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Today’s Snapshot

Iran – Al-Arab (London)

  • Iranian President visits Oman amid nuclear deadlock: Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Muscat aims to revive U.S.-Iran nuclear talks stalled over enrichment issues, leveraging Oman’s mediation. The trip also signals Iran’s attempt to project diplomatic openness amid threats of Israeli strikes and internal unrest.

 

Iraq – Al-Mada (Baghdad)

  • Kirkuk political crisis reignites: Two Arab members withdrew from the ruling Kirkuk Alliance, potentially collapsing the local government. The move reflects Arab disenchantment with Kurdish partners’ failure to uphold power-sharing terms and could paralyze the council.

 

Jordan – Al-Quds al-Arabi (London)

  • Islamist MPs push populist amnesty law: The Islamic Action Front introduced a general amnesty bill targeting financial and tribal dispute cases. The initiative, while politically charged, has broad public support and challenges centrist blocs unwilling to back it.

 

Kenya-Morocco – Al-Arab (London)

  • Kenya backs Moroccan Sahara autonomy: In a major diplomatic pivot, Kenya endorsed Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara, abandoning Polisario support. The shift aligns with Morocco’s economic outreach and was formalized during the Kenyan foreign minister’s Rabat visit.

 

Lebanon – Al-Modon & Nidaa al-Watan (Beirut)

  • Hezbollah resists disarmament amid U.S. pressure: Tensions rise between PM Nawaf Salam and Hezbollah, with the latter seeking to exploit ties with President Aoun to block moves to centralize arms under the state. U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus is expected to escalate disarmament talks.

 

Palestine – Al-Quds al-Arabi (London)

  • Israeli forces target Palestinian money transfers: Coordinated raids on Gulf Exchange offices across the West Bank signal Israeli efforts to choke diaspora remittances. Claims of terrorist ties were used to justify the seizures, prompting economic alarm and local resistance.

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING
28-May-2025
Iran
Politics
"Concern over the course of nuclear talks prompts Iranian President to visit Oman"  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Peace Process - USA Europe
On May 28, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: Muscat – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Muscat on Tuesday, reflecting growing Iranian concern about the faltering negotiations with the United States on the nuclear issue. The visit comes amid a relative stalemate in the talks, which stalled after Iran refused to accept the US condition of zero enrichment… (Read More)
Iraq
Politics
"Kirkuk at the heart of the storm again: Withdrawal of Arab members changes political equation"  (Al-Mada, Iraq)   
Democracy and Party Politics
On May 28, the independent Al-Mada newspaper carried the following report by its correspondent Suzanne Taher: In a dramatic political development, the Kirkuk crisis has returned to the forefront after the withdrawal of two Arab members of the Kirkuk Alliance, which formed the Kirkuk local government. The formation of the Kirkuk local government was a arduous and lengthy process that lasted more than seven months after the announcement of the ratification of the results of the recent provincial council elections. Recently, Kirkuk Provincial Council member Raad al-Saleh announced, in a joint press conference with his colleague Dhahir Anwar al-Assi, their withdrawal from the Kirkuk Alliance… (Read More)
Jordan
Politics
"Why did Jordanian Islamists ride wave of "General Pardon"?..."  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
Monarchies/Dictatorships - Religion
On May 27, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its Amman Office Chief Bassam Bdareen: Amman - Al-Quds Al-Arabi: The leaders and figures of the Islamist opposition bloc in the Jordanian parliament know, before and more than anyone else, that their initiative and movement toward issuing a new "general amnesty law" is a step that could be read as propagandistic and populist, or at least uncoordinated with the rest of the movements and blocs in parliament. This will result in a size that Islamists hope to capitalize on by accumulating embarrassment and embracing various parties… (Read More)
Kenya
Politics
"Kenya joins the camp supporting Moroccan Sahara..."  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy
On May 28, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: Rabat - Kenya's new positions on the Western Sahara issue reflect a strategic shift in its relations with Morocco, shifting from historical support for the separatist Polisario Front to explicit support for the Moroccan autonomy proposal as the only realistic solution to the regional conflict… (Read More)
Lebanon
Opinion
"Lebanon between Hezbollah's rhythm and the international pressure..."  (Website, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Peace Process - USA Europe
On May 28, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following editorial: Lebanon appears to be returning to a split between two political discourses and perspectives. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's repeated statements, which are consistent with those of President Joseph Aoun, his inaugural address, and the ministerial statement, emphasize the necessity of enforcing the monopoly of arms control over the Lebanese state, ensuring control over decisions on war and peace, and ending the era of exporting the Iranian revolution. This contrasts with the statements of Hezbollah and its officials, particularly Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who clearly stated that no discussion of disarmament could be made before Israel withdraws, prisoners are released, and attacks cease… (Read More)
Politics
"The file of the hostages in Israel: Positivity but..."  (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)
Military and Security
On May 28, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report: With the end of the municipal and mayoral battles, which resulted in the consolidation of positions and the redrawing of the balance of power between the internal parties, the political clock has returned to normal, with issues competing for prominence. This is in light of the beginning of transformations, the first of which may be precipitated by the rhetoric of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah and the visit of a delegation from the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc to Baabda Palace… (Read More)
"Hezbollah drives a wedge between Aoun and Salam to circumvent the surrender of weapons"  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Democracy and Party Politics
On May 28, the privately owned Nidaa al-Watan daily newspaper carried the following report by Lara Yazbek: Hezbollah has resorted to a new evasive method to circumvent the major Lebanese and international demand to surrender its weapons to the state. This tactic, which it officially pulled out of its own pocket on Monday, consists of appeasing President Joseph Aoun with sweet talk to drown him out, while demonizing Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. This is a clear and transparent attempt to drive a wedge between the two men, according to sovereign political sources who spoke to Nidaa Al Watan… (Read More)
"Hezbollah upset with Salam's positions"  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)
Democracy and Party Politics
On May 27, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Beirut by its correspondent Caroline Akoum: The relationship between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Hezbollah is characterized by lukewarmness, as evidenced by the response of the head of the party's parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, to Salam's statements in a television interview yesterday regarding "refusing to remain silent about any weapons remaining outside the state's control and the end of the era of exporting the Iranian revolution."… (Read More)
Morocco
Politics
"The Sahrawis for Peace Movement ends Polisario's monopoly on speaking on behalf of the Sahrawis"  (Newspaper, Middle East)   
Human Rights - Media - Peace Process
On May 28, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: Rabat - The Sahrawis for Peace Movement participated in two sessions of the Socialist International Conference, along with a women's delegation from the southern Moroccan cities of Dakhla and Laayoune. This officially confirms that the movement has become a new party recognized by the Socialist International and has the right to speak on behalf of the Sahrawis, ending the Polisario Front's monopoly on this right. A statement by the Sahrawis for Peace Movement emphasized that "there is another emerging movement that believes in dialogue and political pluralism and places the interests of the Sahrawis above all else."… (Read More)
Palestine
Business
"Impoverishing the West Bank: Israeli occupation forces seize Diaspora's [money] transfers..."  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
Financial Markets - Military and Security
On May 27, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from the West Bank by its correspondent Saeed Abu Maalla: West Bank – Al-Quds Al-Arabi: Doubled astonishment spread among the citizens who gathered to enter the Gulf Exchange Stores in the city of Jenin after the Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the store in the center of Jenin in a broad daylight robbery… (Read More)
Syria
Opinion
"Yes, compare Syria to Lebanon!"  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)
Military and Security
On May 28, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following opinion piece by former Chief Editor Tariq Alhomayed: Syrians have suffered for fourteen years to overthrow the criminal Bashar al-Assad, defeat Iran and its militias, most notably Hezbollah, and end Russian support for Assad. They have also suffered from Israeli strikes on their country during Assad's rule and after his fall… (Read More)
Politics
"Moscow invites Ash-Shaybani to visit it after Turkish "advice""  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)   
Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Peace Process
On May 27, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Moscow by its correspondent Raed Jaber: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov surprisingly announced on Tuesday that he had extended an official invitation to his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Sheibani, to visit Moscow… (Read More)
 
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