Central Asia

There’s much pessimism surrounding this week’s scheduled talks over Iran’s nuclear program. But a quid pro quo approach offers a solution.

Iran still has it within its power to avoid military action. But it must show tangible signs that it’s changing positions.

If the West wants to turn the screws on Iran’s regime it must do more to ensure that it isn’t hurting the Iranian people.

Russia is playing a careful balancing game in Central Asia – stirring up worries about the U.S. military presence is just part of the game.

The West needs to persuade Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to give up his nuclear ambitions voluntarily. A military strike won’t do that.

The killing of 16 civilians in Afghanistan this week was a tragedy. But pulling U.S. troops back from the local populace would be a mistake.

Despite some of the recent bluster and bloodshed over Iran and Syria, developments this month suggest that there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

While attention has focused on Tehran’s alleged nuclear weapons ambitions, Russia’s lax safety standards risk creating another kind of nuclear disaster in Iran.

The Indian Ocean archipelago of Socotra is often described as an alien-looking paradise on earth. It also happens to be of immense strategic value to the U.S. and Asian nations.

Beijing may be reluctant to intervene in the Iran crisis. But if an Israeli strike seems imminent, there are several things it can do to pressure Tehran.

Iranians are heading to the polls for parliamentary elections. The results will give a big clue about Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s intentions.

U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan won’t be able to kill their way to victory. But they may be able to choke off the insurgency.