Syria Audio Feature: "How Significant Are Sanctions?" --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

I spoke with Monocle 24's The Globalist programme this morning to consider, amid latest sanctions by the European Union and Australia, the effectiveness of economic pressure on the Assad regime. Can the steps lead to President Assad's withdrawal from power? Will Russia and/or China help Damascus resist? 

To get to the programme, launch Monocle 24's Timeshift and click on the Globalist 24 icon.

The discussion starts at the 10:41 mark.

Syria Audio Feature: "What Can Be Done?" --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

I spoke for more than 10 minutes last night with Monocle 24. The conversation began with the current situation, including reports that CIA personnel are now in Turkey advising on arms shipments to the opposition, and an "endgame".

The easy answer to that last enquiry --- there won't be an endgame soon and probably for a long time --- led to a detailed examination of the insurgency and the difficulties and possibilities of international intervention.

To get to the item, open the Monocle Daily for 21 June and press Play. The discussion starts at the 2:21 mark. 

Middle East and Iran Audio Feature: "Oil and Politics" --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

As OPEC announced record revenues from oil sales, but amid a fall in the price this spring, I spoke with Monocle 24 about the politics behind the production. Topics ranged from the squeeze on Iran to the place of countries like Iraq, Venezuela, and Libya to the role of Saudi Arabia as "first among equals" in manoeuvres between OPEC, the US, and Europe.

The discussion starts just after the 19-minute mark. To reach the programme, click on "Monocle Daily" for 19/06.

Iran Audio Analysis: The Moscow Nuclear Talks --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

EU's Catherine Ashton & Iran's Saeed JaliliLast night I spent more than 10 minutes with Monocle 24, setting out the issues at the nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China) and assessing the day's developments.

The conclusion? Despite my pessimism before the talks and throughout the day over the discussions, there may be an opening for negotiations with Iran's five-point proposal on uranium enrichment and eased sanctions --- provided the US and Europe want an agreement short of a capitulation by Tehran, provided the details back up the general outline of the proposal, and provided the talks are not diverted by issues like intervention in Syria.

All big ifs.....

The discussion starts at the 17:53 mark.

Bahrain Audio Feature: Scott Lucas with Monocle 24 "A Guide to the Current Situation"

Jane Kinninmont of Chatham House and I spoke at length with Monocle 24 last night about developments in Bahrain and the general political and legal situation, from the specific case of medics sentenced to prison terms to the spectres of Iran and "sectarianism" to the wider prospects over "reform", protest, and the US position on the Kingdom.

The discussion begins at the 8-minute mark.

Russia Audio Feature: Moscow's Manoeuvres Around the World --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

Vladimir Putin & China's Hu JintaoAs Vladimir Putin joins other leaders in Beijing for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organzation, I joined Monocle 24's Midori House last night to discuss Russia's current approach to the world --- including the Syrian crisis. the Iranian nuclear issue, the changing situation in Afghanistan, and relations with China and the US.

The 10-minute chat begins at the 5:36 mark.

Iran Audio Feature: "Tehran's Troubled Relationship with China" --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

I spoke for more than 10 minutes last night with Monocle 24 Radio about the state of Iran's relations with China.

The starting point was this week's cancellation by Iran of a $2 billion contract for China to build a dam, but discussion soon widened to Iran-Chinese relations, the effects of sanctions, and the state of the Iranian economy, including the role of the Revolutionary Guards.

To get to the discussion:

1. Go to Monocle 24's "Timeshift" page.
2. Click "Filter Monocle 24", tick "The Monocle Daily", and click "Apply Changes".
3. Select the programme for 31 May.
4. The item is at the start of the programme, after the 30-second Monocle 24 identification.  

Syria Audio: Scott Lucas on Monocle 24 "There is No Diplomatic Way Forward"

I spoke with Monocle 24 Radio on Tuesday night, going beyond the day's events --- from the expulsion of Syrian diplomats by a number of countries to President Assad's meeting with United Nations envoy Kofi Annan --- to argue that the Syrian regime is "In for a Penny, In for a Pound", committed to the crushing of the insurgency and the suppression of the opposition.

That in turn means, "There is no diplomatic solution." And, by the gloomy conclusion of the interview was that we were likely to be discussing the same pattern of events six months from now.

The discussion is on "The Monocle Daily" --- you will need to get to the programme through "Filter Timeshift" --- beginning at the 7:08 mark.