arab Emirates cultural diplomacy in Dagestan

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Russian Federation organised an event in the city of Makhachkala to promote the national culture and create a link with Dagestan, a strategic North Caucasian republic located on the Caspian Sea.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO
Posted in Middle East Monitoring & Analysis Persian Files ISSN 2975-0598

Iranian possible membership in SCO: a geopolitical overview

Iran signed a memorandum of commitment for its permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, enhancing its role in the Eurasian chessboard and strengthening the Moscow-Beijing-Tehran axis.

Central Asia SpecialEurasia Risk Monitoring Map
Posted in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Central Asia Middle East Monitoring & Analysis

Iran’s interests and strategy in Central Asia

Over the years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consolidated its relations with the countries of Central Asia, exploiting either the Persian common ethnic-cultural element or proposing itself as a logistic hub for the energy sector and trade corridors.