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Iranians ride their motorbike past a huge banner of former Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani ahead of the sixth anniversary of his assassination, in Tehran, Dec. 31, 2025.

Analysis

Why IRGC’s shadow empire is set to endure even as Iran’s economy spirals

With the ability to operate clandestinely, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps wields significant power across Iran's most important sectors — insulating the organization from current economic turmoil, according to experts.

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

03/04/2021 Asalouyeh, Iran. A view of refinery No. 2 (Phases 2, 3) of the? South Pars Gas-Condensate field in Asalouyeh Seaport, north of the Persian? Gulf in Iran.The South Pars Gas-Condensate field, the world's largest natural gas field, is shared with Qatar (North Dome) (Photo by Saeid Arabzadeh / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by SAEID ARABZADEH/Middle East Images /AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

New nuclear deal is no silver bullet for Iran's untapped gas reserves

Iran has an estimated 32 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, but it has been unable to exploit them under the weight of international sanctions.

By Jack Dutton

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Analysis

Will 2026 be year of electoral change in Palestine?

A crowded 2026 election calendar announced by President Mahmoud Abbas — spanning municipal, PNC and Fatah votes — is billed as a long-delayed reform push but leaves unresolved whether Palestinians will see genuine political renewal or a managed process that entrenches existing power structures.

By Daoud Kuttab

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, ahead of talks with the US in Muscat, Oman on Feb. 6, 2026.

Analysis

Why Iran is facing hard choices after Oman nuclear talks

Iran and the United States ended Friday's talks in Muscat without a breakthrough, preserving diplomacy but deepening uncertainty as military pressure, hard-line rhetoric and military tensions intensify.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

A man holds a poster of Abdullah Ocalan, Turkish-jailed founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), during a gathering of Turkish Kurds for Nowruz celebrations in Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey, on March 21, 2025.

Analysis

Moving Iran talks from Turkey to Oman deepens Ankara’s PKK concerns

Ankara is brushing off Tehran’s venue switch to Oman, but fears Iran’s nuclear-only stance is shrinking diplomatic space and heightening the risk of US military escalation.

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Analysis

Saudi-backed airline to test Syria’s aviation recovery

This picture shows a Syrian Arab Airlines Airbus A320-200 aircraft and the control tower at Damascus international airport as the new Syrian authorities prepare to reopen it, on December 16, 2024. Damascus's airspace reopened on December 12, the airport director told AFP, after a closure since December 8, when president Bashar al-Assad's government fell. Syrian Airlines aircraft maintenance director said takeoffs and landing would be decided by the transport ministry, adding that the carrier hoped to "expan

By Jack Dutton

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Analysis

Oman talks leave Israel unsure of Trump's endgame as missile threat persists

By Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Culture

Fossil discovery repositions Morocco at center of human evolution 800,000 years ago

Archaeologists at the entrance of the Contrebandiers (Smugglers) Cave, some 12 miles from the Moroccan capital, Rabat, Sept. 18, 2021.

Morocco

Iranian FM says US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman 'a good start'

Iran

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A Palestinian man speaks to an Israeli soldier during an Israeli military multi-day raid in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Israel to take more West Bank powers and relax settler land buys, media say

Reuters

Saudi Arabia orders 20 high-speed trains from Spain's Talgo

Reuters

Morocco flood evacuees still shaken, waiting to return home

Agence France-Presse

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi adjusts glasses during a press conference following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, December 17, 2025. REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Pool

Iran insists on right to enrichment, ready for confidence-building

Reuters

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The Al-Monitor Brief

US-Iran nuclear talks kick off in Oman: Regional reactions and next steps

Adam Lucente interviews Elizabeth Hagedorn and Rina Bassist

13:21

The Al-Monitor Brief

Turkey out as host of US-Iran talks as Erdogan visits Saudi Arabia, Egypt

Adam Lucente interviews Ezgi Akin

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On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

What does future hold for Syria's Kurds after dramatic losses to Damascus?

Amberin Zaman interviews Meghan Bodette

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Qualcomm sees growing demand for edge AI in the Middle East

Wassim Chourbaji

Qualcomm president for the Middle East & Africa

Interview

Grossi: IAEA seeks return to Syria as Kurdish unrest delays nuclear inspections

Rafael Grossi

IAEA Director General

Interview

Saudi Arabia keeps doors open to US, China in critical minerals race

Bandar Alkhorayef

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources

Interview

YPG spokesman: Syrian forces' strategy is to isolate Kurdish towns and cities

Siyamend Ali

YPG spokesman

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

New nuclear deal is no silver bullet for Iran's untapped gas reserves

By Jack Dutton

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Analysis

Why IRGC’s shadow empire is set to endure even as Iran’s economy spirals

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Moving Iran talks from Turkey to Oman deepens Ankara’s PKK concerns

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Will 2026 be year of electoral change in Palestine?

By Daoud Kuttab

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Elizabeth Hagdeorn asking Rubio a question about negotiations with the Iranian government after its killing of protesters

Rubio tells Al-Monitor talks with Iran must address ballistic missiles, proxies

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Al-Monitor's Amberin Zaman inside an abandoned Russian military base in Qamishli, Syria

Inside Russia's abandoned military base in Northeast Syria

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Scenes from the inside of Saudi House at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, including the green Saudi Arabian flag standing next to a framed portrait of Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's crown prince.

Behind the Scenes at Davos - Saudi House

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Kurdish protesters gather outside of USA house in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum with flags of Kurdistan

Kurdish protesters gather outside USA House in Davos

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AL-Monitor Global Institute hosts food security forum with Dr. Conrad Rein

On October 16, 2025, the AL-Monitor Global Institute hosted Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, alongside representatives from multilateral development banks and the private sector for a discussion on food security in the Middle East and Africa.

Washington, DC

October 16, 2025 11:00 EDT

Past Live Journalism

AL-Monitor Global Institute hosts Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya

On Sept. 21, 2025, the AL-Monitor Global Institute hosted Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, for a discussion on digital inclusion and economic empowerment in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

New York, NY

September 21, 2025 17:00 EDT

Past Live Journalism

Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at AL-Monitor Global Institute

AL-Monitor Global Institute hosts Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

On May 22, 2025, the AL-Monitor Global Institute hosted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC to discuss the future of power and energy in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Washington, DC

May 22, 2025 10:30 EDT

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