Central Asia

With spiralling inflation, Iran’s economy is in need of rebalancing. Poor implementation of vital reforms is undermining government claims of success.

With pressure growing on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside, will Iran continue to support his crackdown?

Obama claimed that the light of peace could be seen in Afghanistan. But conflicting agendas among the main players leaves its future uncertain.

The attack this week on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul is a reminder of the daily dangers expat workers face. Aid groups aren’t taking any chances.

Tensions between the president and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been bubbling to the surface. Ahmadinejad is running out of options.

The announcements of a drawdown of US troops and talks with the Taliban are welcome. But Obama’s Afghanistan policy is still muddled.

The 10th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation failed to come up with anything new. It’s members kind of like it that way.

The US is set to announce details of the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan next week. Balancing the generals and growing antiwar sentiment isn’t easy.

A flare-up in Bahrain could spark a regional conflict between Sunnis and Shias. If it did, the US would be left with the question of how to handle China.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is keen to contribute to the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. It’s all about his own standing, though.

Ahmadinejad’s offer to return to talks over Iran’s nuclear programme may not be sincere. But accepting it may be the least bad option.

Claims of witchcraft and sorcery, firings and reinstatements – who will win the battle of wills between the Supreme Leader and President Ahmadinejad?