Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

An undated image of Eran Etzion.

Ex-Israeli security official: Netanyahu pushed US, Israel into Iran war without imminent threat

Mazloum Abdi (Kobani), commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), attends a meeting with other commanders and representatives of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group, in the northwestern Syrian city of Hasakah, in the province of the same name, on Aug. 24, 2019.

Interview

US-backed Syrian Kurdish leader Mazlum Kobane says Turkey's attempt on life not the first

Speaking exclusively to Al-Monitor, the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would do "anything to reach power again" as Turkey prepares for elections next month.

Mazlum Kobane

Mazlum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (L) arrives at the Elysee Presidential Palace to meet with the French president, Paris, France, Feb. 16, 2023.

Interview

'You don’t solve issues by running away,' says Iraq's KRG PM

Masrour Barzani, in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, discusses the dispute with the rival PUK party; relations with the US and Iraq; China; and the KRG’s ambitious economic reform and climate policies.

Masrour Barzani

Masrour Barzani

Prime Minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government

Remzi Kartal, a former member of the Turkish Parliament whose formal title is co-chair of the Kurdistan People’s Congress, in an undated image.

Interview

Kurdish umbrella group says US pressure won't solve Turkey’s Kurdish problem — but Ocalan can

Remzi Karta, a top civilian leader of the umbrella Kurdish group that includes the Kurdistan Workers Party, said in an interview with Al-Monitor that if released, imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan could still solve the Kurdish problem in a week.

Remzi Kartal

Remzi Kartal

Co-Chair of the Kurdistan People’s Congress

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander wants peace with Turkey, but will 'fully' resist attack

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Syrian Democratic Forces head Mazlum Kobane said he expects a Turkish attack in February, and warned Ankara should not punish Syria’s Kurds over its own failure to resolve its own domestic issues.

Mazlum Kobane

Mazlum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Oman's Minister of Energy and Minerals Salim Al Aufi arrives for the 45th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee and the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Oct. 5, 2022.

Interview

Oman banking on hydrogen, renewables in diversified energy strategy

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Oman’s energy and minerals minister is charting a course for affordable, sustainable energy and welcomes international investors.

Salim Al Aufi

Salim Al Aufi

Oman Minister of Energy and Minerals

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian listens during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart at the foreign ministry headquarters in Iran's capital Tehran on June 23, 2022.

Interview

Iran ‘ready to provide answers’ on nuclear probes, FM says

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian discusses the nuclear talks, the prospects for a prisoner exchange and the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Foreign Minister of Iran

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi meets Jordanian King Abdullah at the UN General Assembly's high-level week in September 2022.

Interview

Iraq’s political class must address 'crisis of trust,' says PM

In an exclusive interview, Mustafa al-Kadhimi also discusses Iraq’s shift to regional hub for diplomacy and economic progress despite strong political headwinds.

Mustafa al-Kadhimi

Mustafa al-Kadhimi

Prime Minister of Iraq

Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on Sept. 21, 2022.

Interview

Lebanese prime minister praises US mediation toward gas deal with Israel

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Najib Mikati also says Lebanon should sign IMF agreement ‘as soon as possible.’

Najib Mitaki

Najib Mitaki

Prime Minister of Lebanon

Frej

Interview

Israeli Minister Frej joins Palestinian aid summit in Brussels

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Israel’s Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej said that while a strong Palestinian Authority is "of course a Palestinian interest ... it is also an Israeli and international interest."

Esawi Frej

Esawi Frej

Minister for Regional Cooperation of Israel

UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinians Francesca Albanese.

Interview

Israel’s occupation has crossed the ‘red line of legality,’ says new UN rapporteur

In an interview with Al-Monitor, the newly appointed UN special rapporteur for the Palestinians, Francesca Albanese, speaks about her plans to address human rights violations in the Palestinian territories, while fending off a smear campaign launched against her by Israel.

Francesca Albanese

Francesca Albanese

UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories

Mazloum Abdi (Kobani), commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), speaks with AFP during an interview in the countryside outside the northwestern Syrian city of Hasakah, in the province of the same name, on January 24, 2019. - Any deal between Syria's Kurds and the Damascus regime should respect the "special status" of Kurdish-led forces who fought the Islamic State (IS) group, Kobani said. The SDF control around a third of Syria after expelling jihadists from a large northeastern swathe of t

Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander sees chance to ease tensions with Turkey under Biden

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Mazlum Kobane said the former vice president's victory may well spell change in Ankara’s behavior.

Mazlum Kobane

Mazlum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Interview

Chief rabbi of Iran: Israel does not represent Judaism

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Rabbi Yehuda Garami, chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran, explains about their daily lives and why he paid a condolence visit to the family of assassinated Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

Yehuda Garami

Yehuda Garami

Chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran

AL-MONITOR IS READ BY