Putin and Xi plot their SWIFT escape

Russia and China's announcement of an independent financial trading platform will free nations under US sanctions from western intrusion into their commercial activities

ASEAN nations meet, discuss dumping US Dollar, Euro for trade

Indonesia has urged its regional partners to also move away from using Visa and Mastercard to avoid the repercussions of western sanctions on Russia

Israeli president warns ‘civil war’ imminent if Netanyahu forges ahead with judicial overhaul

Israel's far-right government coalition refused to compromise on reforms that would neutralize the high court of justice and bring the judiciary under its control

Belarus, Iran sign roadmap to increase economic cooperation

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Tehran saw the signing of a comprehensive roadmap agreement to increase economic cooperation in the face of western sanction

Israeli startups tumble in wake of Silicon Valley Bank collapse

The SVB collapse is considered the second biggest bank collapse in US history, and particularly affects start-up companies in California and Israel

From Russia with Love: Su-35s to Iran will strengthen defense ties

Iran's possible purchase of Russian fighter jets would further solidify the existing strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran, and impact their global power competition with the west.

Israeli rampage on West Bank village leaves one dead, 390 injured, 75 burnt homes

Hours before Israeli settlers raided the village of Huwara, regional officials held a summit in Jordan to announce an agreement to 'de-escalate tensions' in occupied Palestine

Lebanon’s caretaker PM steps in to protect banks charged with money laundering

The Association of Banks in Lebanon announced that, thanks to Mikati's overstepping of his authority, they would 'temporarily suspend' a strike that has helped decimate the value of the lira

Putin’s ‘civilizational’ speech frames conflict between east and west

In his Federal Assembly address, President Putin emphasized that Russia is not only an independent nation-state but also a distinct civilization with its own identity, which is in conflict and actively opposes the values of 'western civilization.'

Iraqi central bank to drop dollar for yuan in trade with China

Iraq is the latest nation in the Global South to move away from the US dollar in bilateral trade with China

Washington’s Dollar-and-Stick ploy with Iraq

Iraqi officials are in Washington to discuss “economic reforms” but are in fact being pressured to shun Iranian energy imports in the hope of having US sanctions and dollar rations lifted.

US army training ISIS, Al-Qaeda fighters in Syria to deploy to Russia: Report

The militants will reportedly be tasked with carrying out terror attacks inside the territory of Russia and other former Soviet states

The Big Stiff: Russia-Iran dump the dollar

News of Russian banks connecting to Iran’s financial messaging system strengthens the resistance against US-imposed sanctions on both countries and accelerates global de-dollarization.  

Iran’s participation in Damascus-Ankara talks ‘possible’: Erdogan

The Iranian foreign minister’s recent visit to Syria aimed to resolve ‘misunderstandings’ between Tehran and Damascus regarding the reconciliation, a source told The Cradle

Iran, Russia integrate banking systems

52 Iranian and 106 Russian banks integrated their interbank communication and transfer systems for trade and financial operations

Shooting at Azerbaijan embassy in Tehran spikes tensions

The assailant has cited “personal and family problems” as the motive behind the shooting attack

Iran FM’s trip to Syria was to address ‘misunderstandings’

The recent visit of Iran's FM to Damascus was not ordinary. One of its main goals was to address a problem that had emerged between the two countries after the Turkish-Syrian meeting in Moscow.

The US holds Iraq hostage with the dollar

Since 2003, Iraq is required to send all its oil revenues to a single US bank account. Washington is now weaponizing Baghdad's own dollars against Iraq, by devaluing its currency and hindering payments.

Iranian currency hits record low as EU threatens further sanctions

The New York federal bank has been enforcing stricter controls on international transactions by Iraqi commercial banks to hinder Iran from accessing dollars

Iraqi police raid exchange companies to regulate market rates

The Iraqi dinar has been on a downward slope since the US Treasury started tightening sanctions against Iran

UN needs more funds to remove oil tanker moored off Yemen’s coast

The UN says it needs $144 million in order to avert an environmental disaster four times the size of the Exxon Valdez oil spill

What prompted the urgent, secretive summit in Abu Dhabi?

Key Arab heads of state convened this week for an emergency meeting that excluded the Saudis and Kuwaitis. The likely hot topics under discussion were Egypt's economic collapse and Israel's aggressive escalations.

Western sanctions against Iran send Iraqi economy reeling

New policies meant to prevent dollar transfers to sanctioned West Asian nations have sent the Iraqi currency spiraling

By the numbers: The de-dollarization of global trade

Data suggests that US dollar reserves in central banks are dwindling, as is the influence of the US on the world economy. This presents a unique opportunity for regional currencies and alternative payment systems to enter the vacuum.

Iranian FM in Beirut for talks with top officials, resistance leaders

During a joint press conference, Iran’s foreign minister called for political dialogue and a ‘swift’ presidential election, rejecting claims of Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs

A Moscow meeting shatters fantasies of a Syrian ‘confederation’

Russian-brokered Syrian-Turkish rapprochement will bury prospects of a divided Syria, with the potential for opposition factions to be co-opted into the armed forces.

Pakistan threatens Taliban over failure to curb border instability

Tehrik-e-Taliban presence in Afghanistan under the wing of the IEA contributed additional tensions to the unstable relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Lebanese security forces detain suspected killer of UNIFIL soldier

The suspect was found thanks to the help provided by Hezbollah in the investigation

Xi of Arabia and the petroyuan drive

Xi Jinping has made an offer difficult for the Arabian Peninsula to ignore: China will be guaranteed buyers of your oil and gas, but we will pay in yuan.

Iran: To veil or not to veil

During a two-week visit to Iran in November, I witnessed women of all ages walking freely on the streets without the hijab. But, what we're not told, is that they have been doing so for years.