分类： politics

In a decisive internal election, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has secured a commanding victory for his faction within the nascent Your Party, winning control of its Central Executive Committee (CEC). The results, announced Thursday, revealed Corbyn’s ‘The Many’ slate captured 14 of 24 seats, decisively defeating the rival faction led by MP Zarah Sultana, which secured seven positions. Sultana herself was elected to the committee despite her slate’s overall defeat.

The election, which saw a 61% turnout among the party’s 40,985 verified members, represents a critical juncture for the left-wing movement. It concludes months of internal strife over the party’s leadership structure and political direction. While the party’s founding conference in November had voted in favor of Sultana’s preferred model of collective leadership over Corbyn’s single-leader proposal, this subsequent committee election has handed organizational control to Corbyn’s allies.

Corbyn’s victorious slate includes MPs Shockat Adam and Ayoub Khan, fellow members of the parliamentary Independent Alliance. In a statement following the win, Corbyn expressed delight, framing it as an endorsement for a “mass, socialist party” ready to challenge both Keir Starmer’s Labour and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. He pledged to build a “positive and inclusive party where all members feel empowered” and to unite the movement around a vision for a “more caring, equal and peaceful society.”

The contest was widely interpreted as a battle for the party’s soul. Corbyn’s faction advocates a broad-church approach aimed at maximizing appeal and engaging previously disenfranchised voters. In contrast, Sultana’s camp emphasizes an uncompromising adherence to leftist principles, a member-led structure, and the empowerment of existing grassroots movements.

Your Party emerged in the political aftermath of the 2024 general election, galvanized by outrage over the war in Gaza and perceptions of British complicity, which also fueled the unprecedented election of five independent MPs. The party quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of sign-ups and initially polled above 10%. However, its rapid growth has been accompanied by intense factional disputes.

Tensions escalated from the outset, with sources close to Corbyn criticizing Sultana and her husband for acting unilaterally in a “rash and controlling” manner. Conversely, Sultana’s allies expressed concern over the influence of longtime Corbyn aides, such as his former chief of staff Karie Murphy. Internal conflicts also erupted publicly over issues like trans rights, leading to the departure of MPs Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed ahead of the November conference. Despite the internal divisions, Sultana has since moderated her stance on ideological purity, acknowledging the need to reflect a broad base of society to win elections, while still maintaining that a progressive position on trans rights is essential for a socialist party.

With the committee election concluded, Corbyn emerges with a firm mandate to shape the party’s future, though Sultana’s significant presence on the CEC ensures continued debate over its trajectory.

A high-ranking Iranian official has indicated that a rapid diplomatic breakthrough with the United States remains achievable if Washington shifts its primary focus away from Tehran’s nuclear weapons development. Ali Shamkhani, senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and secretary of Iran’s Defense Council, articulated this position through social media platform X amid ongoing nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

Shamkhani emphasized that Iran’s commitment to non-proliferation aligns with both religious decrees issued by the country’s leadership and its established defense doctrine. “If the main issue of the negotiations is not making nuclear weapons by Iran, this is in compliance with a religious decree issued by Iran’s leader and the country’s defense doctrine, and an immediate agreement is within reach,” he stated.

The official further reinforced Iran’s negotiating position by confirming that Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who leads Tehran’s delegation, possesses full authority to finalize any potential agreement. This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and increased US military presence in West Asia.

The current talks represent the third round of indirect negotiations between the two nations, hosted at Oman’s Embassy in Geneva. Previous sessions were conducted earlier this month in both Muscat and Geneva, demonstrating the ongoing diplomatic efforts to address one of the most persistent geopolitical challenges.

MUSCAT — A significant shift in diplomatic dynamics has emerged from the latest round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, according to an official statement released by Oman’s Foreign Ministry via social media platform X.

The Omani government revealed that both delegations exhibited what they characterized as “unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas and solutions” during Thursday’s negotiations in Geneva. This unexpected development marks a potential turning point in the long-stalled discussions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi played a pivotal role in facilitating the dialogue, meeting separately with both American and Iranian officials. On Thursday, he conferred with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to President Trump, within the framework of the ongoing indirect negotiations.

The discussions comprehensively addressed Iran’s perspectives and proposals while also examining responses and inquiries from the US negotiation team. Critical examination focused on essential elements of Iran’s nuclear program and the necessary guarantees to achieve a comprehensive agreement satisfactory to all parties from both technical and oversight perspectives.

Minister Albusaidi emphasized that efforts are continuing intensively and constructively, with negotiators demonstrating remarkable receptivity to innovative approaches. The statement noted that conditions conducive to meaningful progress are being established, potentially leading to a fair agreement supported by sustainable guarantees.

The diplomatic momentum continued as Albusaidi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday evening, further solidifying Oman’s role as a key mediator in these delicate negotiations between the longstanding adversaries.

Jordan’s electoral authorities have issued a formal directive to the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the kingdom’s largest opposition party, demanding the elimination of all religious references from its official identity. The Independent Election Commission has given the party sixty days to implement comprehensive changes to both its name and foundational statutes to comply with the country’s Political Parties Law.

The commission’s notification, delivered on February 17 and formally announced Wednesday, cites specific legal provisions prohibiting political organizations based on religious, sectarian, or ethnic affiliations. Additionally, the commission raised concerns about the party’s internal judicial structure, noting that its supreme and central courts were not elected through general conference procedures, potentially compromising governance standards.

In response to these requirements, the IAF’s Shura Council has already initiated a review process for statutory amendments earlier this month. Secretary-General Wael Al-Saqqa confirmed the party’s cooperative approach, stating that proposed changes would align with both the new Political Parties Law and principles of sound governance while maintaining the party’s core identity.

The development occurs against a backdrop of increased governmental scrutiny of organizations with perceived connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was officially banned in April 2023. Despite securing its most significant electoral achievement in 2024 with nearly one-third of the parliamentary vote, the IAF has faced mounting pressure, including a raid on its headquarters last year that many interpreted as preliminary to license revocation.

The party maintains its commitment to operating as an independent Jordanian political entity with Islamic values, while emphasizing its separation from the banned Muslim Brotherhood despite historical affiliations. This regulatory action coincides with ongoing protests in Jordan regarding the Gaza conflict, where the IAF has previously coordinated demonstration efforts.

Saudi Arabia confronts a pivotal challenge in Yemen as analysts assess the Gulf kingdom’s capacity to stabilize the war-torn nation through its newly formed government in Aden. The recent political developments mark a significant shift in Yemen’s power dynamics following the dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the primary separatist group that previously controlled southern territories.

The formation of a 35-member cabinet, sworn in at the Yemeni embassy in Riyadh last month with Shaya Mohsen al-Zindani as prime minister, represents Saudi Arabia’s consolidated influence after the United Arab Emirates withdrew from Yemen. This departure left Riyadh as the predominant external actor managing Yemen’s complex political landscape.

To strengthen the government’s position, Saudi Arabia has implemented substantial support measures including multi-million dollar fuel purchases for power stations and assuming responsibility for security force salaries previously funded by Abu Dhabi. Riyadh has additionally taken over humanitarian project financing that the UAE abruptly abandoned during its withdrawal.

Despite these efforts, significant obstacles remain. Analysts note that while Saudi-backed forces have deployed widely throughout Aden, the STC maintains considerable influence through embedded security forces and persistent public support. Images of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi and the group’s flags remain visible throughout the city, with thousands of fighters maintaining a low-profile presence.

The government’s most immediate challenge involves establishing genuine control over Aden’s security apparatus. Researchers emphasize that physical presence doesn’t equate to political control, noting that ministers effectively operate as ‘guests in a city where security forces still answer to their old loyalties.’

Complicating matters further, the administration faces organized protests without clear leadership to negotiate with. Recent demonstrations in Aden and other southern cities have turned violent, presenting the government with a ‘headless opposition’ that limits diplomatic options.

Beyond security concerns, the administration must address critical public service issues and salary restoration. While Saudi fuel shipments have temporarily reduced power cuts, maintaining supply during summer months presents an ongoing challenge. Public sector salaries have stagnated for nearly a decade, with university professors reporting income drops from $1,200 to approximately $200 monthly since the war began.

Regional rivalries additionally threaten stabilization efforts, with analysts warning that the UAE might seek to undermine stability through allied actors following its loss of influence. Any government withdrawal from Aden would represent a significant setback for both the Presidential Leadership Council and Saudi Arabia’s broader strategic objectives in Yemen.

In a significant development in inter-Korean relations, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has delivered a stark assessment of his country’s stance toward South Korea during the recently concluded Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. The event, which spanned from February 19 to 25, saw Kim reaffirm his government’s position that South Korea represents “the most hostile entity” and an “eternal enemy” of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un, serving as General Secretary of the ruling party, articulated this position during his comprehensive work review report. The North Korean leader explicitly stated that his government has nothing to discuss with what he characterized as the hostile southern neighbor, further announcing that South Korea would be permanently excluded from the category of compatriots in official DPRK policy.

The address formalized the relationship between the two Koreas as “the most hostile state-to-state relationship,” a designation that Kim described as “the invariable principled stand of our Party and government.” This rhetoric represents a significant hardening of position from previous diplomatic approaches.

Kim justified this stance by referencing what he described as grave provocations by South Korea, including alleged violations of North Korean airspace through drone incursions in recent years and at the beginning of 2026. These actions, according to the North Korean leader, demonstrate that South Korea cannot be trusted as a neighbor.

The DPRK leader explicitly rejected dialogue and cooperation with South Korea, describing such approaches as “unscientific and unrealistic.” He instead issued a stark warning that the only path to security for South Korea would be to “abandon everything related to us and not to irritate us” given their shared border.

Kim concluded with a veiled threat, stating that if South Korea’s actions were to harm North Korea’s security environment, his government reserved the right to “launch any action” in response. This declaration underscores the increasingly tense military situation on the Korean Peninsula following this party congress.