UPDATED: Iranian and Russian Officials Blame U.S. for Crisis

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif lashed out at the US on Wednesday, using the platform of the UN General Assembly to declare that Washington was engaged in “economic terrorism” against his country and has “shot itself in the foot” by withdrawing from the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appeared to back up Moscow’s ally in Tehran by telling the Argumenty i Fakty media site in an interview published Wednesday that “The increased tensions in the region are a direct result of the anti-Iranian policy pursued by the US and some of its allies.”

Reports out of Ramallah indicate that the Palestinian Authority leadership is attempting to build closer economic ties with neighboring Arab states in an effort to reduce economic dependence on Israel. “The move is part of the Palestinian development strategy for 2017-2020,” Azmy Abd al-Rahman, spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority’s Economy Ministry, told The Media Line. “We are currently studying which Israeli products the Palestinian market can dispense with.”

French parliamentarian Constance Le Grip, part of a large delegation of French lawmakers currently visiting Israel, told journalists on Wednesday that her country needs to take a less ambiguous stance on issues in the Middle East, particularly in support of Israel. “I would like my country to be more supportive of Israeli democracy, and on some issues not be so naïve…on some issues I am not sure that trying to be totally balanced allows you to be understood, listened and effective,” she said.

The leaders of rebel factions battling Syria’s Assad regime told international media this week that Russia has sent Special Forces troops to fight alongside regime forces in Idlib province, deepening Moscow’s involvement in the conflict. Iranian-backed militias which had previously been engaged in regrouping exercises following years of active combat have also been forced to engage the rebels, who have stubbornly held out for over two months despite the regime’s expectations.

In a time where the balance of the Middle East is in flux, regional leaders and the international community alike should be closely following the relationship between Turkey and Iran. While the relationship between Teheran and Ankara has historically been troubled, mutual interests have sprouted newfound cooperation between the two nations.

Eyal Waldman Founder, President and CEO of Mellanox Technologies at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology recently shared his thoughts on the “Start Up Nation” and opportunities and challenges facing Israel’s hi-tech scene going forward.