Prime Minister of Iraq’s visit to Iran abruptly canceled

Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi’s press office canceled a planned trip to Iran this week. Oddly enough, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that a visit by Abadi was even scheduled to begin with. Prime Minister Abadi’s office claimed the trip was canceled “because of his busy schedule,” but Abadi is still intending to […]

Peshmerga reform is a necessary and imminent change that Iraqi-Kurdistan must embrace

The Kurdistan Regional Government is working with the Ministry of Peshmerga and United States-led coalition to officially reform the Peshmerga into a unified fighting force, despite political differences. Acting Minister Karim Sinjari confirmed this to local media this week, saying that the 70th and 80th forces will eventually be joined with the Ministry of Peshmerga, forming […]

Iran and the situation they are in with US sanctions looming

Iran has continued to dismiss United States President Donald Trump’s talk that a confrontation of some kind will be in the near future. After the United States made its dramatic withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, the Iranian government has returned with threats. While President Trump has made the offer to discuss the situation “any time,” […]

Iranian currency rapidly dropping in value as US sanctions approach

The Iranian rial is falling in value again as a new set of sanctions from the United States are just around the corner. The rial dropped to 112,000 against the dollar over the weekend; it has been steadily dropping in value after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal earlier this year. The economic […]

United States envoy works with Iraqi leaders to secure future government

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met with Envoy Brett McGurk this week to discuss the obligation for “more serious dialogue”  in regards to the new Iraqi government being formed by the freshly elected parliament members. Both men understood and were adamant about “the need for more serious dialogue among political parties for the formation of a […]

The Pentagon gives $200 million to Ukrainian military

This week it was announced by the United States’ Department of Defense (DOD) that $200 million would be given to the Ukrainian military to continue the providing of training, equipment, and military advisory services. The DOD wishes to improve upon Ukraine’s internal defense capabilities by working within the framework of its current military forces. Over $1 […]

United States and Turkish officials meet to discuss Iranian sanctions

Turkish and U.S. diplomats convened on Friday and held a meeting to discuss the upcoming sanctions to be imposed on Iran. The situation has the potential to put a serious strain on U.S.-Turkey relations, given Turkey’s economic ties to the Islamic Republic. Officials from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry […]

Iran’s Supreme Leader threatens to cut off all oil exportation

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made threats towards the distribution of oil should the nation’s sales be affected by the upcoming sanctions from the United States. Khamenei stated that, “If Iran’s oil export is blocked, no other country in the region will export oil either,” during a meeting between various diplomats, Ministry of Foreign […]

The United States is still working to modernize the Kurdish Peshmerga

According to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga, the United States will be assisting in the inclusion of two new Peshmerga brigades this year; they will be providing weapons, training, and vehicles. The Ministry’s secretary general, Lieutenant General Jabar Yawar, told local Kurdish media that, “Many times, due to disclosing the type and amount […]

Iran is on the ropes and the world is unforgiving

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is advocating for European countries to take a firmer stance toward Iran and it’s aggressive posture. Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted, “It was no coincidence that this attack was thwarted,” in reference to the arrest of six individuals who had attempted to carry out a bombing of an Iranian opposition party […]

As the Iran nuclear deal flounders, Russia comes to the Islamic Republic’s aid

This week Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made their intentions clear that they will do everything they can to maintain the Iranian nuclear deal and defend Iran from sanctions. Russia claims that it will maintain economic and trade agreements with the Islamic Republic. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended a meeting on Friday of ministers who […]