Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On April 17, the Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid Bin Salman al-Saud, met with the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, in Tehran. Prince Khalid is the son of King Salman, and brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In March 2023, China brokered a restoration of the diplomatic relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the relationship between the two powerful countries has continued to grow. “It is much better for brothers in the region to cooperate and help each other rather than to rely on others,” Khamenei said after the…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Turkey’s primary objective in Syria is to support the leadership of President Ahmad Sharaa in establishing stability which would pave the way for sending the 3 million Syrians in Turkey back home. The problem of millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, who are no longer welcome, is a domestic problem that has caused social and civil unrest across Turkey. In the last national election, virtually all the political parties were making similar promises to the voters concerning vowing to send the Syrians packing. Turkey also seeks to neutralize the armed militia, Syrian Defense Forces…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The second round of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran will be held in Oman on April 19, with the Foreign Minister of Oman acting as the negotiations moderator. The first session was held on April 12 in Oman, and according to all sides was a productive meeting. The US has threatened Iran with a devastating military attack if Iran does not make a deal. Iran has pointed out that the United Nations Charter explicitly prohibited using force in international relations. Iran has said the format of indirect talks is necessary because of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The U.S. faces escalating economic losses due to the ongoing trade war with China launched by U.S. President Donald Trump. Leading American corporations are caught in the crossfire due to their heavy reliance on the Chinese market. Many American corporate giants, such as Apple and Tesla, depend on China as a primary manufacturing hub. This makes any trade restrictions or tariffs imposed on products manufactured in China a significant obstacle to profitability for these companies. Semiconductor companies have suffered a shocking setback after China halted exports of certain critical raw materials used in these…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Iraq is a democracy in the midst of Middle Eastern turmoil and changing dynamics. To the west, Syria experienced a 14-year civil war, and regime change in December. To the east, Iran has been threatened with a US military attack after decades of meddling in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine. The Israeli war crimes and genocide carried out against the Palestinian people in Gaza have destabilized the entire region. Iraq suffered from decades of war and occupation and is still in the process of recovering from the 2003 US invasion, occupation and regime change.…

A senior US envoy has called for the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, comparing the Iran-backed group to a “cancer” within Lebanon that must be excised if the country is to have any hope of recovery.“When you have cancer, you don’t treat part of the cancer in your body and let the rest of it grow and fester,” said Morgan Ortagus, US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. “You cut the cancer out.” Speaking to Al Arabiya News’ Hadley Gamble during a diplomatic visit to the UAE, Ortagus dismissed long-standing fears that attempting to disarm Hezbollah could spark civil war. “We’ve…

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said on Monday that 15 medics and rescuers killed by Israeli forces last month in Gaza were shot in the upper body with “intent to kill.”The killings occurred in the southern Gaza Strip on March 23, days into a renewed Israeli offensive in the Palestinian territory, and have since sparked international condemnation. Younis al-Khatib, president of the Red Crescent in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, told journalists in Ramallah: “There has been an autopsy of the martyrs from the Red Crescent and civil defense teams. We cannot disclose everything we know, but I will say that…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Syrian President Ahmad Sharaa, and the rebels under his command, freed Syria from a despotic dictator of 24 years on December 8, 2024, as well as eliminated the Iranian presence in Syria, which posed a substantial security threat to Israel. Previously, Iran and its operatives inside Syria were firmly entrenched across the country. Former President Bashar Assad had allowed Iran a free hand in Syria in exchange for Iranian paramilitaries, and military supplies, fighting the rebels to keep him in power. After the Sharaa administration took power, all Iranian assets and personnel fled the…

As a journalist who has witnessed the complexities of the Syrian conflict firsthand, I’m proud to present my latest interview, “Voice from Syria: Future After Attacks on Alawites and Christians”. This conversation dives deep into the challenges Syria faces today, particularly the attacks on Alawites and Christians, the difficult journey to accountability for war crimes, and what the country’s future may hold. In this interview, I address several crucial topics that I believe are vital for anyone trying to understand the full picture of the ongoing situation in Syria. From sectarian violence to the rebuilding process, I break down the…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On March 23, Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, was sent to prison awaiting trial on terrorism and corruption. He had been arrested on March 19 at his home. Before the arrest, he had answered questions at the prosecutor’s office concerning his alleged relationship with the PKK, an internationally recognized terror group who have killed 30,000 people over three decades of attacks. He is also accused of various corrupt abuses of his office. On March 22, Imamoglu posted on his X account: “There is no salvation alone; either all of us together or none of…