Arabic Video News in English

The visit of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, to Iraq is seen as a new chapter in relations between the two countries. The historic trip, the first by an Iranian leader since the Iran-Iraq war, sparked heated protests and outraged many Sunni Arabs.Some political observers think this underscored how a growing Iranian influence in Iraq could aggravate the existing mistrust and further sour relations between Shia and Sunnis. However, Iraqi political leaders appear determined to move closer to Tehran, despite American accusations that Iran finances and supports militias inside Iraq. How will this new level of closer political and economic relations between Iran and Iraq impact the political future of Baghdad and the wider region?What are its implications on the already strained political power play between Sunni and Shia factions in Iraq? How will the US react and will it change its security and military strategies in Iraq?Our guests this week are:Dr Sadeq Zibakalam from Teheran University, Rich Schmierer from the US State Department and Dr Abdallah Alshaaal, former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister.

The visit of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, to Iraq is seen as a new chapter in relations between the two countries. The historic trip, the first by an Iranian leader since the Iran-Iraq war, sparked heated protests and outraged many Sunni Arabs.Some political observers think this underscored how a growing Iranian influence in Iraq could aggravate the existing mistrust and further sour relations between Shia and Sunnis. However, Iraqi political leaders appear determined to move closer to Tehran, despite American accusations that Iran finances and supports militias inside Iraq. How will this new level of closer political and economic relations between Iran and Iraq impact the political future of Baghdad and the wider region?What are its implications on the already strained political power play between Sunni and Shia factions in Iraq? How will the US react and will it change its security and military strategies in Iraq?Our guests this week are:Dr Sadeq Zibakalam from Teheran University, Rich Schmierer from the US State Department and Dr Abdallah Alshaaal, former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister.

This week we’re asking…what can Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accomplish by resuming peace talks with Israel?

It has emerged that the Bush administration caught off-guard by the rise of Hamas, embarked on a secret plan to overthrow its democratically-elected government.

The magazine Vanity Fair reports in its April edition that President Bush and Condoleeza Rice, the US secretary of state, signed off on a plan for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, to quash the Hamas authorities.

The plan involved Washington’s allies in the region channeling arms and cash to Fatah fighters, who would rise up against Hamas.

But the plan backfired spectacularly, with Hamas apparently anticipating the move and taking over in Gaza.

How and why did Washington fail in its aims? What were its true motives, and where will its policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict head now?

Sami Zeidan of Inside Story investigates.

Sami Zeidan takes a look at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s landmark visit to Iraq.