Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The truce between Iran and Israel is just hours old, and already on shaky grounds. Israel Katz, Defense Minister of Israel, ordered “intense strikes” on the Iranian capital, Tehran, after accusing Iran of violating a truce brokered by the United States and Qatar. Iran denied the claim and warned its Iranian security forces to stand ready to respond to any Israeli violations of the ceasefire. The military in Iran has denied launching any missiles at Israel past the official ceasefire agreement, according to Iranian official media reports. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator A direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran has intensified over the past six days, marking a dangerous shift from years of proxy hostilities. Israel began the war with an unprovoked attack on Iran on Friday, June 13 with airstrikes targeting Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists and military installations.Iran has retaliated with multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drones.Both sides have hit residential areas as well as military sites, inflicting casualties and injuries in both countries. The destruction on both sides underscores the severity of the confrontation. U.S. President Donald Trump had initiated…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Iran responded to ongoing Israeli attacks by launching two waves of hypersonic missiles in the early hours of Wednesday, marking the sixth day of the conflict, which began with an unprovoked attack by Israel. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with his national security team did not result in a decision to attack Iran. A White House official stated that the meeting in the “Operations Room” lasted approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, without providing any further details. Among the options Trump is studying is the use of bombs…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On Friday the 13th, as the Middle East slept on the first day of the region’s weekend, Israel launched a massive preemptive strike on Iranian territory. The secret operation, codenamed “Rising Lion”, targeted nuclear facilities, missile production sites, nuclear scientists and high-ranking military officials, marking the most significant escalation between the two nations in decades. The Strike: Targets and Impact According to Israeli military sources, over 200 aircraft participated in the operation, striking key Iranian infrastructure across multiple provinces. Notable targets included: Natanz Nuclear Facility: Iran’s primary uranium enrichment site suffered heavy damage. The…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Middle East news media are nervously covering the evacuation orders for Americans in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain, which include some U.S. government personnel. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center that Americans were advised to leave the region “because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens”. Iran’s defense minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, has said his country would target U.S. military bases in the region if conflict breaks out with the United States. On June 15, the US-Iran negotiations concerning a possible new deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The crippling U.S. and EU sanctions have been lifted from Syria, and the stage of rebuilding Syria has begun. Syrians from all occupations and levels of society are anxious to rebuild their lives and their homes. Already, Syrian refugees from abroad have begun returning with the hope of a chance for safety and prosperity in their beloved homeland. Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse, interviewed the Syrian journalist and writer, Saddam Hussein, who is with RT and based in Moscow. #1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Syria has entered into a $7 billion energy deal recently with a…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On June 5, the eve of the Muslim Al Adha holiday, Israel carried out the largest air attack on Beirut since the November 27 ceasefire. All the Arab news channels carried live coverage of the repeated attacks on the southern residential section of Beirut, home to hundreds of thousands of civilians. Men, women and children were scrambling to leave the area as the devastating attacks sent mushroom-clouds into the evening sky. Commercial planes were easily seen in the live coverage coming in to land at Rafik Hariri International airport. Every few minutes, another plane…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator In a historic step toward rebuilding a nation scarred by years of conflict, Syria has embarked on an ambitious journey to restore its energy sector and revitalize its economy. On May 29, 2025, President Ahmad al-Sharaa witnessed the signing of a $7 billion memorandum of understanding in Damascus, marking the largest post-war infrastructure investment in Syria’s history. This transformative deal, led by Qatar’s Urbacon Holding alongside a global consortium, promises to reshape Syria’s energy landscape, create jobs, and lay the foundation for long-term recovery. A New Dawn for Syria’s Energy Sector The centerpiece of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Syria needs everything. After 14 years of conflict, the economy, infrastructure and security status are devastated. The UAE was one of the first Arab countries to hold out a helping hand to Damascus. Once the transition on December 8, 2024 took place, UAE has continued to strengthen its ties and commitment with Syria. On June 1, Hassan Ahmed Al Shehhi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Syrian Arab Republic, at the Damascus International Airport, “We are pleased to announce the resumption of operations by the UAE national carrier, FlyDubai, to the Syrian…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator As Iraq approaches its parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2025, the nation stands at a critical juncture. The upcoming vote, the sixth since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, is poised to shape Iraq’s political landscape amid ongoing challenges of sectarian tensions, economic recovery, and regional influences. With preparations intensifying, including exceptional parliamentary sessions to finalize electoral laws, the 2025 elections are already generating significant attention both domestically and internationally. Iraq’s political system, established under the 2005 Constitution, operates as a parliamentary democracy with a multi-party system. However, the country has faced…