The outbreak of war between Israel and Iran presents a profound geopolitical test for the People’s Republic of China (PRC), exposing the structural limits of Beijing’s ambitions in the Middle East and its global strategy. Beijing has enjoyed strong economic, energy, and trade ties with countries in the region — walking a tightrope between rival […]| The Soufan Center
Leaders in Beijing might have thought that their ties to Iran immunized China’s global shipping conglomerates and its economy more generally from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi (Ansarallah) movement on global shipping through the Red Sea.| The Soufan Center
In an effort to convince Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, the United States is reportedly prepared to grant the kingdom major security guarantees enjoyed by only a select few U.S. allies outside of NATO.| The Soufan Center
On at least three occasions since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Zaidi Shia Houthi movement in Yemen has launched volleys of Iran-supplied land attack cruise missiles and armed drones toward Israel, which is over 1,000 miles from Yemen.| The Soufan Center
After a more than six-month hiatus in diplomatic talks to revive the 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA) that the Trump administration exited in 2018, U.S. and Iranian officials have reportedly been conducting indirect talks to de-escalate burgeoning tensions.| The Soufan Center
The Arab states of the Persian Gulf have all been key U.S. security partners since U.S. officials mobilized regional and global allies to launch a military campaign to reverse Iraq’s 1990 invasion and occupation of Kuwait. In the years since, and particularly following the U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq in 2003, Iran […]| The Soufan Center
The Sultanate of Oman, under the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said and led since early 2020 by Sultan Haythim bin Tariq Al Said, has historically sought to engage a wide range of leaders and factions to promote conflict resolution| The Soufan Center