Eurasia

Belgrade (Informed Comment) – While many Western countries closed their embassies in Kabul, Russian diplomats decided to stay in Afghanistan. The Taliban – a radical movement that effectively took over the country following the US withdrawal – reportedly promised to guarantee the safety of the Russian embassy in the Afghan capital. What is the future […]

Armenia

In Challenge to U.S., Putin’s Eurasian Union seeks to Incorporate Iran

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) – Iran is hoping to join Russia-dominated Eurasian Union by the end of February. The Islamic Republic could also soon get a new rail connection with the Russian Federation, and such an action would additionally strengthen economic and political ties between the two countries. Such a major infrastructural project would […]

Armenia

Did Peace just Break out in the Caucasus or Did Russia Strong-Arm Armenia into its Orbit?

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) – The war in Nagorno-Karbakh is over. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed an agreement that effectively ended hostilities between the two countries over the disputed mountainous region. The deal was brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who managed to preserve the role of the […]

Armenia

in Conflict with Armenia, Azerbaijan used Cluster Munitions in Nagorno-Karabakh

Human Rights Watch

Stop Use of Banned Weapons; Secure and Destroy Stocks

Armenia

Trying To Be Neutral: Iran Worried Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Could Turn Into Wider War

Golnaz Esfandiari

(RFE/RL ) – Sharing a frontier with both Armenia and Azerbaijan as they fight a bitter war over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh territory, Tehran is closely watching the conflict amid growing concern it could spill over the border. A number of artillery shells and rockets have recently landed in Iranian territory, including a residential area, only […]

Armenia

Where does Iran stand on Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh?

Middle East Monitor

By Marwan Kabalan | – ( Middle East Monitor) – While most attention is focused on the positions of Russia and Turkey in the ongoing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Iran receives less attention. The former are the direct regional sponsors of the Armenian and Azeri parties to the crisis, but Iran is likely to […]

Armenia

War for Oil, again? Why are Russia and Turkey intervening in the Azerbaijan-Armenia Clashes?

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) – Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh threaten to destabilize the Caucasus. Turkey and Russia – the major foreign actors in this proxy conflict – are still not directly involved in bloodshed that erupted on September 27, although Ankara openly supports Baku by providing full […]

Donald Trump

Russia tells Trump to Jump in Lake, commits 80,000 Personnel to War drill alongside Iran, China

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – This week, Russia is deploying 80,000 personnel, including 12,000 troops, alongside 1,000 troops from friendly countries in its region, in its Caucasus 2020 (Kavkaz 2020) military drills. Its partners include Iran, China, Belarus, Armenia, Pakistan, and Myanmar. The choice of Iran was deliberate. The Trump administration has threatened the most […]

China

No Longer Leader of the Free World: Trump Admin. Humiliated at UN over Iran Arms Embargo

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Last week, I asked, “Will Trump’s Maximum Pressure on UNSC against Lifting Iran Arms Embargo Backfire Big Time?” As Iran’s IRNA news service reports today, the answer was a resounding “Yes!” On Friday, the United Nations Security Council took up a resolution presented by US ambassador to the UN, Kelly […]