MUST-READS

• The Curious Case of the Kerman Attacks

  The Kerman attack was the deadliest in the four-and-a-half-decade history of the Islamic Republic. Many of the victims were children, whose schools were closed for the commemoration. Curiously, the ceremony was not attended by Soleimani’s own family or by top regime officials. The next day, a statement purportedly issued by the so-called Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, yet the Islamic Republic exhibited confusion about whom to blame and leaned toward pinning the attacks on Israel.

• Iran’s 2024 Elections: Vote Without Voters

  The elections recorded the lowest voter turnout since the 1979 revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. This outcome is an apparent embarrassment for a political system that has consistently argued that the act of voting, regardless of the candidate, signifies the Iranian public’s renewed allegiance to the regime and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, beyond the embarrassment, does a voter boycott matter in a country that is not a democracy? Looking at electoral data along with a provincial breakdown of fatalities during Iran’s 2022-23 protests suggests there may be repercussions of Iranian voters abstaining from the ballot.

• From Gaza to the Syrian Border, Jordan Is Increasingly in the Line of Fire

  UNRWA in Jordan provides key services to more than 2 million registered Palestinian refugees in the kingdom. This includes services in ten refugee camps, in 169 schools serving 119,000 students, and in 25 medical clinics and other health centers. Jordanian officials therefore have urged the United States and other countries to reverse their funding freezes, especially now in the heat of the ongoing war in Gaza and the broader regional crises.

• US threatens action against Iran at IAEA over continued ‘stonewalling’
  The United States on Thursday threatened future action against Iran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog if Tehran keeps "stonewalling" the watchdog by denying it the cooperation and answers it seeks on issues including long-unexplained uranium traces.
  At a quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors, Washington again told Iran to cooperate with IAEA inspectors who for years have been seeking explanations from Tehran on the origin of uranium particles at undeclared sites.

• Muslims spot Ramadan crescent moon in Saudi Arabia, meaning month of fasting starts Monday for many

  The sacred month, which sees those observing abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset, marks a period of religious reflection, family get-togethers and giving across the Muslim world. Seeing the moon Sunday night means Monday is the first day of the fast. Saudi state television reported that authorities there saw the crescent moon. Soon after, multiple Gulf Arab nations, as well as Iraq, Syria and Egypt followed the announcement to confirm they as well would start fasting on Monday. Leaders also shared messages of congratulations the month had begun.

• Saudi Aramco reports second-highest net income of $121.3bn in 2023

  In 2023, Aramco reported a net income of $121.3 billion, a decrease from $161.1 billion in 2022, marking the company’s second-highest net income to date. The year-on-year decline is attributable to lower crude oil prices and volumes sold, along with reduced refining and chemical margins. This decrease was partially offset by a reduction in production royalties, as well as lower income taxes and zakat during the year.

• Saudi Arabia is on a remarkable journey — I’ve seen it with my own eyes

  In the past 18 months, Saudi Arabia has won the bid to host the World Expo 2030 (in a landslide vote); secured the 2029 Asian Winter Games and 2034 World Cup; attracted some of the world’s best football talent; shaken up the golf world with LIV Golf; continued to significantly advance its massive giga-projects; played a significant role on the diplomatic stage with many of the world’s current, complex challenges and dangers; and has been named the ninth-most powerful country in the world by US News and World Report. The Kingdom is on a roll like few nations have been in the recent past.

• Aramco seeks more investment opportunities in China, sees healthy oil market in 2024: CEO

  On an earnings call, Nasser added that the global oil market is expected to remain healthy for the rest of the year and increase by roughly 1.5 million barrels, according to Reuters.   The CEO also predicted that global oil demand will reach 104 million barrels per day in 2024, up from an average of 102.4 million barrels in 2023.   Aramco, he added, is targeting a 60% boost in gas production by 2023, compared to 2021 levels.

• Saudi Arabia starts to localize 35% of dental profession

  Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) started to localize 35% of the dental profession in the private sector as of today, March 10.   The decision, issued by HRSD Ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Health, will be implemented in the private-sector institutions with three or more workers.   The Health Ministry will oversee and implement the decision, in line with the job market and the requirements of the dental profession.

• Saudi GDP falls 0.8% in 2023

  Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.8% year-on-year (YoY) in 2023, data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) showed.   Oil activities declined by 9% YoY, while non-oil activities grew by 4.4% annually. In addition, government services increased by 2.1% YoY.   GASTAT adopted the chain-linked methodology in the national accounts to calculate the real GDP. It issued the publications of Q4 2023 and 2023, adopting the new methodology instead of the previous one, which was based on utilizing the fixed base year.

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