Political Risk

In Part I of this analysis, we discussed the rising diplomatic tensions over the Iranian nuclear programme, and the growing risks of an escalation into military conflict. The most... 2010-02-15

With the announcement on February 11 by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Iran has produced its first batch of uranium enriched to 20%, the Islamic Republic has moved a step closer... 2010-02-15

With clear choices between religious and secular/nationalist parties in March's parliamentary elections, the results will demonstrate how strongly Iraqis desire the relationship between... 2010-02-01

BMI View: Over the long term, the pent-up frustrations of an impoverished population which is fundamentally at odds with the government will have to be relieved. Against this backdrop,... 2010-01-22

As we wrote yesterday, the Christmas Day Detroit airliner plot will put Yemen under the terror spotlight owing to reports that the suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, lived in Yemen... 2009-12-30

Recent opposition protests demonstrate that anti-government sentiment is still running high in Iran. The odds are stacked against the opposition, but a tactical mistake from the regime... 2009-12-22

BMI View: The liberalisation process will be very gradual, with changes to women's rights, civil society and education likely to be more manageable from the government's point of... 2009-12-18

BMI View: The 2010 elections are likely to bring a similar parliamentary make-up to the one which came to of the 2006 polls. However, investor would probably be happier if the government... 2009-12-16

The oil sector will remain the lifeblood of the Iraqi economy well into the long term. As such, the successful second oil licensing round over December 12-13, in conjunction with... 2009-12-16

Western suspicions of a military dimension to Iran's nuclear programme will rise following a December 14 report in UK newspaper The Times. The paper printed a translation of a confidential... 2009-12-15