Analysis
Since 2012, the Week in Review keeps you ahead of the curve with in-depth analysis of the trends in the region, based on Al-Monitor’s world class reporting.
Anniversary of Iran Air 655 tragedy offers lessons for US-Iran diplomacy today
Iran Air 655’s bitter legacy; Iraq as front line; Iran should talk … but it needs off-ramps.
![Over ten-thousand Iranians joined in carrying 72 coffins, 07 July 1988 in Tehran, during the funeral service for those who died when an Iran Air passenger jet was shot down over the Gulf by Us navy. An Iranian commercial Airbus A300, operated by Iran Air from Bandar Abbas, Iran to Dubai, UAE, was shot down by mistake over the Southern Gulf by the US navy's guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes during confrontation with Iranian speedboats, 03 July 1988. 290 civilian passengers and crew members, including 66 c](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/07/GettyImages-152396513.jpg/GettyImages-152396513.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=1QDfGtD9)
The Art of the Deal: Trump turns to Putin on Iran
‘A diplomatic way out’; Iran’s patience runs out; Trump has ‘all the time in the world’; Oil for Food 2.0?; Iraq, Afghanistan and prisoners: Steps in the right direction?
![Russia's President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump attend a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC148D85F430](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/06/RTS2JZ58.jpg/RTS2JZ58.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=haRY-L00)
The Other Big Story: With world’s eyes on Iran, Putin moves to avert conflict between Turkey and Syria
A "disaster unfolding" in Idlib; for now, Putin has Assad’s back; exhausted Syrian Army seeks to take the highways; eyes on Osaka.
![Turkish soldiers stand on a watch tower at the Atmeh crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border, as seen from the Syrian side, in Idlib governorate, Syria May 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC1525F30880](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/06/RTX6XCWQ.jpg/RTX6XCWQ.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=9104_8Xa)
Erdogan seeks lifeline from Trump to salvage US-Turkey ties
It will take Donald Trump to close a deal with Turkey on a Syrian "safe zone."
![U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attend the start of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium July 11, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC117DD2EDF0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/06/rtx6apip.jpg/rtx6apip.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=R9JiLEYK)
Beneath tough exterior, Putin may be ready to deal on Iran
Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to hold all the cards in the region, but is Moscow ready to show its hand?
![Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his meeting with heads of foreign companies on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2019) in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 7, 2019. Yuri Kochetkov/Pool via REUTERS - RC1E84F20B40](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/06/RTX6YDZ7.jpg/RTX6YDZ7.jpg?h=b8c0c725&itok=uSGlY2mi)
Why Khamenei’s 'no' on talks with US could lead to 'yes'
Expect chatter of Iran-US dialog to pick up in the coming weeks, even though Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he adamantly refuses to negotiate with the Trump administration.
Iran vs. US: From Talk of War to Talk of Talk
Trump repeats his offer of talks with Iran, but Iran is not interested.
![Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (R) arrives to address the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri - HP1EE9P1EGI66](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/05/RTS22SMN.jpg/RTS22SMN.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=RVQEUJby)
Iran should take up Trump’s offer to talk
If not directly, at first, then there might be a channel through trusted partners.
![Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (3rd L) meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (not pictured) at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, May 17, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Pool - RC121FD92050](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/05/RTS2I3LZ.jpg/RTS2I3LZ.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=ammubwFq)
Trump flashes art of the deal to Iran
Iraqi leaders meet all night following Pompeo visit.
![U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Panama City, Florida, U.S., May 8, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1E60C5DE30](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/05/RTX6UY6J.jpg/RTX6UY6J.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=nRxPc4jQ)
Is Israel reconciled to Assad's staying power?
Turkish defense minister says the United States has "moved closer to our position" on Syria safe zone.
![A freed prisoner is seen after he was released by Israel in what Damascus described as Russian-mediated reciprocation for the repatriation of the body of a long-missing Israeli soldier, at the Quneitra crossing, Syria, in this handout released by SANA on April 28, 2019. SANA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE - RC15296E83D0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/05/RTX6TIKD.jpg/RTX6TIKD.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=EfzKH1Hp)
Pagination
Netanyahu, regional leaders hedge on possible Trump win in November
The Israeli prime minister is under pressure to deliver on a cease-fire during his Washington visit next week; Biden can’t heal Democrat divisions over Israel and the Gaza war.
![JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2024-07/GettyImages-1230516369.jpg?h=1d34674f&itok=-Zxq4qmm)
Lebanon FM warns of 'devastating’ regional war if Israel escalates campaign against Hezbollah
In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Lebanon's top diplomat, Abdallah Bou Habib, adds that security in the south ultimately depends on a strong Lebanese army and an agreement on the border – not war.
![BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 15: Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib speaks to the media following talks with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on December 15, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. The two diplomats discussed mutual measures to prevent the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict from expanding to other regions, among other issues. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2024-07/GettyImages-1857491748.jpg?h=9855f42d&itok=rgoJZYYE)
US, Iran guarantors of shaky deterrence between Israel and Hezbollah
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is not ready to go to the mattresses over the killing of another senior commander on Wednesday, and Iran doesn't want a war while it favors the threat of confrontation as a deterrent.
![A portrait of Musa al-Sadr sits amid the rubble of a destroyed building in the heavily damaged, Hezbollah stronghold town of Aita al Chaab on June 29, 2024 in Aita al Chaab, Lebanon. Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been trading cross-border fire since the October 7 attacks, with the conflict escalating in May when the group launched a missile-carrying drone against Israel for the first time. The conflict intensified in June when Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israeli m](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2024-07/GettyImages-2159834748.jpg?h=4296c093&itok=iuOsSvRF)
G42-Microsoft partnership in Kenya 'just the beginning,' says UAE trade minister
In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi discusses momentum in UAE trade with the US, the benefits of economic diversification and Africa’s priority in UAE trade policy.
![Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) listens to a speech by United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (R) during the inauguration of the newly built floating solar power plant on the water that can generate 192 mega watts of peak electricity in cooperation between the Indonesian government and Masdar from the UAE, at Cirata Reservoir, West Java, on November 9, 2023. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP) (Photo by BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2024-06/GettyImages-1771551969.jpg?h=1dfc45c8&itok=YsgRPZu4)