Russia is more concerned with guarding its strategic interests in Syria than sustaining the rule of Assad, who eventually may overburden the Kremlin, says expert Michael Young.

Talks between Iran and the P5+1 ended with plans to meet in Istanbul next month, but the differences between the two sides suggest a long road ahead dotted with meetings that don’t go very far, says …

Abdel Raouf El Reedy, a former Egyptian ambassador to the United States and a Mideast expert, says Arab leaders need to engage Iran to find a solution to the crisis in Lebanon.

Jeroen Van der Veer, the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, on global oil demand, the end of “easy oil,” and nationalized oil companies.

John Kiriakou, a former CIA anti-terrorism official based in Pakistan, says the situation in Afghanistan has worsened in the past couple of years and life in Kabul has become much more perilous.