In a tough neighbourhood, the UAE makes sure its voice is heard
As tough neighbourhoods go, few would dispute that the Gulf region ranks high on the list. Three major interstate wars in as many decades (the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-88, the first Gulf war, and the Iraq war), great power competition and hegemony, the threat of nuclear proliferation (Iraq in the 1980s and now Iran), Islamic […]
King Abdullah has given reform and Saudi their best chance yet
The removal of the much-feared head of the religious police known for its excesses. The dismissal of the most senior cleric on the Supreme Justice Council, a man who approved of the killing of TV executives who broadcast “decadent programming” and opposed essential judicial reforms. And the appointment of the first woman as deputy minister. […]
America is talking, but is anyone in Iran listening?
It did not take long after President Barack Obama made an overture to Iran in his Nowrooz message for some commentators to criticise both the timidity of the gesture and continuing US hubris. The noted Jordanian-Palestinian writer Rami Khouri, for example, welcomed the shift but nevertheless detected “a lingering streak of arrogance” in a president […]
Iran and the bomb: the truth is, nobody knows
By Emile El-Hokayem – The debate over Iran’s nuclear activities is certain to heat up in coming months, so it is useful to shed some light on the technological aspect of its programme and separate speculation and disinformation from fact. It is easy to fall for the former when the world is bombarded with contradictory […]
Fear, Fascination, Delusion: The Legacies Of Iran’s Revolution
Thirty years ago this week, a frail 77-year old cleric landed in Tehran, where he was welcomed by millions of enthusiastic Iranians. His revolutionary ideas about Islam’s place in political life and role in the world would soon transform his country into a bastion of Islamic radicalism. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sits today in the pantheon […]
Export Controls in the United Arab Emirates: A Practical Manifestation of a Strategic Dilemma
On January 15, 2009, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the “U.S.-UAE 123 Agreement.” The accord is intended to enable the UAE to possess a peaceful nuclear energy capacity while at the same time preventing weapons proliferation. Under the agreement, the UAE, forfeits the […]
The Gulf States Must Press The Nuclear Issue Before It’s Too Late
Yesterday the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany were joined by those of Egypt, Jordan and the GCC states to discuss next steps on Iran and Gulf security. The surprise meeting comes at a moment of fluidity and uncertainty on international policy towards Iran. European diplomats are […]
US Policy in the Gulf: Resisting the Temptation of One-Dimensional Policies
By Emile El-Hokayem The Challenge The new US Administration needs to restore US influence in the Persian Gulf. Success will depend largely on how the United States approaches and reconciles the world’s two most pressing crises: a cooling but not yet stabilized situation in Iraq and a cold war that could still turn hot with […]