Al Majalla covered the big stories in the news last week, first and foremost, the US-Iran talks. For his part, Bilal Saab pens a piece titled Trump’s only Iran option. In it, he lays out what’s on the negotiating table and what issues Tehran is likely—and unlikely—to be flexible on. Meanwhile, Saud Al-Masaud explains Why Saudi Arabia is against military escalation with Iran. In it, he says, “Controlling its airspace and denying access to military bases sends a firm message: Saudi Arabia will not undermine its own interests.” 

Onto America, and Tarek Rashed asserts that The new US defence strategy leaves allies in the lurch. In it, he says,” A sweeping shift in Washington’s geographic and doctrinal compass brings the focus closer to home, leaving partners out on the periphery.” And Samer Elias explains why The expiry of New START risks nuclear Armageddon. In his piece, he says, “A key nuclear limitation treaty between the US and Russia expired on 5 February, leaving many biting their fingernails.”

For his part, Refaat Belkhair writes on Saif al-Islam Gaddafi’s recent assassination. In it, he says,” Events in recent months suggest an attempt to prepare Libya's political stage for a new phase that prioritises stability and removes divisive figures.”

Switching gears to Syria, Ibrahim Hamidi gives a detailed account of the run-up to the SDF’s capitulation to Damascus. He says,” From 8 December 2024 on, both sides were playing for time. For its part, Damascus believed it had the stronger hand, while the SDF miscalculated.” And Hussein al-Sharaa pens a piece titled The return of Al-Jazira and the question of Syria’s economic renewal. In it, he says, “As Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Al-Hasakah return to state authority, this resource-rich region re-emerges as a cornerstone of economic recovery.” Meanwhile, Haid Haid asserts that a recent ban on makeup for women in the workplace in Latakia is a bad omen for Syria. “The backlash is not about cosmetics; it's about how far the state can go in regulating everyday life,” he explains. 

Onto Gaza, and Amr Emam pens a piece titled The Rafah crossing is open, but so is the battle for Gaza. In it, he says, “Israel wants Palestinians to leave the Strip as part of its ‘depopulation and resettlement’ strategy, but Egypt is fighting to give them the option to return to their homeland.”  And Samer Abou Hawwach reviews the film Palestine 36, which recalls the sordid history in the run-up to Israel’s creation. In it, he says, “Director Annemarie Jacir crafts a human drama that strikes unerringly at its political themes, showing how today’s events are directly linked to the events of 90 years ago.”

And Amer Ziab Al-Tamimi paints a picture of today’s global economy, which he says is in the throes of transformation and uncertainty. In it, he says, “Political uncertainty, technological disruption, and demographic change are reshaping the global economy as shared leadership and strategic consensus erode.” And last but not least, Emanuele Bottazzi Grifoni pens a piece titled The strange loop of artificial creation. In it, he says, “A recent preview of a play created by AI as if it were written by Molière was presented in Paris,” and asks, “What are the consequences of the science-fiction myths on which AI systems are trained?”