Author Archives: Ian Black
2 days ago
Rafsanjani hits back at hardline pro-regime rivals
LONDON: Hashemi Rafsanjani, the dark horse heavyweight candidate in Iran’s presidential election, has hit back at hardline pro-regime figures who are alarmed by his growing popularity to insist that he has a “religious and national duty” to run — and defiantly accused his detractors of harming the Islamic revolution
LONDON: Hashemi Rafsanjani, the dark horse heavyweight candidate in Iran’s presidential election, has hit back at hardline pro-regime figures who are alarmed by his growing popularity to insist that he has a “religious and national duty” to run — and defiantly accused his detractors of harming the Islamic revolution
7th April, 2013
Syria accuses Jordan of ‘playing with fire’
LONDON: Jordan is facing mounting tension with neighbouring Syria amid signs that it has moved to a more active role in support of the rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
LONDON: Jordan is facing mounting tension with neighbouring Syria amid signs that it has moved to a more active role in support of the rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
10th February, 2013
Syrian opposition in disarray
Bashar al-Assad, it sometimes seems, is lucky in his enemies. Controversy and bitter recriminations have been raging in their ranks since the leader of the Syrian opposition coalition (SOC), Moaz al-Khatib,
Bashar al-Assad, it sometimes seems, is lucky in his enemies. Controversy and bitter recriminations have been raging in their ranks since the leader of the Syrian opposition coalition (SOC), Moaz al-Khatib,
9th February, 2013
Tunisia’s democratic image tarnished
Tunisia provided the first spark of the Arab spring and became the poster child for its positive achievements: the overthrow of a dictator with relatively little bloodshed, an orderly transition, free elections and the rise of
Tunisia provided the first spark of the Arab spring and became the poster child for its positive achievements: the overthrow of a dictator with relatively little bloodshed, an orderly transition, free elections and the rise of
17th January, 2013
Iran struggles to woo reluctant Egypt
LONDON: Forging better relations between Iran and Egypt is turning out to be harder than the Islamic Republic might have imagined after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak — the biggest upheaval of the Arab
LONDON: Forging better relations between Iran and Egypt is turning out to be harder than the Islamic Republic might have imagined after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak — the biggest upheaval of the Arab
28th November, 2012
UK, France ready to back Palestinian statehood at UN
LONDON: Britain is prepared to back a key vote recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations if Mahmoud Abbas pledges not to pursue Israel for war crimes and to resume peace talks.
LONDON: Britain is prepared to back a key vote recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations if Mahmoud Abbas pledges not to pursue Israel for war crimes and to resume peace talks.
8th November, 2012
Saudi succession in the limelight
SAUDI-watchers and bloggers — and the official media — are having a field day over the appointment of the kingdom’s new interior minister, Mohammed Bin Nayef.
SAUDI-watchers and bloggers — and the official media — are having a field day over the appointment of the kingdom’s new interior minister, Mohammed Bin Nayef.
18th October, 2012
Strained relations with the Gulf
BRITAIN’S relations with Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf states are coming under strain because of mounting nervousness over the changes the Arab Spring has brought to the Middle East.
BRITAIN’S relations with Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf states are coming under strain because of mounting nervousness over the changes the Arab Spring has brought to the Middle East.
7th October, 2012
The bloodiest chapter of Arab uprising
LONDON: It will soon be the second anniversary of the start of the events currently still known as the Arab spring, but we don’t yet know the meaning of what has happened or the outcome of the bloodiest chapter of the upheaval, being played out in daily mayhem and misery across Syria.
LONDON: It will soon be the second anniversary of the start of the events currently still known as the Arab spring, but we don’t yet know the meaning of what has happened or the outcome of the bloodiest chapter of the upheaval, being played out in daily mayhem and misery across Syria.
3rd October, 2012
Season of discontent in Iran
“HELP, help, help!” screams a cartoon Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, dropping his watering can and running for dear life as a giant dollar sign threatens to crush him.
“HELP, help, help!” screams a cartoon Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, dropping his watering can and running for dear life as a giant dollar sign threatens to crush him.
15th September, 2012
Security concerns in Libya
Mustafa Abu Shagour will be spending much of his time as Libya’s prime minister grappling with the country’s grave domestic security problems, which have been painfully highlighted by the assault that killed
Mustafa Abu Shagour will be spending much of his time as Libya’s prime minister grappling with the country’s grave domestic security problems, which have been painfully highlighted by the assault that killed
14th September, 2012
Regional militias biggest test for new Libyan PM
LONDON: Mustafa Abu Shagour will be spending much of his time as Libya’s prime minister grappling with the country's grave domestic security problems, which have been painfully highlighted by the assault that killed the US ambassador in Benghazi.
LONDON: Mustafa Abu Shagour will be spending much of his time as Libya’s prime minister grappling with the country's grave domestic security problems, which have been painfully highlighted by the assault that killed the US ambassador in Benghazi.
5th September, 2012
Brahimi feels Syria task ‘impossible’
LONDON: Implementing a mission that is “nearly impossible” is not a routine challenge — even for Lakhdar Brahimi. The new UN envoy to Syria has tackled some of the world’s most intractable conflicts in half a century as a diplomat.
LONDON: Implementing a mission that is “nearly impossible” is not a routine challenge — even for Lakhdar Brahimi. The new UN envoy to Syria has tackled some of the world’s most intractable conflicts in half a century as a diplomat.
3rd August, 2012
Assad not seen in public for more than two weeks
BASHAR al-Assad has not been seen in public since the bomb that killed his powerful brother-in-law and three other senior security chiefs in Damascus on July 18.
BASHAR al-Assad has not been seen in public since the bomb that killed his powerful brother-in-law and three other senior security chiefs in Damascus on July 18.
11th July, 2012
Libya unpromising soil for Arab spring hopes
LONDON: On the face of it, Libya was always unpromising soil for the great hopes of the Arab spring. Muammar Qadhafi ran a highly repressive dictatorship that used the country’s oil wealth, tribal divisions
LONDON: On the face of it, Libya was always unpromising soil for the great hopes of the Arab spring. Muammar Qadhafi ran a highly repressive dictatorship that used the country’s oil wealth, tribal divisions
7th July, 2012
Annan attacks Russia, West over Syria
LONDON: Kofi Annan has issued a blunt warning that Syria will face a spreading civil war and risk a spillover of the conflict unless Russia, the West and Arab states end their “destructive competition” to
LONDON: Kofi Annan has issued a blunt warning that Syria will face a spreading civil war and risk a spillover of the conflict unless Russia, the West and Arab states end their “destructive competition” to
27th June, 2012
Morsi victory unsettles neighbours
LONDON: Mohamed Morsi's victory in Egypt's presidential election has brought him congratulations from across the Middle East. But there have also been mixed feelings, loaded messages from Israel to Iran, and
LONDON: Mohamed Morsi's victory in Egypt's presidential election has brought him congratulations from across the Middle East. But there have also been mixed feelings, loaded messages from Israel to Iran, and
30th May, 2012
Syria looking more like Bosnia 20 years ago
EXPRESSIONS of outrage over the massacre at Houla in Syria echoed around the world over the weekend. From Hillary Clinton in Washington, to William Hague in London, and the UN security council in New York and of course from Syrian
EXPRESSIONS of outrage over the massacre at Houla in Syria echoed around the world over the weekend. From Hillary Clinton in Washington, to William Hague in London, and the UN security council in New York and of course from Syrian
20th May, 2012
Egypt’s first free election
EGYPT’S first free presidential election has been a long time coming. Ever since the 1952 revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy its leaders have come to power by military coup or in carefully staged polls whose result was always clear long before any ballots were cast.
EGYPT’S first free presidential election has been a long time coming. Ever since the 1952 revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy its leaders have come to power by military coup or in carefully staged polls whose result was always clear long before any ballots were cast.
16th May, 2012
Gulf unity plan in doubt
SAUDI-LED plans for deeper Gulf Arab regional integration to challenge Iran are in doubt after the failure to announce an expected unity deal between Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Bahrain.
SAUDI-LED plans for deeper Gulf Arab regional integration to challenge Iran are in doubt after the failure to announce an expected unity deal between Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Bahrain.
