Oil prices have plummeted, leaving Saudi Arabia and its allies with a long-term economic crisis — just as Iran’s economy looks poised for rapid gains. Jeddah’s glittering kilometer-high Kingdom Tower, set for completion in 2018, looms over a Saudi Arabia just beginning to confront the challenge of lower oil prices. The construction of ultra-tall buildings, however, has famousl
Read MoreZarif's Comments on Iran's Deal at the Iraqi MoFA Press Conference The following is the English translation of statements made by the Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Jawad Zarif at the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, in Baghdad on 27th July 2015. Many thanks to my dear brother the Foreign M
Read MoreDubbed as "historic" and "a game-changer", the Iranian nuclear deal has prompted a wide range of reactions around the world, with increased speculation about what it could mean for the conflict-ridden Middle East. Perhaps nowhere is the speculation more rife than in Iran's western neighbour, Iraq, where Iranian influence has steadily grown since the US-led invasion in 2003, an
Read MoreKingdom also expected to drive demand in the Middle East. Oil production from Saudi Arabia reaches new high, but demand from the de facto head of OPEC also expected to surge. VIENNA, July 13 (UPI) -- With oil demand from the Middle East expected to surge, Saudi Arabia reported to OPEC its crude oil production was at its highest levels in more than 30 years. Saudi Arabia repo
Read MoreDownload PDF It may be that no modern nation-state has been called “artificial” more times than Iraq. While most scholars are quick to admit that all nation-states are artificial, in the sense that they are created by humans, Iraq, it would seem, is more artificial than most. The story invariably begins with the post-World War I peace settlements, during which the borders of
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