Economy and trade

Saudi Arabia hires star lawyer to fight anti-oil cartel bill

Former Republican Solicitor General Ted Olson is being paid to push back against bipartisan legislation challenging OPEC’s dominance.

Saudi Arabia

Rouhani moves closer to Khamenei amid bipartisan backlash

President Hassan Rouhani’s appearance before parliament to answer economic questions did not satisfy Principlists or Reformists. It did, however, please Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran

Egypt reaps harvest of Sisi’s visit to China

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi returned a few days ago from a visit to China during which he participated in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in what raised questions about the gains that Egypt will achieve from the visit.

Egypt

Unemployment pushes Palestinians to work in Israel

Many Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where jobs are scarce and low-paying, enter Israel to find work, and those who are truly desperate end up building the very settlements they seek to end.

Palestine

Egypt to invest in restoration of war-torn countries

Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly recently issued a decree to form an action group aimed at investing a great deal of effort in the reconstruction of five Arab countries.

Egypt

Will Iran merge banks owned by military institutions?

Though the merger of lenders affiliated with Iranian security institutions is an important step toward military divestment, the process faces many obstacles.

Iran

When will Jordan-Syria border crossing reopen?

Since the Syrian regime has taken control of southern Syria, including the Nassib border crossing, hopes to resume trade and boost the economy between Jordan and Syria have been revived.

Jordan

Zarif: Even America’s allies not immune to US sanctions

During an unannounced trip to Turkey, Iran’s foreign minister warned America’s allies that they are not immune to US pressure.

Syria

Iranian president under fire in heated parliament session

Iranian lawmakers said they were not convinced by President Hassan Rouhani's responses to questions that centered mainly on economic grievances.

Iran

How crisis with US dealt fresh blow to Turkish press

The depreciation of the Turkish lira, fueled by the crisis between Ankara and Washington, has raised the cost of imported paper enormously, pushing already-struggling publications to the brink of collapse.

Turkey

Rouhani’s economy minister impeached

Just one year into his second term, Hassan Rouhani’s economic team has come under fire with two ministers impeached in one month.

United States

Iran turns to economic zones to encourage balanced growth

Iranian lawmakers have approved a bill to establish a series of new special economic zones to counter the country's uneven development.

Iran