Ali Vaez
“At every stop of Mr. Trump's trip, Arab leaders urged him to find a negotiated settlement with Iran. The alternative is terrible for them. Iran with a bomb or Iran bombed both have bad consequences for the region.”
15 hours ago
Mina al-Lami
“Jihadist and hard-line Islamists inside and outside of Syria worry that Sharaa [Ahmed al-Sharaa] will sell out foreign fighters and normalize ties with Israel, and even crack down on Islamic projects in Syria. Nevertheless, hardliners are struggling to rally broader support, as the lifting of sanctions is widely seen as a major win for Sharaa, and a clear boost to his image and credibility as a political leader.”
15 hours ago
Hossein Derakhshan
“Iran needs to understand that this opportunity will not repeat itself and the lifting of primary and secondary sanctions is worth suspending uranium enrichment for 25 years, or even more!”
15 hours ago
Nicole Grajewski
“Russia exploited the fact that Syria remained sanctioned and that the United States and Europe were dragging their feet on sanctions removal. While the decision to lift sanctions is significant, it is not transformative as Syria still needs investment and there are outstanding issues between minorities and the government as well as the status of the Kurds. Iran, however, is pretty much out of the picture for now. They lack the economic capital to help with reconstruction and are viewed [by Syrians] much more negatively than Russia.”
15 hours ago
Jon B. Alterman
“Governments and publics throughout the gulf like Trump a lot. They feel Western liberals want to shame them on their domestic issues, everything from L.G.B.T. rights to abuse of migrant workers. While there certainly are rising liberal voices in the gulf, most people there see Trump as a common-sense, like-minded leader.”
16 hours ago
Andrew Leber
“The trip was intended to deliver a series of economic, diplomatic and public relations wins for the countries involved. Saudi Arabia got the opportunity to highlight the changing nature of its society and economy, and present itself as a leader in global affairs, both in terms of business opportunities and diplomacy. Mr. Trump got a trip that essentially could not go wrong for him. This was the one place that's guaranteed to give him a very enthusiastic, warm and tightly controlled welcome. If he went anywhere in Latin America, there would be protests. If he went anywhere in Europe, there would be protests. This is a place that's going to speak with him and deal with him on very transactional terms, that's going to put on a big show and where there's not going to be any domestic protests whatsoever.”
16 hours ago
Zeina Khodr
“At the opening of the Arab Summit in Baghdad, speaker after speaker has been talking about the desperate conditions under which Palestinians are living. There is a real fear among the Arab leaders that Israel plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza, resettle the Palestinians, and depopulate this whole region. This is why the statements we have been hearing since this morning are rejecting this plan, saying that the Palestinian people should remain on their own land. But it's Israel that's calling the shots, not these Arab leaders. Israel's actions in recent days - by stepping up the military offensive and talking about permanently staying in Gaza - are sending a message that it is not interested in ending the war. Many will say that unless they have the US on board to help end this war, the Arab states have very little leverage on Israel. The normalisation of relations with Israel is not on the table until Israel commits to Palestinian statehood, and the Arab states are using this as some sort of leverage.”
17 hours ago
Gideon Levy
“The possibility of Iran and the US reaching a nuclear agreement is a very hopeful development. Those who believe only in bombing Iran as the only solution, what can they do? Israel cannot go for an attack over Iran without at least American approval. And if there will be a deal, there will be no approval. And I think many lives will be saved, but Israel can do nothing about it.”
17 hours ago
Ali Vaez
“At every stop of Mr. Trump's trip, Arab leaders urged him to find a negotiated settlement with Iran. The alternative is terrible for them. Iran with a bomb or Iran bombed both have bad consequences for the region.”
15 hours ago
Mina al-Lami
“Jihadist and hard-line Islamists inside and outside of Syria worry that Sharaa [Ahmed al-Sharaa] will sell out foreign fighters and normalize ties with Israel, and even crack down on Islamic projects in Syria. Nevertheless, hardliners are struggling to rally broader support, as the lifting of sanctions is widely seen as a major win for Sharaa, and a clear boost to his image and credibility as a political leader.”
15 hours ago
Hossein Derakhshan
“Iran needs to understand that this opportunity will not repeat itself and the lifting of primary and secondary sanctions is worth suspending uranium enrichment for 25 years, or even more!”
15 hours ago
Nicole Grajewski
“Russia exploited the fact that Syria remained sanctioned and that the United States and Europe were dragging their feet on sanctions removal. While the decision to lift sanctions is significant, it is not transformative as Syria still needs investment and there are outstanding issues between minorities and the government as well as the status of the Kurds. Iran, however, is pretty much out of the picture for now. They lack the economic capital to help with reconstruction and are viewed [by Syrians] much more negatively than Russia.”
15 hours ago
Jon B. Alterman
“Governments and publics throughout the gulf like Trump a lot. They feel Western liberals want to shame them on their domestic issues, everything from L.G.B.T. rights to abuse of migrant workers. While there certainly are rising liberal voices in the gulf, most people there see Trump as a common-sense, like-minded leader.”
16 hours ago
Andrew Leber
“The trip was intended to deliver a series of economic, diplomatic and public relations wins for the countries involved. Saudi Arabia got the opportunity to highlight the changing nature of its society and economy, and present itself as a leader in global affairs, both in terms of business opportunities and diplomacy. Mr. Trump got a trip that essentially could not go wrong for him. This was the one place that's guaranteed to give him a very enthusiastic, warm and tightly controlled welcome. If he went anywhere in Latin America, there would be protests. If he went anywhere in Europe, there would be protests. This is a place that's going to speak with him and deal with him on very transactional terms, that's going to put on a big show and where there's not going to be any domestic protests whatsoever.”
16 hours ago
Zeina Khodr
“At the opening of the Arab Summit in Baghdad, speaker after speaker has been talking about the desperate conditions under which Palestinians are living. There is a real fear among the Arab leaders that Israel plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza, resettle the Palestinians, and depopulate this whole region. This is why the statements we have been hearing since this morning are rejecting this plan, saying that the Palestinian people should remain on their own land. But it's Israel that's calling the shots, not these Arab leaders. Israel's actions in recent days - by stepping up the military offensive and talking about permanently staying in Gaza - are sending a message that it is not interested in ending the war. Many will say that unless they have the US on board to help end this war, the Arab states have very little leverage on Israel. The normalisation of relations with Israel is not on the table until Israel commits to Palestinian statehood, and the Arab states are using this as some sort of leverage.”
17 hours ago
Gideon Levy
“The possibility of Iran and the US reaching a nuclear agreement is a very hopeful development. Those who believe only in bombing Iran as the only solution, what can they do? Israel cannot go for an attack over Iran without at least American approval. And if there will be a deal, there will be no approval. And I think many lives will be saved, but Israel can do nothing about it.”
17 hours ago
“Kiev is taking out its impotent anger for tangible military defeats on the peaceful population of Russia. The attack on the capital of Tatarstan [Kazan] is also a kind of revenge for the successful BRICS summit in October 2024, which demonstrated the power and influence of this association, as well as an attempt to intimidate the population of one of the dynamically developing regions of our country. It is no coincidence that all Ukrainian media outlets and Telegram channels are posting footage from Kazan with sadistic pleasure, accompanying it with lewd verbal outbursts. This is the inhuman essence of the regime of the 'overdue president'.”
“Today, a number of really needy African countries do not receive the necessary financial support through, for example, from the IMF, the World Bank. Do you know why? They can make up a lot of stories, but you and I know the truth, and let's say it out loud: yes, because they divert their main resources to support the Kiev regime. And if we speak directly, to [support] the war, what are they doing this for? Only for one purpose - to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. And why is it necessary to inflict a strategic defeat? Because Russia supports all those who need not imaginary patronage, but real defense.”
“We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence and avoid a catastrophic scenario. It is necessary to stop provoking Iran into retaliatory actions and get out of the spiral of uncontrolled escalation.”
“When the authorities resort to such primitive ways of influencing their voters, this is the decline of liberal democracies. There will be a response. It is an obvious operation, an information campaign … that was long prepared and that is needed ahead of the last stage of the electoral cycle. The response will be harsh and will make everyone shudder. We warn that attempts to expel Russian journalists from the territory of the United States, create unacceptable conditions for their work or any other forms of obstruction of their activities, including with the use of visa tools, will become the basis for taking symmetrical and/or asymmetric retaliatory measures against the American media.”
“Zelensky's regime has not achieved its main goal - to distract Russian armed forces from Donbass and Slobozhanshchina. At present, Ukrainian militants who havemade an incursion into the territory of the Kursk Region are being decisively pushed back by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The criminal regime of the expired [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky continues to demonstrate its true neo-Nazi nature to the whole world. As the situation in Donbass is dire for Ukrainian forces, the Ukrainian government ordered a terrorist attack on the territories of the Kursk Region that are close to the border. Kiev didn't make it a secret that they intended this step to improve their own negotiating positions in the future, which Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of staff at Zelensky's office, stated on August 8 without any hesitation. Ukrainian Banderite armed formations indiscriminately fire on civilians as they are trying to evacuate from dangerous areas, shell residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, and engage in outright looting. Captured Ukrainian fighters admit that they received a command that, if civilians put up any resistance, they should mercilessly shoot everyone on the spot.”
“Putin's proposal had shown the real path to peace. If you want to save the world, discuss Vladimir Putin's proposal ... Only those who do not want peace can't see, can't understand it.”
“As a result of the ill-considered provocative actions of even one or two EU or NATO member states, the Ukrainian crisis could absolutely go beyond its geographical borders, acquire a completely different scale and develop uncontrollably. Accordingly, the question today is how to avoid the risks of further escalation. They are obvious and frightening to all sensible people.”
“I can assure you that all attempts to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Russian Federation, in particular, in the process of our [presidential] election are, first of all, doomed to failure, and, secondly, will backfire on them [the Western countries].”
“We consider such actions unacceptable, especially in relation to such large international commercial projects as Arctic LNG 2, which affect the energy balance of many states. The situation around Arctic LNG 2 once again confirms the destructive role for global economic security played by Washington, which speaks of the need to maintain this security but in fact, by pursuing its own selfish interests, tries to oust competitors and destroy global energy security.”
“The decisions of the International Criminal Court have no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view. Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it.”
“The countries around Serbia have closed the channel of communication by refusing to authorise the overflight of the plane of Sergey Lavrov who was headed to Serbia. The Russian delegation should have arrived in Belgrade for talks. But the EU and NATO member countries closed their airspace.”
“We hope that Ankara will refrain from actions that could lead to a dangerous deterioration of the already difficult situation in Syria. Such a move, in the absence of the agreement of the legitimate government of the Syrian Arab Republic, would be a direct violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and would cause a further escalation of tensions in Syria.”
“The OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] informed the participating states of the decision by 'a number of countries' to relocate their national staff of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 'due to deteriorating security conditions'. These decisions cannot but cause our serious concern. The OSCE move further inflamed tensions over Ukraine. The monitoring mission could be used as a tool to stage a possible provocation. We call on the OSCE leadership to resolutely stop attempts to manipulate the mission and prevent the organization from being drawn into dirty political games.”
“Our country is ready to further promote this process [of Armenian-Turkish rapprochement] in every possible way. The launch of this process, as we believe, would undoubtedly contribute to the improvement of the general situation in the region. Russia is taking all measures to restore economic ties and transport links in the region.”
“Despite our repeated appeals through diplomatic channels, our partners in Germany have not provided any evidence of Russia's involvement in these attacks.”
“The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of analysing what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States.”
“Yesterday the US embassy in Moscow published 'protest routes' in Russian cities and tossed around information about a 'march on the Kremlin'. US colleagues will have to explain themselves.”