To break through Libya’s political stalemate, the UN must be willing to pursue a bolder strategy, despite the risks of failure, writes Tim Eaton (@CH_MENAP).
chathamhouse.org/2024/04/yet-an…

“They are reasserting control…this is a regime trying to show that it is resilient despite pressure, despite sanctions, despite really a grave economic situation”. Sanam Vakil صنم وكىل looks at the state of Iran right now with internal repression and external tensions

Plan B is really Riyadh's Plan A to stick with Washington theguardian.com/world/2024/may…

Saying a US Saudi deal is close doesn’t mean that it is actually going to happen without actual changes on the ground

FT on how major flooding in Dubai was snapshot of the grim climate future that countries across the Gulf are facing:
'It’s not just a theoretical scenario. It has happened, and the costs are real,' said Huda Shaka, a chartered urban planner based in Dubai.
ft.com/content/a12272…

Lapid, like other Israeli leaders, also counts on Israel forming an anti-Iran alliance with the 'moderate Sunni' states. Sanam Vakil صنم وكىل and I explain why that's not likely in our latest Foreign Affairs foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/an…

‘Every day I cry’: 50 women talk about life as a domestic worker under the Gulf’s kafala system | The The Guardian theguardian.com/global-develop…

Today marks the disturbing 8th anniversary of Ahmadreza Djalali's unlawful detention and pending execution in Iran. Fifteen former hostages collectively write the Swedish PM demanding meaningful action for this Swedish doctor before it's too late. Freedom for Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali Hostage Aid Worldwide…

#Saudi Arabia plans to host talks about #Gaza ’s future with top foreign officials including #USA Secretary of State Antony Blinken
May include U.K.'s David Cameron along with officials from #Jordan , #Egypt , #Qatar & #PA
bloomberg.com/news/articles/… via Bloomberg Politics

Suggestions of an anti-Iran alliance emerging in the Middle East are overenthusiastic and fail to grasp the complexity of the region’s challenges, write Dalia Dassa Kaye and Sanam Vakil صنم وكىل via Foreign Affairs.

foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/an…

Interested in leading and shaping the trajectory of a leading academic journal? 📚

Come join our team as an editor! Click below to apply before 7th May ⤵️
careers.chathamhouse.org/jobs/3742811-c…

'The transition of the Israeli-Iranian confrontation into a new phase is risky. The dramatic escalation between the two countries highlights the high potential for miscalculation in the lack of direct communication channels'.
My latest for Atlantic Council
atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransour…

📢 Starting in ONE HOUR: How is regional instability impacting Syria?

In this virtual discussion Joseph Bahout باحوط, Haid Haid, Dareen Khalifa & Rima Maktabi will assess the impact of instability in the Middle East on #Syria .

⏰ 14.00 BST
Register now ⬇️
chathamhouse.org/events/all/spe…

The next UN envoy for Libya will have to be much more engaged, vocal and proactive in seeking resolutions to Libya's problems, says Tim Eaton via DW Deutsche Welle.

dw.com/en/libya-un-en…

Everyone needs a good cheat sheet nytimes.com/interactive/20…

PODCAST🎙️| Are Israel and Iran on the brink of all-out war?

Sanam Vakil صنم وكىل, Yossi Mekelberg and Elham Fakhro إلهام فخرو join Bronwen Maddox to discuss Iran's missile attack on Israel.

Listen in full🎧: apple.co/3QaRgqD

My latest piece for Chatham House Chatham House MENA where I argue that the top concern for China in the Israel-Iran tit-for-tat is the stability of the Saudi-Iran diplomatic reconciliation it brokered a year ago. 🧵
chathamhouse.org/2024/04/iran-i…

'A regional intelligence source with knowledge of Iran's potential reaction to Friday's strike, which was carried out by Israel according to a US official, said that direct state-to-state strikes between the two enemies were 'over.'' edition.cnn.com/middleeast/liv…

An Israeli birthday present to Ali Khamenei

This is where we currently are with news out of Iran. 👇