The novel coronavirus first reached the Middle East region in the form of a significant outbreak in Iran’s holy city of Qom, from there expanding within Iran, and then spreading further throughout the region as visitors to Iran’s many shrines returned to their home countries.| The Soufan Center
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has consumed the attention of both Iran and the United States, as well as that of Iraq, Iran has continued to try to ensure that it maintains preponderant influence in Iraq| The Soufan Center
The Trump administration is accelerating its efforts to compel other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – all of which are parties to the 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear deal – to extend the U.N. ban on arms transfers to and from Iran| The Soufan Center
The government of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned in December 2019 in the face of sustained protests by mainstream Shias and other groups over government incompetence, corruption, and the failure to address Iraq’s economic weaknesses| The Soufan Center
