The latest arrests of princes, ministers and military officials in Saudi Arabia might be in the name of anti-corruption but it also serves to bolster the Saudi royal family’s power.
The daily newspaper ‘Arman’ bore a picture of US President Donald Trump with a headline which reads “Isolation of Mr. Goof”, on October 14, 2017.
AFP
Clément Therme, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS)
The Trump administration’s change of US policy toward Iran has reinforced hardliners’ ambitions and nationalistic feelings, complicating an already difficult situation in the region.
When it comes to foreign policy, Saudi Arabia has recently become far more aggressive. A historian of the modern Middle East sees three possible causes for the shift.
Donald Trump’s justification for decertifying the Iran nuclear deal stems from his view that Iran is violating the deal’s spirit.
Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
Aside from vague threats of violence and suggestions he could ‘renegotiate’ the Iran nuclear agreement, Donald Trump has provided little in the way of coherent or viable policy options.
A relief at the ancient Persian city of Persepolis (now in modern Iran), including inscriptions in cuneiform, the world’s oldest form of writing.
Diego Delso/Wikimedia
Cuneiform was used for over 3,000 years in the Ancient Near East, but was only decoded in the 19th century. The writing form is still revealing amazing stories, from literature to mathematics.
At present, the Middle East and North African region contains 7% of the world’s population but only has access to 1.5% of its renewable freshwater supply through rainfall.
Modern desalination plant on the shores of the Arabian Gulf where the most desalinated water is produced.
Shutterstock
Desalination has been proposed as one of many strategies to deal with the water shortages. But the process is known to be expensive and harmful to the environment.
Spain plays a relatively inconsequential role in the fight against Islamic State.
Reuters/Sergio Perez
Senior Associate Fellow on the Middle East at RUSI; Associate Professor in Politics & International Relations; Deputy Director of the Centre on US Politics, UCL