In my new piece for @Amwaj, I look into how KSA has built new infrastructure projects to protect itself from attacks from Iran + its allies in the region (1/7)
amwaj.media/article/mbs-ne…

Don't think outside observers really grasp huge rhetorical shift in Iran in recent weeks. A taboo has been broken. Support for nuclear weapons has gone public and mainstream, and bipartisan. Since Khamenei remains main obstacle, it can almost be interpreted as defiance.

NEW: Some politicians in #Iraq want to make annual occasion on Shiite religious calendar a national holiday. Apart from triggering Sunni reservations, the move also highlights brewing intra-Shiite clash beneath the surface.
amwaj.media/media-monitor/…

Americana, which operates KFC and Kirspy Kreme in the Middle East, reports 51.8% decline in Q1 profit as boycott over Gaza war and Ramadan slump hit sales 📉

. Shahir Shahidsaless شهیر شهیدثالث writes Stimson Center that Ebrahim Raisi or Alireza Arafi are more likely to succeed Khamenei.ir than his son, Mojtaba. stimson.org/2024/who-will-…

NEW: Relationship between #Iran and #Kurdistan region is highly complex. Nechirvan Barzani's visit to Tehran—and backlash from some Kurds—highlights many dimensions at stake: intra-Kurdish contest in Iraq, bilateral security issues, geopolitics of region.amwaj.media/media-monitor/…

Well, Ludovica Castelli and I had something to say about Saudi Arabia (and others) possibly turning to China for nuclear facilities ➡️ bourseandbazaar.com/research-1/202…

My reading is different:

Riyadh is sensing that it’s not likely to occur anytime soon regardless, so it may as well release this harshly worded statement which is the popular sentiment in much of the Arab world and Israel wouldn’t care anyway.

If only the president had some sort of way to broadcast this message publicly. Like some kind of briefing room down the hall from his office.

Authors think the US should build Saudi Arabia a uranium enrichment facility, otherwise Riyadh may turn to the Chinese. Same DC types have advocated sanctioning Iran to death for enriching uranium. Gaza isn't only topic where double standards are insane.foreignaffairs.com/saudi-arabia/w…

KSA is upset with Bibi for making it impossible to normalize and thus gain access to US security guarantees and US-supplied nuclear technology (*incl pathway to uranium enrichment*).

I will have a piece out tomorrow on #Iran 's nuclear weapon option emerging from the shadows.

Since Iran is holding a nuclear conference in Isfahan this week, you might also be interested in my article on a more controversial nuclear conference organized by the Shah in 1977!

Seven years after defeat of IS, capital of the terrorist group's 'Caliphate' is experiencing property boom.

Under new contract with Italian firm, Mosul will expand by 7km in all directions. But not all are happy abt perceived encroachment. #Iraq amwaj.media/article/plans-…

Israel relies on Muslim states such as Azerbaijan & Kazakhstan for much of its oil imports.

#Turkey has geography to block Israel-bound oil exports from both those states. Incidentally, Ankara's shutdown of Iraq-Turkey pipeline has cut Iraqi Kurdish exports to Israel too.

#DailyData from Amwaj.data | Access to safe drinking water in Iran, Iraq & Oman

2000: 🇮🇷 90.3% | 🇮🇶 50.2% | 🇴🇲 83.9%
2005: 🇮🇷 91.4% | 🇮🇶 52.6% | 🇴🇲 84.3%
2010: 🇮🇷 92.4% | 🇮🇶 55.0% | 🇴🇲 86.1%
2015: 🇮🇷 93.2% | 🇮🇶 57.4% | 🇴🇲 88.6%
2020: 🇮🇷 94.0% | 🇮🇶 59.7% | 🇴🇲 90.6%…