Institution building

This image was taken in January 2016 in Hara Marine Forests (Mangrove Jungle) in Qeshm Island.

Azerbaijan detains Iranian boat for alleged drug smuggling

The incident has added to tense ties between Iran and Azerbaijan, in part due to the Baku’s ties to Israel and Tehran's support to Armenia.

Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov meets with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Mehrabian in Tehran on March 15, 2024.

Iran-Azerbaijan ties still off track despite diplomatic gestures

Azerbaijan's energy minister visited Tehran for preparations to reopen his country's embassy, but such hot-button issues as the Nakhchivan corridor and Azerbaijan's affinity with Israel appeared as stumbling blocks on the path to effective normalization.

Shiite Muslims protest near the local headquarters of the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority on July 20, 2003, in Najaf, Iraq.

Analysis

20 years after US invasion of Iraq, what lessons remain?

With the Pentagon now refocusing elsewhere, and with Iran getting closer to nuclear weapons by the day, the widening post-Iraq American boots-on-the-ground Middle East vacuum is cautiously being challenged by China.

Gilles Kepel

By Gilles Kepel

Ambassador of Israel to Korea Akiva Tor.

Israel announces metaverse embassy in South Korea

The UAE also recently launched offices in the digital world.

Latest News

Six years later, Egypt begins transfer to new capital

Egypt capital

Coup fears grow as Tunisian president shores up power

Tunisia protest

Sign up to our Daily Briefing

Keep up with Al-Monitor's top stories with a morning digest from across the region.

Al-Monitor newsletter collage

Egypt boots public servants from railways over Brotherhood links

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian jihadist group expands control in areas outside Idlib

Syrian potato farmers prepare the root vegetables for planting near the town of Binnish, northwestern Idlib province, Syria, Jan. 12, 2021.

slain Karbala mayor

Iraq moves to protect state property

The Iraqi government launched a campaign to remove encroachments in Iraq, which is more likely to anger political parties and armed groups whose huge influence has allowed their supporters to encroach on state-owned land.

Mubarak, Ganzouri and Arafat in 1988

Former Egyptian PM Kamal al-Ganzouri dies at 88

Ganzouri, who died in a hospital following a "long struggle with illness," twice held the title of prime minister.

Kuwaiti members of parliament attend a special session following-up on measures undertaken by the government of limit the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease, at the National Assembly headquarters in Kuwait City on February 16, 2021. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Kuwait’s new government takes charge following latest showdown with parliament

A new Cabinet is sworn in to address economic and COVID-related challenges.

King’s call to revisit political reforms triggers cautious optimism in Jordan

In an interview, King Abdullah focused on the need to launch political and administrative reforms that include reviewing laws that govern elections and political parties, in a move that coincides with the start of the Biden administration.

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq meets with US Secretary of State at al-Alam palace in the capital Muscat on February 21, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Oman moves ahead with overdue reforms

Oman's leadership pushes ahead with reforms, cornered by the COVID-19 crisis and long-standing weaknesses in the local economy. Activists call for a constitutional monarchy.

Kuwait's prime minister submits Cabinet's resignation

Ministers handed in their resignations Tuesday amid a standoff with parliament.

Bahraini Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, looks on next to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (unseen) during a meeting at the US Department of State in Washington, DC on September 17, 2019. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Bahrain appoints crown prince as new prime minister

Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa will immediately take over as premier, the state news agency reported.

Iraqi cleric pushes for elections, new social contract, in support of prime minister

Iraqi cleric Ammar al-Hakim, the head of Iraqioun parliamentary bloc and Hikma movement, is seeking to chart a nonsectarian alternative to the existing political structure.

Why can't Iraqis agree on national day holiday?

Seventeen years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Iraq has neither a national day nor a national anthem.

Kadhimi follows through on promises to reform Iraq's security sector

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's recent appointments and reforms are likely to face resistance from some political blocs and armed groups who feel they are losing power.

Apathy dominates Senate elections in Egypt

While Egyptians voted this week for members of the newly created Senate, many experts say the elections will not bring about change in Egypt’s political sphere as most candidates have the approval of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

UAE shows path for peaceful nuclear development

Fuel assemblies have been loaded into the first of four UAE nuclear power plants following the country's yearslong effort to develop major national and international support for nuclear energy.

United Arab Emirates