In less than 72 hours, history accelerated through a convergence of events that would normally unfold over several years. Yemen’s Ansarallah, after a lightning offensive, now holds the entire Red Sea coast from the port of Hodeidah to the Bab al-Mandab, including Mayyun Island, a volcanic rock outcrop smack in the middle of the “Gate...

Asia is all about face-to-face meetings or “people-to-people exchanges,” as Chinese President Xi Jinping puts it. Politico-economic summits are treated as much for their value in channeling common policies as venues allowing no one to lose face. Consensus – and mutual respect – is essential. Which means, unlike in the collective west, real diplomacy is...

The key variable to watch in these extremely troubled waters: what is contained in the MoU is strategically aligned with Beijing – all the way. Washington all but declared that the Iran-U.S. MoU was a dead cat. Not in a coma: it had gone to meet its maker. Yet now we may be witnessing the...

Never underestimate Yemen. Yemen shall resolutely match escalation for escalation. Just as Iran is doing. The divided lands of Islam never cease to amaze – and deceive – when it comes to their serial stark betrayal of the principles of Islam. The House of Saud has launched a “coalition” against Yemen – under the pretext...

The Bab al-Mandab is not closed. It is loaded. Earlier this week, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad leading a substantial delegation. By Tuesday, he had met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir and his Pakistani counterpart, Mohsin Naqvi. This was far from a routine border/security visit involving two neighbors. The...