Dear Delegates, This document contains brief update papers on the two topics we will be discussing. Just a couple reminders please​ submit your position papers to ​[email protected]​ ​by April 14th by 5:00 PM at the latest. ​Additionally, please bring a printed copy of each paper to committee. If you have any questions, please reach out. Sincerely, Eleftherios L. Halkias

Topic A: The Saudi Arabia-Iran Conflict Recent events in the Saudi-Iran conflict have neither been entirely positive nor entirely negative. While some of the religious tensions have receded slightly, Iran has taken actions in Yemen that could inflame the conflict. In 2016, Iranian pilgrims did not go on the Hajj citing failed agreements on security and logistics as chief concerns.1 Iranian pilgrims will go on the Hajj this year as the Saudi Hajj ministry has declared ​"all pilgrims from all the different nationalities and backgrounds."2 Despite the fact that Tehran and Riyadh have no diplomatic relations, this can be seen as a positive step in reducing religious tensions in the region. While there has been progress with the Hajj, both Saudi Arabia and Iran continue to prepare for conflict. Saudi Arabia has been working to attain nuclear capability to counter Iran’s nuclear program.3 While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is viewed as a newcomer to nuclear energy, it is expected that they will seek to increase their nuclear capabilities.4 Meanwhile, Iran has been sending military equipment and advisors to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.5 Additionally, Iran has played a more active role in funding and training the Houthi rebels.6 The actions Iran has been taking has lead nearby Sunni Muslim countries to fear that Iran is trying to export its Shia beliefs to other countries. The results of the Saudi-Iran conflict have the potential to shift the balance of power in the Middle East.

1

"Iran Pilgrims to Join This Year's Hajj." Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network, 18 Mar. 2017. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. 2 ibid 3 Kredo, Adam. "Report: Saudi Arabia Still Seeking Nuclear Weapons Capability." Washington Free Beacon. The Washington Free Beacon, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. 4 ibid 5 Saul, Jonathan, Parisa Hafezi, and Michael Georgy. "Iran Steps Up Support for Houthis in Yemen's War." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Mar. 2017. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. 6 ibid

Topic B: The Unrest in Venezuela Over the past few months, Venezuela has continued to deteriorate at an alarming rate. In addition to the widespread poverty, government corruption and civil unrest, several recent developments have exacerbated the unrest in Venezuela. On February 15th, Nicolas Maduro’s government blocked the broadcast of CNN en Español, a Spanish news program broadcasted from Atlanta.7 The program reported that the Vice President of Venezuela, Tareck El Aissami, was involved in a passport fraud. 8 Maduro and El Aissami denied any involvement and the channel was promptly removed from Venezuelan television. In addition to being accused of passport fraud, the Trump administration accused El Aissami of playing a role in drug trafficking.9 President Trump then imposed sanctions on El Aissami. El Aissami had been under investigation by the United States for several years, stemming back to when El Aissami was the Interior Minister and fraudulent Venezuelan passports were obtained by alleged Hezbollah members.10 On March 30th, the Venezuelan Supreme Court stripped the National Assembly of its power and transferred those powers to the Supreme Court.11 The move further increased Maduro’s power as many in the Supreme Court support his policies. In removing the power of the National Assembly, all three branches of the Venezuelan government were under the control

7

Casey, Nicholas. "Venezuela Blocks CNN En Español Over Report on Passport Fraud." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. 8 Ibid 9 "US Accuses Venezuelan Vice-President of Role in Global Drug Trafficking." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 13 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. 10 Ibid 11 Romo, Rafael. "Venezuela's High Court Dissolves National Assembly." CNN. Cable News Network, 30 Mar. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

of the United Socialist Party. Essentially none of the opposition to Maduro holds political power. According to National Assembly President Julio Borges, Maduro “has has all the power to enact laws, assign contracts, incur foreign debt and persecute fellow Venezuelans."12 In response, the Peruvian government broke off relations with Venezuela and recalled their ambassador. However, later in the week, the Supreme Court reversed its decisions that dissolved the National Assembly.13 The reversal is seen as a rare victory for the Venezuelan opposition. Maduro called for discussions with the opposition after the reversed rulings, however Julio Borges stated that there would be no discussions claiming ““The only possible dialogue is the [presidential vote later in the year].”14

12

ibid Mogollon, Mery, and Patrick J. McDonnell. "Venezuela's Opposition Emboldened after Top Court Reverses Decision to Strip Congress' Power." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. 14 ibid 13

Works Cited Casey, Nicholas. "Venezuela Blocks CNN En Español Over Report on Passport Fraud." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. "Iran Pilgrims to Join This Year's Hajj." Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network, 18 Mar. 2017. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. Kredo, Adam. "Report: Saudi Arabia Still Seeking Nuclear Weapons Capability." Washington Free Beacon. The Washington Free Beacon, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. Mogollon, Mery, and Patrick J. McDonnell. "Venezuela's Opposition Emboldened after Top Court Reverses Decision to Strip Congress' Power." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. Romo, Rafael. "Venezuela's High Court Dissolves National Assembly." CNN. Cable News Network, 30 Mar. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

Saul, Jonathan, Parisa Hafezi, and Michael Georgy. "Iran Steps Up Support for Houthis in Yemen's War." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Mar. 2017. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. "US Accuses Venezuelan Vice-President of Role in Global Drug Trafficking." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 13 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.