Iran and Afghanistan

At least 800 people have died in a powerful earthquake in Afghanistan, with entire villages being destroyed

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:15:51 +0000

At least 800 people have died in a powerful earthquake in Afghanistan, with entire villages being destroyed

According to the Taliban government, an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale in eastern Afghanistan killed around 800 people on Sunday night. More than 2.700 people are also reported to have been injured. The death toll has risen rapidly in recent hours. This is partly due to the inaccessibility of the mountainous region.

Maximiliaan va… Mon, 09/01/2025 - 10:15

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UN Warns ISIL/Daesh Remains a Persistent Global Threat at the Security Council Briefing

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:41:08 +0000

UN Warns ISIL/Daesh Remains a Persistent Global Threat at the Security Council Briefing

On Wednesday (20 August) the Security Council convened for a briefing on the Secretary-General’s 21st biannual strategic-level report analysing the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh). Under-Secretary-General and UN Counter-Terrorism Chief Vladimir Voronkov cautioned that ISIL/Daesh remains a resilient and evolving global threat, with its presence expanding across multiple regions.

Maximiliaan va… Fri, 08/22/2025 - 13:41

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Armenia-Azerbaijan Transit Requires Bilateral and Regional Dialogue

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:27:36 +0000

Armenia-Azerbaijan Transit Requires Bilateral and Regional Dialogue

Uncertainty has again emerged along the Armenia-Iran border as the risk of the long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan turning into further geopolitical competition continues. What was once a post-war localised disagreement over territory and sovereignty is now entangled in a web of regional interests and strategic manoeuvring. Increasingly, peace risks being shaped less by the needs of local populations but more by the calculations of distant capitals. External interference has rather delayed progress almost five years since the 2020 war. If peace is the objective, then the region needs inclusive not selective diplomacy and definitely not new geopolitical fault lines.

Robert Micallef Thu, 07/31/2025 - 12:27

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The “New Middle East” is not so new after all!

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 06:53:00 +0000

The “New Middle East” is not so new after all!

Last month, TIME magazine ran a cover story entitled “A New Middle East Is Unfolding before our eyes”. “The middle of what? East of where?”, asks Tim Marshall in his seminal book ‘Prisoners of Geography’, before quickly reminding us that “The Middle East is one of those places where the past is now”.

Maximiliaan va… Mon, 07/21/2025 - 08:53

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Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan agree to joint railway feasibility study

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:33:32 +0000

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan agree to joint railway feasibility study

On Thursday (17 July), Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed a framework agreement in Kabul to conduct a joint feasibility study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi segment of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) railway corridor.

Maximiliaan va… Fri, 07/18/2025 - 13:33

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Russia is the first country to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:13:17 +0000

Russia is the first country to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan

On Thursday (3 July), Russia formally recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan by accepting credentials from its new ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. In April, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations. On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry welcomed this decision, stating that diplomatic ties would promote "productive bilateral cooperation" in areas such as trade, energy, transport, agriculture, and security. Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, welcomed Russia’s move, calling it 'historic' and expressing hope that other countries would follow suit. This reflects the Taliban's growing efforts to gain international legitimacy since seizing power in August 2021 following the US withdrawal from the country.

Maximiliaan va… Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:13

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International Atomic Energy Agency: "Iran could enrich uranium again within months"

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:37:32 +0000

International Atomic Energy Agency: "Iran could enrich uranium again within months"

In an interview with the American broadcaster CBS, Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, said that Iran has the technical capabilities to enrich uranium again ‘within months’.

Almost a week after American attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, it has become clear that the sites were damaged. While the White House claims that Iran's nuclear programme has been destroyed, American media outlets are questioning this.

Maximiliaan va… Mon, 06/30/2025 - 13:37

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Fragile Israel – Iran truce brokered by Trump comes into effect but Israel claims Iran violated ceasefire

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:10:04 +0000

Fragile Israel – Iran truce brokered by Trump comes into effect but Israel claims Iran violated ceasefire

Hours after US President Donald Trump said his ceasefire had taken effect, Israel said it intercepted two Iranian missiles, with Defence Minister Israel Katz vowing that the military would "respond forcefully". Israel had stated on Tuesday it agreed to Trump's declaration of a ceasefire with Iran, adding that it had achieved all its objectives in the 12-day war with its arch-enemy. According to AFP, Iran denied launching missiles at Israel after the ceasefire announcement, and said it had "compelled" Israel to "unilaterally halt its aggression", while stopping short of officially accepting the ceasefire plan.

Robert Micallef Tue, 06/24/2025 - 12:10

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Houthis end cease fire with US and say they will attack American forces in the Red Sea

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 12:17:37 +0000

Houthis end cease fire with US and say they will attack American forces in the Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi Movement has ended a cease fire with the United States that it negotiated last month with the mediation of Oman.

The Ansar Allah movement will launch attacks on US forces in the Red Sea in response to US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, Mohammed al-Buheiti, a member of the Yemeni movement's politburo, said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

dennis2020 Sun, 06/22/2025 - 14:17

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The United States attacks Iran

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 04:38:59 +0000

The United States attacks Iran

US president, Donald Trump, has said that the American military has completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space," he wrote on Truth Social. Trump added that a "full payload of bombs" were dropped on Fordo and all planes were on their way back to the US. In a national televised address from the White House, Trump warned Iran it must make peace of future attacks will be "far greater". The UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the United States’ bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran as a “dangerous escalation” on Saturday following eight days of deadly strikes and counter strikes between Tehran and Tel Aviv. “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today,” said the UN chief, reiterating that there is no military solution “This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.”

dennis2020 Sun, 06/22/2025 - 06:38

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