Talek Harris

Gulf countries move to counter low-flying drones as #Iran shifts tactics

Qatar shoots down 2 Iranian fighter jets and the Gulf really feels like a region on the brink now #Iran

وصلت بمعية الزملاء من عدن الى مدينة الرياض، وفي اجواء إيجابية سنبدأ سلسلة لقاءات للتهيئة لحوار جنوبي-جنوبي برعاية الاشقاء في المملكة العربية السعودية.

The US has approached Yemen's government about joining the international stabilisation force in Gaza, sources tell @AFP 's Sahar Al-Attar and @Haithamtabei english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-ea…

Hamas official to AFP: "The proposed weapons handover is out of the question and not negotiable." #Gaza #Hamas #Israel #ceasefireingaza

Red Sea attacks are suddenly back. Cargo ship Eternity, damaged and stranded, under fire from suspected Huthi rebels since Monday, UKMTO says #Yemen

Short attention spans, short memories: Pep Guardiola and the age of football amnesia nytimes.com/athletic/64545…

A scenario for Iran’s response: 🔹Trump says Iran’s Fordow facility is gone. Other nuclear sites have been hit. Therefore, he effectively claims his objective, i.e., stopping Iran from getting nukes, is achieved. 🔹But here's the twist: Iran may NOT strike back at the U.S. at this point. Why? Because Trump executed a rather limited strike. By avoiding broader escalation, he throws the ball into Iran’s court while telling Americans, “We didn’t start a war.” 🔹Iran, in response, could let Trump have this symbolic win and instead escalate only against Israel. 🔹This keeps Washington out of the war while intensifying pressure on Tel Aviv. The risk of drawing the U.S. further in would now rest on Trump’s next move. 🔹If Trump continues to strike Iran without new provocation, it looks more like going to war on Israel’s behalf. That’s politically costly, given domestic opposition to war with Iran. 🔹Meanwhile, Tehran could quietly shift its nuclear strategy. Instead of announcing NPT withdrawal outright, it might say: “Due to wartime conditions, we don’t know what happened to some of our enriched uranium.” Tehran may decide to leave NPT later. This creates strategic ambiguity, similar to what Israel has always done. Iran wouldn’t need to test a bomb. Just the uncertainty could be enough to deter future attacks and complicate Western planning. 🔹This approach offers Iran: 🔺A way to delay direct confrontation with the U.S. 🔺A justification to step away from nuclear transparency. 🔺Leverage in any post-war negotiation. 🛑Bottom line: Trump may have scored a tactical win, but if Iran plays this smart, they hand him a political grenade. All while shifting the nuclear game into murkier, more dangerous territory.

Morality is not what will drive events (whatever you think is morally right). The balance of power will. And the balance of power is now heavily skewed against Iran.

👇 1 point of view I heard from a political scientist in the region: If the US comes in, it will be one strike, Fordo destroyed, the regime doesn’t capitulate, nuclear problem temporarily solved, as opposed to Israel’s goal of toppling z Islamic Republic &Trump can claim victory

@DXBMediaOffice @MBCGroup #VoxPops: Media leaders react to Arab News announcing it's fully AI produced podcast. Here's what @TalekHarris, @AFP Gulf & Yemen Bureau Chief said | arab.news/jgxxu

‘Talking’s done’ - Usyk and Fury faced off for a marathon 11 minutes as things got real in Riyadh sports.ndtv.com/boxing/11-minu… #FuryUsykII

After low-key open training session, Fury promises ‘a lot of hurt’ in Usyk rematch #FuryvUsyk

Judging from today's briefing, #Hamas future in Qatar is hanging in the balance. FM spox says their negotiators aren't in Doha but wouldn't say if they were told to leave. Wasn't clear if they can come and go. Office 'doesn't have any function' but not permanently closed

We are hiring. Seeking dynamic, ambitious, flexible team players to join our reporting staff in Dubai. We need one Arabic writer and one English writer - DM me if interested, trained news journalists only please

Hamas official says Islamist movement, boosted by 'new generations', has 'high ability' to keep fighting Israel. @rania_sanjar exclusive for @AFP france24.com/en/live-news/2…

Dubai-based hijabi singer looks to inspire others, by @amanda_mwd msn.com/en-us/music/ne…

In reality, probably zero chance of this happening

@HashemOsseiran @UN @unraf This was no surprise at all, it's completely merited - but many congrats Hashem

Personal announcement: Stoked to be selected by the @UN as a 2024 @unraf fellow alongside an incredible cohort of journalists who will cover the #UNGA79 in NYC this September. Watch this space for exclusive coverage from #UNHQ & beyond. #journalism un.org/en/reham-al-fa…

Since Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, Yahya Sinwar has been at the top of Israel's most wanted list, but the newly appointed chief of the Palestinian group has remained elusive as ever. u.afp.com/56Gf