https://www.scmp.com/rss/519881/feed Amin is emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at the Australian National University, and an adjunct professor of social sciences at the University of Western Australia and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Singapore). en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Amin Saikal,Amitav Acharya Amin Saikal,Amitav Acharya US President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran since the war began have targeted not just the country’s military capabilities, but its entire civilisation. In recent days, he has threatened that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacks US ships trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He has previously pledged to send Iran back to the “Stone Age” and warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again”. These statements show not only extreme... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3352928/trumps-threats-against-iran-are-historically-illiterate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3352928/trumps-threats-against-iran-are-historically-illiterate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 07:30:06 +0000 Donald Trump’s re-election as the US president earlier this month comes at a time of extreme volatility in the Middle East. The president-elect has promised to end all wars. In his usual impulsive and unpredictable manner, he has pledged to resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office and help Israel finish its Gaza and Lebanon operations quickly. Yet the Middle East is a complex place. Trump will have much difficulty balancing his ardent support of Israel and his other... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3286802/why-peace-middle-east-may-be-beyond-trumps-deal-making-abilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3286802/why-peace-middle-east-may-be-beyond-trumps-deal-making-abilities?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Nov 2024 02:00:26 +0000 Following a massive bombardment of Lebanon, Israel has begun a land invasion of its northern neighbour. Troops have entered southern Lebanon in a bid to push Hezbollah back beyond the Litani River, 29km (18 miles) from the Israeli border. The stated goal is to facilitate the return of some 60,000 displaced Israelis to their homes in northern Israel. By killing Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah and several of his commanders over the weekend, Israel has already struck a serious blow to the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3281132/israel-invading-lebanon-nothing-new-will-time-be-different?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3281132/israel-invading-lebanon-nothing-new-will-time-be-different?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Oct 2024 04:00:07 +0000