The digest
- Background: Iran and Venezuela are both under US sanctions and have recently tightened their relationship regarding oil. Iran’s state-run Press TV reported that Owji led a delegation of more than a dozen officials “in a visit deemed significant for Iran-Venezuela relations and efforts to neutralize the impact of US sanctions.”
- Why it matters: The visit comes as talks to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers face a stalemate. An agreement would lift sanctions on Iran’s energy exports and ease the rally in global oil prices. Iran has in the last two years sent several shipments of gasoline to Venezuela, Press TV reported.
- Background: Egyptian economic researcher Ayman Hadhoud was detained by local security services in February, who then sent him to a psychiatric hospital in Cairo, where he died. Rights group Amnesty International said its investigation findings suggested torture or otherwise ill-treatment before his death. Egypt’s public prosecution said it found no evidence of criminal violence in the researcher’s death, according to Reuters.
- Why it matters: The Biden administration in January withheld $130 million of military aid from Egypt over human rights concerns, but days earlier approved the potential sale of air defense radars and planes to it for more than $2.5 billion. The US has repeatedly affirmed “the importance of human rights” in dialogue with Egypt, but the nation remains a strategic security partner for both the US and its regional allies.
- Background: Turkey hosts almost 4 million Syrian refugees and has the largest refugee population of any country, according to the United Nations. The nation’s currency has been on a downward slide, causing record inflation. Opposition figures have blamed the economic woes partly on refugees and social media has seen growing anti-refugee sentiment.
- Why it matters: The announcement comes ahead of next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections as Erdogan’s immigration policy faces criticism from opposition parties. Turkish officials, including Erdogan, have said the country isn’t able to handle the entry of more refugees.