Middle East

World News

Iran's Incumbent President Set To Face Hard-Line Challenger

4:34pm April 21, 2017

by Peter Kenyon

The field has been chosen for the Iranian presidential election in May. The pragmatist incumbent president will face a hard-line challenger, and the race could impact the international agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program.

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Egyptian-American Aid Worker Returns To U.S. After Release From Cairo Jail

4:34pm April 21, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Mohamed Soltan, an Egyptian-American who was previously imprisoned in Egypt for political reasons, about the release of Aya Hijazi, the Egyptian-American aid worker who was imprisoned in Egypt for nearly three years.

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In Departure From Obama Strategy, Mattis Prioritizes Military Cooperation On Egypt Trip

5:41pm April 20, 2017

by Jane Arraf

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis is stressing efforts against Iran and changing the U.S. tone in the region with visits to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Human Rights are lower on the agenda.

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World News

Where Erdogan's Victory In Turkey Referendum Vote Leaves The Opposition

4:50pm April 20, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with novelist, essayist and activist Elif Safak following the referendum vote in Turkey that expanded the president's powers.

This Islamic School Helps Students Build Their American And Muslim Identity

11:15am April 20, 2017

by Tom Gjelten

The Al Fatih Academy in Virginia is one of about 270 Islamic schools in the U.S. The staff aim to give their students a well-rounded education and promote civic awareness.

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White House Shouldn't Try To Reverse Iran Nuclear Deal, Parsi Says

7:31am April 20, 2017

Steve Inskeep talks to Trita Parsi, an Iran scholar, who warns of dire consequences if Trump officials renege on the nuclear accord and reverse a pledge to ease sanctions against Tehran.

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Trump Administration Sends Mixed Signals About Iran Nuclear Deal

5:12pm April 19, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel interviews Iran expert Raymond Tanter, who served on the National Security Council under President Reagan and was involved in arms control talks from 1983 to 1984, about the Trump administration's re-examination of the Iran nuclear deal.

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Emirates announced Wednesday that it plans to reduce flights to five of the 12 U.S. cities it currently serves.

World News

Emirates Airline Cuts Flights To U.S., Citing Trump's Security Rules

5:01pm April 19, 2017

by Jason Slotkin

Emirates said the recent restrictions on visas and electronic devices had dampened consumer demand. The Dubai-based carrier will pare back flights to five of the 12 U.S. cities it serves.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, pictured in Moscow last week, says Iran has been abiding by a 2015 nuclear agreement. But he told Congress in a letter that the Trump administration was reviewing the lifting of U.S. sanctions against Iran to determi

Iran Sticks To Nuclear Deal, But U.S. Says It Will Review Sanctions

2:28pm April 19, 2017

by Greg Myre

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tells Congress that the Trump administration will take another look at sanctions to see if lifting them was in line with U.S. national security interests.

Mattis Travels To Saudi Arabia

8:24am April 19, 2017

by Jane Arraf

Defense Secretary James Mattis is traveling to Saudi Arabia at the start of a trip to several countries in the Middle East. We look at what the trip means for U.S. foreign relations.

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