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China-UAE Visit
On Wednesday, May 29, Emirati President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Beijing, China for a two-day visit aiming to advance sustainable development and economic, developmental, and cultural collaboration.
According to China’s Foreign Ministry, both countries have emphasized “a readiness to exchange experiences on defence and security, with a view to upgrading capacities of military personnel and security institutions in both countries.”
Notably, China and the UAE participated in air force drills together last August and share a comprehensive partnership with over 148 cross-sector bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding.
A Middle East Policy article by Mohamed Bin Huwaidin explores the UAE’s position in the growing US-China rivalry in the region.
Registration for Iran’s Presidential Candidates
On Thursday, May 30, Iran began a five-day registration period for presidential candidates ahead of next month’s election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Iran’s 12-member Guardian Council will announce the final list of candidates on June 11.
Dozens have registered at the Interior Ministry, including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who served from 2005 to 2013 but was barred from running in 2017. Other candidates include senior security official and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, Tehran’s Mayor Alireza Zakani, and former central bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati.
Former three-time parliament speaker Ali Larijani also registered to run, though his approval status is questionable as he was disqualified by the Guardian Council in 2021.
Middle East Policy covers the key developments in the relationship between Iran and Israel, providing analysis on the recent and past tensions between the two adversaries.
End of U.N. Political Mission to Iraq
On Friday, May 31, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to end the mandate of the U.N. Assistance Mission to Iraq on Dec. 31, 2025, which was established following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
This development comes in response to the Iraqi government’s May 8 request to end the mission before 2026, and the U.S.-sponsored resolution asks that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres create “‘a transition and liquidation plan’ in consultation with the Iraqi government by Dec. 31, 2024.”
An article in Middle East Policy by Amjed Rasheed examines how Iraq has balanced its relationships with Washington and Beijing to ensure its security and economic growth.
Ongoing: The Gaza War
On Tuesday, May 28, 21 people, including 12 women, were killed in Israeli attacks on a tent camp for displaced families in al-Mawasi, near Rafah. In response to Israel’s operations in Rafah, over one million people fled the city, leaving all 36 of UNRWA’s shelters empty.
In northern Gaza, more than fifty bodies were found in Jabalia as paramedics and civil defense teams searched a refugee camp following Israel’s withdrawal from the area.
On Friday, May 31, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a “comprehensive new proposal” that offers a “roadmap to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages.” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has asserted that, if Hamas accepts the proposal, Israel is expected to as well.
Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, however, stated earlier last week that Israel anticipates another seven months of combat.
Middle East Policy has published a special issue on the Gaza war, featuring interviews with key players and contributions that explore the sparks fueling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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