Now that Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations following their talks in Beijing earlier this month, hopes have emerged that the eight-year civil war in Yemen may finally be coming to an end. However, there is yet to be any specific plan to include the troubled South Arabian nation within bilateral peace negotiations.
US economic sanctions on Russia and Iran have pushed the two countries closer by supplying them with a common need for security policy cooperation as well as trading opportunities outside of Western markets. The two nations are looking for new opportunities to work together, and one result is an Iranian military drone factory being built inside Russia.
Even during the Trump administration, when the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions, Japan has maintained cordial relations with the Persian Gulf nation. Should the nuclear agreement be reestablished in the coming weeks or months, Japanese firms are particularly well-positioned for investments and other economic links in the new era.
The next Iranian presidential election is set to take place on June 18—this Friday—and more than ever, politicians and analysts have been expressing opinions about republicanism and the crucial role of people in the electoral process.
