Kazakhstan

March 13, 2025 | |

Russia and China to Discuss Iranian Nuclear Program Following Joint Naval Drills

UK Threatens Sanctions Snapback on Iran: Deputy foreign ministers from Russia and China will meet in Beijing on March 14 to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The meeting comes...

January 22, 2025 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Svante Cornell

The Hidden Renewable Energy in Central Asia

One of the biggest threats to human health, and a major source of air pollution, is regularly hidden in statistical reports as “renewable energy:” the burning of dung, wood, and lump coal. While most...

December 11, 2024 | Svante Cornell, Dr. Brenda Shaffer

Europe’s Nuclear Energy and Central Asian Uranium

The drive toward electrification coupled with the political decision to reduce fossil fuel consumption is creating a situation where, by necessity, there is renewed interest in  nuclear energy. In...

December 4, 2024 | Svante Cornell, Dr. Brenda Shaffer

Central Asia in the Energy Transition

Excerpt The Central Asian region, in terms of energy, has long been known mostly for its vast endowments of oil and gas. Indeed, some of the largest new discoveries of oil anywhere in the world in the...

November 28, 2024 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Why Isn’t Moscow Celebrating Trump’s Re-election?

Many expected the Kremlin to rejoice in Trump’s victory, but the reaction has been tepid at best. Perhaps the Russians recognize the irreconcilable differences in the US-Russian relationship.

November 19, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran and Syria bolster alliance amid regional tensions and global shifts

Iranian state media initially did not provide many details of the meeting, except that they discussed “various issues.”

November 11, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian FM and Quds Force do outreach to Iraq

High-level meetings in Tehran signal deepening Iran-Iraq security cooperation, while Iran simultaneously advances its regional agenda through talks with Turkey, Russia, and Lebanon.

October 1, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Russia-Iran ties in spotlight as Russian PM visits Iran

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's visit to Iran highlights growing ties between the two nations, as they deepen economic cooperation and strengthen their anti-Western alliance.

September 25, 2024 | |

Iran Brokers Talks to Provide Russian Missiles to Houthi Rebels in Yemen

Iran is brokering talks between Russia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen to provide the terrorist group with Russian-made anti-ship missiles, Reuters reported on September 24. “Seven...

September 3, 2024 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Durov’s Arrest Is About Telegram as Russian Weapon, Not Free Speech

So-called free speech activists have jumped to defend Pavel Durov after his arrest, but they conveniently forget Russia’s weaponization of his Telegram platform.

August 17, 2024 | Jason Jay Smart, Ivana Stradner

Is Russia Raising Specter of ‘Dirty Bomb’ to Prime Public for False Flag?

Russia has vast playbook full of “dirty tricks” by which it can deceive public opinion and distort perception of reality. History show that false flag operations have always been a viable option.

August 15, 2024 | Sinan Ciddi, Sophia Epley

Turkey is committed to undermining NATO

Ankara is blowing past established norms and boundaries

August 12, 2024 | |

Iran Reportedly Will Send Hundreds of Ballistic Missiles to Russia

Iran will imminently deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, Reuters reported on August 9, citing two European intelligence sources. Dozens...

August 6, 2024 | |

Russia Reportedly Delivers Air Defense, Radar Equipment to Iran

Latest Developments Citing two unnamed Iranian officials, The New York Times reported on August 6 that Russia has started to deliver radars and air defense equipment to Iran ahead of a possible war...

August 5, 2024 | |

Head of Russian Security Council Arrives in Iran

Latest Developments The secretary of Russia’s Security Council arrived in Tehran on August 5 as fears of an Iranian strike on Israel continued to grow. Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of Russian President...

August 5, 2024 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Maduro Is Putin’s Proxy and Must Be Stopped

After claiming victory in what observers deem to be falsified elections, Venezuela’s autocrat is benefitting from Putin’s support. It is in America’s strategic interest to defeat both of them.

July 23, 2024 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Russia and Trump: Polluting the Information Space

Russian propagandists’ goal in their accounts of the assassination attempt on Trump is not to offer a single narrative, but rather to muddy the waters so Americans come to doubt everything.

July 7, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian President Pezeshkian will not open a new chapter for Iran-Israel relations

The Iranian regime is not just the president and President Masoud Pezeshkian will not have much power to recast Iran’s role in the region.

June 17, 2024 | |

IAEA Chief Says 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal ‘Means Nothing,’ Touts Iran’s Cooperation with Russia

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi told Russian state media that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal “exists only on paper and means nothing” in...

June 1, 2024 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

The Russian Art of Mudslinging and Conspiracy-mongering

Whenever a world leader dies, either by sinister or natural causes, you can be sure Moscow will warp the narrative to sow, if not panic, then at least cynicism and doubt.