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An essay is presented on the political, military and social developments in the Middle East as of December 2015. It focuses on the conflicts in the region involving Iran and its allies against Saudi Arabia and its allies. Also cited are such topics as the Iranian nuclear deal with the U.S., the civil war in Syria, and the role played by the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the conflict.

The Iran nuclear deal has the potential to become a game changer in the Middle East by providing the opportunity for rapprochement between Iran, the preeminent power in the Gulf, and the United States, the preeminent global power, thus reducing the strategic importance of both Saudi Arabia and Israel. Israel's virulent opposition to the deal has also demonstrated that it has become a strategic liability for the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey and Iran from the ancient times have been experiencing severe confrontation and simultaneously close interdependence in the economic field that has considerable impact on modern international relations in the Middle East and Post-Soviet space. Rivalry of both countries is strengthened by Sunni-Shia divide in Muslim world and support of different sides in Armenia - Azerbaijan conflict. Special importance in the mutual relations of neighbours has competition in the Southern Caucasus, which is important with its energy rich Azerbaijan and creation of land routes for Caspian oil and gas to Europe in order to lessen dependency of the European Union on Russian energy. Using close relations with Azerbaijan, Turkey makes all efforts to become an energy bridge between energy resources of Caspian Sea and European consumers. On the other hand, Turkey is deeply interested in Iranian gas because of the geographic proximity and huge resources of the supplier. However, despite political rivalry Turkey and Iran have mutually beneficial cooperation in trade and tourism. The article covers the development of Turkish-Iranian relations in political and economic fields since the establishment of modern states. The authors consider different historic periods of interaction in XX-XXI centuries, the competition of both states for influence in the Post-Soviet space and the Middle East, the cooperation and rivalry concerning the unresolved Kurdish question and finally the close economic interdependence of both neighbours. In order to achieve the research goals of the article Turkish and Iranian news outlets were used as the main sources of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now that a number of Arab countries have serious plans to invest in developing nuclear power, the regionalization of the nuclear fuel cycle in the Arab region might present some important advantages, including better coordination, economies of scale, effective regional control, and the strengthening of nonproliferation norms, which may yield positive influence on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and of other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East. In addition, the bridges created across the gap between developed and less developed partners could lead toward greater political integration in the region, out of which a broader regional architecture for peace could emerge. This article addresses the following key question: if the Arab countries were to take the step of inviting Iran to join a Middle East nuclear fuel cycle from the outset, including Iran's sensitive nuclear technologies, would such a step open the way for a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear crisis? If Iran kept control of its nuclear program under the umbrella of a Middle Eastern nuclear fuel cycle, then Iran's peaceful nuclear accomplishments could be put to the service and benefit of all the Arab members of the region without necessarily leading to any transfer of sensitive technologies beyond Iran. To draw a road map toward the establishment of a WMDFZ in the Middle East, this article draws on lessons from previous experiences, especially the European Atomic Energy Community Treaty, in establishing a regional cooperation framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global nuclear regime may have reached a crossroads: the states parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have called for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East. Now that Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have reached a deal in Geneva over a phased verification of the peaceful character of Iran's nuclear program, the international community needs to address broader regional issues. Failure to move forward could imperil the global nonproliferation architecture. At the same time, little thought has been given to how this regional arrangement would work both internally (with its member states) and externally (with other organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency). This article reviews the obstacles and windows of opportunity for a comprehensive regional nuclear settlement by drawing lessons from recent history in Europe. In particular, the history of the European Atomic Energy Community suggests how a future regional organization with jurisdiction in all aspects of nuclear development should articulate its functions with existing international organizations such as the IAEA. In Europe, regional institutions have played a crucial role in creating trust among former warring nations and in harmonizing the regional and global nuclear orders. A EURATOM-like organization would be a great step for the Middle East and a great model for other regions that must deal with issues of global legal complexity (e.g., how they can harmonize regional and global orders so that they can pursue the same goals with different but compatible means). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

US-Iranian relations have been stalled for over three decades due to missteps in timing, distrust, hostility and ideological differences between Tehran and Washington. Six American presidents have experimented with different political and economic tools in an effort to reverse Iranian support for terrorist groups, its opposition to Israel and its pursuit of a nuclear programme. President Barack Obama’s direct engagement with Tehran to end the nuclear standoff is a first step towards improved relations between two estranged countries that share a number of mutual interests. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents several news-related items regarding the Middle East during 2014 and early 2014, with a particular focus on international relations. Topics, including efforts to establish peace in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Middle East politics, international cooperation regarding Iran's nuclear weapons program and cooperation between the Israelis and Palestinians on water sharing, are discussed.

Competition among the many actors in the regional geopolitics of the Middle East is in general a struggle of actors against each other over power and influence. The two states whose struggle over power and influence in the region has become more palpable with recent developments in the Middle East are Saudi Arabia and Iran. In addition to the political causes and material conditions of the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran in the regional geopolitics of the Middle East, there are religious causes and ideational conditions, which imports the rivalry between the two states its peculiar nature. In the current regional geopolitics of the Middle East, the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran continues in earnest in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's insights regarding the capability of Iran to acquire or build its own nuclear weapons and became a dominant country in the Middle East. The author disproves the notion that 2010 would be the year for Iran to finally create its own nuclear weapons due to several reasons such as the continues economic sanctions by the U.S. and United Nations (UN) and the lack of technology to develop these weapons. He discusses several means on how to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons such as the use of tougher economic sanctions, military strike to its known nuclear facilities and diplomacy. Moreover, he states that reduction of U.S. troops in the Middle East and assurance that it would not be attacked could urge Iran to enter a peace agreement.

Information about several papers discussed at Capitol Hill conferences convened by the Middle East, Policy Council which was held on January 18, 2008 in the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building is presented. The main topic of the conference was the national preoccupation between U.S. and Iraq. Focus is given on the military strategies of Iran, its programs and military policies.

The article discusses the argument that resolution on the tensions between U.S. and Iran through diplomacy is a sign of hipocracy. It is mentioned that U.S. used the military aid to employ tension in the Middle East. It includes a Memorandum of Agreement in Jerusalem signed by Under Secretary of State Burns with Bank of Israel. This agreement was a part of the military aid package announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The article, however, mentions that racing regional arms is not effective to ease tensions with Iran. It explains that it is hipocracy for President George W. Bush to mentions that destroying human life in the hope of saving human life is not ethical.

The article focuses on the political and social condition in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf Region. It reports on the increasing number of deaths in Iraq due to conflicts and the pressure on U.S. President George W. Bush to bring back the American troops to the country. It also reports on the confrontation made by Iran on western countries over its nuclear plan programme. Iran also condemns the United Nations Security Council for the absence of progression in its negotiation.