Middle East

Kerry's New Mission: Convince Congress To Take Iran Deal

by Michele Kelemen

Secretary of State John Kerry is back in Washington to defend the proposed nuclear deal with Iran to skeptical members of Congress. He and his colleagues from other major powers failed to reach a deal with Iran during talks over the weekend in Geneva. Iran blames France's hard line for blowing up the deal, though Kerry has tried to downplay that.
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Militias from towns throughout the country's west parade through Tripoli, Libya, in 2012. Analysts say the country is awash with heavy weapons in the hands of militias divided by tribe, ideology and region. The central government has little power over the

In Libya, The Militias Rule While Government Founders

by Leila Fadel

More than two years since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi, Libya is growing more chaotic. Analysts describe a nation awash with heavy weapons in the hands of militias divided by tribe, ideology and region. The central government has little power over the gunmen, and leaders worry their country could become another Somalia or Afghanistan.
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Suspicions Bog Down Talks On Iran's Nuclear Program

by Peter Kenyon

Negotiators from Iran and six world powers resume talks Thursday in Geneva on Iran's nuclear program. Iran's Supreme Leader says he's not optimistic, and U.S. officials say "no deal is better than a bad deal." Still, Iran's desire to get out from under crippling economic sanctions may drive progress forward despite the long odds.
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Will Hard-Line Critics Scuttle Iranian Talks?

by Peter Kenyon

The resurgence of diplomacy in the Iranian nuclear standoff has generated hope in the West for a peaceful solution to the long-running crisis, and hope in Iran for the lifting of painful economic sanctions. But the new opening has also invigorated hard-line opponents in Israel, Washington and Tehran. Analysts say pressure from these conservative critics could derail the talks as they enter a particularly difficult phase.
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