Strategic Council Online: Former Head of the Department in Charge of Afghan Affairs at the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not optimistic the US-Taliban talks would lead to a breakthrough. “Due to the developments in Afghanistan, the elections scheduled for October may be delayed.” But, he says, it seems the Afghan government will be able to hold the election by the end of the current Christian year.
Strategic Council Online: A European affairs expert, saying that at present Britain is in a very difficult and complex political situation noted that if London exits the EU with no deal it would continue to be involved in the consequences of leaving the EU for years.
Strategic Council Online: As international economic observers and analysts expected, the joint meeting of world central bank governors held in New York was more newsworthy than the previous years.
Central Bank of England Governor’s remarks that the world should end its risky reliance on the dollar became the most controversial position taken by a senior economic official at the summit.
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: Whether the Taliban-US agreement will lead to a ceasefire or an understanding with the Afghan central government remains unclear.
Pir Mohammad Mollazehi- Expert on Afghanistan
Strategic Council Online: Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are facing difficult and complicated conditions at the regional level, and the signs that are reflected outside the region and elsewhere in other countries indicate emergence of a passive state that has faced them with serious doubts as whether continue the Yemen war or not.
Strategic Council Online: Donald Trump’s general plan is aimed at restoring the US administration’s financial stability in a bid to balance the budget over a 10-year period, but it is unclear how he wants to stabilize the budget without an economic plan to raise taxes and launch fundamental reforms in social security and health care sectors in the long run.
Reza Majidzadeh – Economic Researcher
Strategic Council Online: The US is not seeking to lift its pressure on Iran, and in the proposals, they have made there is no evidence to seek to ease the sanctions or shake or weaken the pressure structure on Tehran or create a significant change in the economic situation of Iran.
Strategic Council Online: A university lecturer of international relations says the greatest achievement of colonialists in their efforts to intervene in other countries is the creation of instability. “Today, the United States and Israel want to get strong in the region and endeavour by fomenting secessionist sentiments in countries like Iraq, Syria and Yemen to pressure smaller nations and even bring them under their domination more easily.”
Strategic Council Online: An expert on strategic issues says given that the Caspian Sea currently lacks a legal regime, the US decision to launch a Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline with the aim of transferring gas to Europe is in clear contravention of the rights of coastal states and an open violation of the International maritime law.
Strategic Council Online: On the one hand, Iran is sending a message to the West that Tehran has many different options for coalition making in the Persian Gulf, and on the other hand, the Russians are sending a message to Western countries that if they want to raise the level of tension in the region Moscow is also capable of playing a role in the Persian Gulf.
Shoaib Bahman – Russian Affairs Expert