Follow the money: how Russia will bypass western economic warfare

The US and EU are over-reaching on Russian sanctions. The end result could be the de-dollarization of the global economy and massive commodity shortages worldwide.

Iranian president denounces US hegemony during address to Russia’s lower house

During his speech President Ebrahim Raisi said that the US "has reached its weakest point today"

‘Tehran ready to help resolve Ukraine crisis’: Amir-Abdollahian

The Ukrainian FM announced Kiev's readiness for expanding relations with Iran, specifically in the agricultural sector

Vladimir Putin to meet with Iranian president in Turkmenistan

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has sought Iran's expertise in overcoming severe western sanctions

The west’s Plan B: Secure the realm

Having failed in preserving the unipolar order, the west will resort to Plan B – reviving a bipolar world based on the ‘civilized’ west and the ‘barbarian’ rest.

Syrian refugees in Turkey: From opportunity to Achilles heel

Even though Turkey's massive refugee problem is a direct consequences of the AKP's Syria policy, both the government and the opposition try to avoid its solution: ending the war in Syria.

Saudi Arabia curtails its oil supply to China as demand climbs in Europe

This decision by Riyadh, however, is unlikely to negatively impact Beijing thanks to the overabundance of Russian oil in the market

Juggling grenades: To contain China, the US will ignore Russia in India

Divergent policies on Moscow will not get in the way of Indo-US efforts to counter Beijing’s regional influence.

NATO vs Russia: what happens next

In Davos and beyond, NATO's upbeat narrative plays like a broken record, while on the ground, Russia is stacking up wins that could sink the Atlantic order.

Four signs a US-Gulf ‘divorce’ is in the making

The rapid-fire 'messages' directed at Washington from old Persian Gulf allies are brutal, and strongly suggest that the days of US hegemony are done

In snub to Washington, UAE reaches out to Russia

Washington's geopolitical cards are dwindling rapidly. The high-level UAE visit to Moscow this week has consolidated OPEC+ support for Russia in the energy war now raging between east and west.

Say hello to Russian gold and Chinese petroyuan

The Russia-led Eurasia Economic Union and China just agreed to design the mechanism for an independent financial and monetary system that would bypass dollar transactions.

Iran on Ukraine: opposes war, but backs Russia’s red line against NATO expansionism  

Iran’s call for restraint in the Ukraine conflict also comes amid stronger ties with Russia and mutual security concerns.

Erdogan in Kiev, Putin in Beijing: can neo-Ottomanism fit into Greater Eurasia?  

Reporting from Istanbul: As the world turns further over monumental announcements from the Putin-Xi summit in Beijing, Turkey's Erdogan keeps walking a thinning tightrope between NATO and Eurasia

Iran-Russia hit maximum strategy

Three ain't a crowd: The Iran-Russia summit this week, concurrent with RIC military drills in the Sea of Oman, in advance of a Xi-Putin meeting in two weeks, suggests a rapidly-advancing strategic vision for the three Eurasian powers.

Assad, Syria and China’s new Silk Road

Count on Syria becoming an important West Asian hub in China's Belt and Road Initiative

Afghanistan: between pipelines and ISIS-K, the Americans are still in play

US trained and armed Afghan security forces are joining ISIS-K, which makes the US 'withdrawal' from Afghanistan look more like an American 'repositioning' to keep chaos humming

Saudi Arabia declares war on Lebanon: What made Mohammad bin Salman lose his mind?

The Saudi escalation against Lebanon is not due to some misplaced words by a senior official; it is part of a premeditated plan to regain control over Lebanon, using upcoming elections as a springboard

The Pashtun will outlast all empires, but can they hold Afghanistan’s center?

'An empire within an empire,' the Pashtun are essential to understanding the complexities of Afghanistan as a nation-state today. What is the 'Pashtun universe,' and why will they always outlast those who try to govern them?

Lebanon’s General Security Chief: ‘I totally support open borders with Syria’

Lebanese General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim has become a key negotiator between foreign and domestic parties in the crisis-hit country. While the Lebanese worry about the US threat of sanctions, Ibrahim tells The Cradle it is "totally unlikely" that the US will sanction Lebanon.

Iran in the SCO, the timing is right

Iran's ascension to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) this September would be a win-win for both. For the Islamic Republic, it would represent its first-ever commitment to a regional collective security bloc and untold access to new export markets. For the SCO, Iran would represent a vital foothold connecting West Asia and Eurasia.

The deal to watch is in Baghdad, not Vienna

Forget the JCPOA impasse in Vienna. The Saudi–Iran dialogue in Baghdad is the greatest hope for clearing the underbrush beneath the Iran–US relationship.

Tension with Riyadh and tea in Tel Aviv – what is MbZ’s real goal in the region?

Who is MbZ, why is he punching above his weight, and what are his global aspirations? We take a deep dive into the calculations of this enigmatic Gulf emir.