The Middle East Situation

The coming few days should see a crucial test for the chances of peace in the Gulf. If the proposed visits to Tehran and Baghdad by the UN Secretary-General fail to produce Iranian compliance with the security Council's ceasefire call, all the recent diplomatic efforts will have reached dead-end. The logic of events may then be expected to turn back with a vengeance to the cycle of hostilities in Gulf waters resumed by Iraq on 29 August, but this time...