MENA could unlock $1 trillion value by 2030
“The opportunity for MENA is significant, and the value will come from execution,” said Wissam Yassine, partner and Middle East...
Research
Trump says Houthis ‘misbehaving very badly’ as Saudi airport shutdown disrupts flights
Etihad Airways cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19, while services to Dammam were heavily disrupted. Qatar...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iran signals potential dilution of highly enriched uranium if sanctions are lifted
Iran and the US resumed indirect nuclear talks on Monday in Muscat under Omani mediation, marking the first round of...
- Media speculation has focused on Iran’s stockpile of around 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, with reports suggesting Washington has sought its transfer to a third country
- Eslami said Iran continues to engage with International Atomic Energy Agency under existing safeguards agreements, including discussions related to nuclear facilities
Geostrategy
Iran says US talks in Oman a ‘good beginning’ as fears of military confrontation grow
The discussions took place in Muscat, with the US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian side...
- Oman said its foreign minister held separate meetings with Araghchi, Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and emissary Jared Kushner
- According to a statement, the “consultations focused on preparing the appropriate conditions for resuming diplomatic and technical negotiations.”
Geostrategy
US and Iran set for new nuclear talks in Istanbul to revive stalled diplomacy
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced that he has instructed diplomats to pursue negotiations with the United States, signalling a...
- Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that Tehran was reviewing several diplomatic initiatives proposed by countries in the region and expected a framework for talks to emerge
- Media reports later suggested that talks could take place in Istanbul on Friday, involving US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Opinion
The GCC must deploy its ‘strategic advantages’ to lead the transition
The models that once governed aid, CSR, employment, and economic engagement are shifting, and the GCC has an opportunity to...
- Across the region, business leaders are confronting a reality already transforming global markets.
- Instead of funding isolated projects, Gulf institutions can help build ecosystems such as agritech clusters, circular-economy value chains,
Geostrategy
Iran’s Khamenei likens protests to ‘coup’, warns of regional war
Iran's supreme leader on Sunday likened recent anti-government protests to a "coup", warning that any US attack on the Islamic...
- The Iranian authorities' deadly response to the protests sparked threats of intervention from US President Donald Trump
- "The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said
Geostrategy
Saudi-Pakistan mutual defence pact will not include Turkey: sources
The Pakistan-Saudi pact was signed just months after Pakistan and India fought an intense four-day conflict in May that killed...
- "This is a bilateral defensive relationship with Pakistan. We have common agreements with Turkey but the one with Pakistan will stay bilateral," the official said
- The defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, announced last year raised many questions, given that Islamabad possesses nuclear weapons
Geostrategy
Iran says defence capabilities ‘never’ up for negotiation as US seeks end to nuclear enrichment
Iran's top diplomat said Friday that his country's missile and defence capabilities would "never" be on the negotiating table, as US...
- The Axios site on Monday reported that US officials say any deal with Tehran would have to include a cap on its long-range missiles
- Other regional actors have joined calls for diplomacy, including Gulf states, some of which host US military sites, and Tehran's ally Russia
Geostrategy
Turkey to offer mediation in US-Iran showdown during Iran foreign minister’s Friday visit
Friday's visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi comes after US President Donald Trump threatened a military strike on Iran...
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will tell Araghchi that his country "is ready to contribute to resolving the current tensions through talks", a Turkish diplomatic source said
- Speaking to Al-Jazeera television on Wednesday, Fidan said he had suggested Washington tackle outstanding issues with Iran "one-by-one", starting with the nuclear file
Geostrategy
Trump says ‘time running out’ as Iran threatens response to any attack “like never before”
In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump did not mention the protests but said Iran needed to negotiate a...
- A US naval strike group that Trump described as an "armada" led by aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln is now lurking in Middle East waters
- In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran needed to negotiate a deal over its nuclear programme, which the West believes is aimed at making an atomic bomb
Geostrategy
Trump says Iran wants talks and ‘make a deal’ as US aircraft carrier deploys
A US naval strike force led by an aircraft carrier was in Middle Eastern waters on Tuesday as Iran vowed...
- Washington has not ruled out new military intervention against Tehran over its crackdown on protests, which according to rights groups saw thousands of people killed within days
- A strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has now arrived in Middle Eastern waters, US Central Command said, without revealing its precise location
MENA could unlock $1 trillion value by 2030
“The opportunity for MENA is significant, and the value will come from execution,” said Wissam Yassine, partner and Middle East...
Research
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Iran dismisses new US sanctions threat as ‘same movie’ amid escalating economic war
Araghchi’s comments came as Washington signalled that its next round of measures would go beyond targeting Iran itself, potentially placing...
Geostrategy
Iran warns states joining US sanctions would be deemed ‘enemies’
Tehran says Washington’s campaign could deepen nuclear insecurity, while Trump renews his claim over the Strait of Hormuz.
Geostrategy
Iran calls new US sanctions ‘declaration of war’ against all countries
US president Donald Trump, meanwhile, says he views the Strait of Hormuz as 'an American territory' and Iran 'cannot be...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Trump warns countries helping Iran of ‘tremendous economic consequences’
Tehran dismissed Washington’s latest pressure campaign as a diversion from US economic troubles as shipping through Hormuz remained severely restricted.
- Trump did not identify specific countries or measures, but warned businesses, banks, airports and governments could face major economic penalties.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said further pressure would fail, as Washington and Tehran remained deadlocked over the strait.
Geostrategy
Trump says no Iran talks as Israeli strikes on Syria draw condemnation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was seeking an end to the war and rejected the idea of a...
- Turkey and Egypt reject Israel’s justification for the strikes, while the United Nations urges an immediate end to attacks.
- Hormuz traffic falls further as Iran maintains demands for lifting sanctions and blockade before the waterway can reopen.
Geostrategy
UAE defense ministry says ‘missile threat towards country’ detected
The Ministry said if any sounds are heard, they are the result of air defense interceptions and "affirmed its full...
- The ministry urged the people to "kindly follow warnings and updates issued through official channels".
- Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed the Strait of Hormuz as American territory as peace talks with Iran falter.