Turkey’s protests reveal conflicting visions of society
The ongoing clashes in Istanbul’s Taksim Square have exposed the fault lines running between those want to protect secular values and those who want to introduce more Islam into public life.
The ongoing clashes in Istanbul’s Taksim Square have exposed the fault lines running between those want to protect secular values and those who want to introduce more Islam into public life.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s uncompromising response to widespread protests has kept many out on the streets, angered by what they describe as his ‘dictatorial’ rule.
Protesters in Turkey celebrated their hold — for now — on Istanbul’s Taksim Square. But it’s unclear what will happen next in the anti-government movement.
Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator and a contender in the June presidential election, sat down with the Monitor to share his views about an ‘unbalanced’ nuclear offer made by world powers.
Talks in Istanbul today over Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions that have crippled its economy yielded little in the way of progress.
Controversial candidates like former President Rafsanjani could draw high voter turnout, but may challenge the supreme leader’s ability to control the process of replacing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iran dismissed Israeli claims that yesterday’s airstrike in Syria targeted Iranian weapons destined for Hezbollah, accusing Israel of looking for an excuse to hammer the ‘Axis of Resistance.’
The deal will help rebuild intelligence links between Turkey and Israel. The Turkds do not want to be caught off guard by any use or transfer of chemical weapons in nearby Syria.
President Obama arrived in Israel today for a regional visit in which he will have to juggle three rapidly ticking time bombs: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria’s war, and Iran’s nuclear program.
Tomorrow’s ‘technical-level’ meeting in Istanbul will give a quieter, closed-door venue for six world powers and Iran to try to turn diplomatic progress into concrete measures.
The 2,600 year old Cyrus Cylinder, a promise of tolerance from the ancient Persian King, is heading to the US for the first time.
The P5+1 appears to be offering little new and an IAEA report shows Iran has made steady nuclear progress since talks stalled last spring.
Iran’s unexpectedly slow missile progress, a dialed down ‘covert war,’ and uranium enrichment changes may yield more room for diplomacy over the country’s nuclear program.
The release of the video comes as Iran showcases a slew of scientific and technological advances to herald the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, which will be celebrated on Feb. 10.
Iran’s foreign minister said he was ‘optimistic’ about looming nuclear talks. But political sparring ahead of June presidential elections could stymie any deal-making now.
Failure to agree on an immunity deal in Iraq ensured that US forces pulled out completely by the end of 2011, further diminishing America’s influence there.
In a letter to the White House, Iran experts insisted diplomacy, not further sanctions, will have the best results. But US actions since then indicate more sticks than carrots.
The UN nuclear watchdog says that Iran installed more centrifuges at Fordow facility, but it isn’t using more of them — yet. Nuclear talks are due to resume soon.
Tehran has not confirmed the Pentagon’s claim that Iran shot at an unarmed US drone, but has hinted a drone was within its airspace. Last year, Iran brought down a CIA stealth drone operating deep inside the country.
Russia and China — reversing earlier stances — joined today in the IAEA’s near-unanimous vote expressing ‘serious concern’ over Iran’s nuclear program.
By Scott Peterson
Sept. 14, 2012