SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece in Ankara was held in a friendly atmosphere under the influence of Greece’s aid to Turkey following the two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and then Turkey’s condolences to Greece for the deadly train accident earlier this year. This meeting was held after the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Conservative Prime Minister Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in July. In recent negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed old disputes such as the Cyprus issue, the stalled process of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and illegal immigration, the framework for strengthening economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of cooperation in fields such as transportation, maritime cooperation, trade, and technology, environment protection and fighting against natural disasters.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Strategic Council Online: His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdulhian, attended the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, 12 Sep. 2023, and briefed the council members on the latest status of nuclear negotiations, the release of Iran’s foreign assets, the revival of relations with Saudi Arabia and its regional dimensions and other regional and international issues.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The disclosure of the news on the meeting of the Libyan foreign minister with her Israeli counterpart has sparked a wave of protests in various Libyan cities, including Misrata, Al-Zantan, and Tripoli.
Barsam Mohammadi – Expert on regional affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on African affairs emphasized: Developments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali showed that the colonial power of France has weakened and the policies of the Macron government have failed to find a solution in Africa. Today, the Elysee Palace has concluded that they should reconsider their African policies and, as a result, even the European Union is forced to rethink their behavior and methods by examining the reasons for the failure of the policies of European countries in Africa.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of European issues considered the sharp atmosphere related to immigration and its consequences as one of the main reasons for the growth of extremist parties in Europe, adding that the increase in dissatisfaction of people with the main parties in those countries causes the rise in attention to extreme-right parties in Europe.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on Afghanistan affairs, recalling that NATO and other Western countries also declared that they do not support the armed resistance in Afghanistan, said: Russia, in a situation in which it is worried about the activities of ISIS and extremist groups in Central Asia, is much more cautious than changing its attitude towards those groups by annoying the Taliban.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A foreign policy expert says that with the increase in BRICS members, this group will continue to be a space where the balance between the members will determine its future. He noted that if it is to be a cold war between China, probably with the company of Russia, and the United States, BRICS will suffer. But if by adjusting the dispute between China and the US, the possibility will be provided for members to cooperate easily, BRICS can have more successful efforts. In any case, the way of interaction and balance between the members will determine its future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor says the issue of prolonging the presidential election (in Lebanon) is due to the differences among the Resistance Coalition. He added: The power structure and political groups have reached peaceful coexistence with the interim government and the existence of a power vacuum, and apparently, the presence or absence of the president does not matter much to them. In this situation, negotiations and bargaining do not reach a result that is the most desirable affair for the Zionist regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece in Ankara was held in a friendly atmosphere under the influence of Greece’s aid to Turkey following the two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and then Turkey’s condolences to Greece for the deadly train accident earlier this year. This meeting was held after the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Conservative Prime Minister Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in July. In recent negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed old disputes such as the Cyprus issue, the stalled process of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and illegal immigration, the framework for strengthening economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of cooperation in fields such as transportation, maritime cooperation, trade, and technology, environment protection and fighting against natural disasters.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Strategic Council Online: His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdulhian, attended the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, 12 Sep. 2023, and briefed the council members on the latest status of nuclear negotiations, the release of Iran’s foreign assets, the revival of relations with Saudi Arabia and its regional dimensions and other regional and international issues.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The disclosure of the news on the meeting of the Libyan foreign minister with her Israeli counterpart has sparked a wave of protests in various Libyan cities, including Misrata, Al-Zantan, and Tripoli.
Barsam Mohammadi – Expert on regional affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on African affairs emphasized: Developments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali showed that the colonial power of France has weakened and the policies of the Macron government have failed to find a solution in Africa. Today, the Elysee Palace has concluded that they should reconsider their African policies and, as a result, even the European Union is forced to rethink their behavior and methods by examining the reasons for the failure of the policies of European countries in Africa.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of European issues considered the sharp atmosphere related to immigration and its consequences as one of the main reasons for the growth of extremist parties in Europe, adding that the increase in dissatisfaction of people with the main parties in those countries causes the rise in attention to extreme-right parties in Europe.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on Afghanistan affairs, recalling that NATO and other Western countries also declared that they do not support the armed resistance in Afghanistan, said: Russia, in a situation in which it is worried about the activities of ISIS and extremist groups in Central Asia, is much more cautious than changing its attitude towards those groups by annoying the Taliban.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A foreign policy expert says that with the increase in BRICS members, this group will continue to be a space where the balance between the members will determine its future. He noted that if it is to be a cold war between China, probably with the company of Russia, and the United States, BRICS will suffer. But if by adjusting the dispute between China and the US, the possibility will be provided for members to cooperate easily, BRICS can have more successful efforts. In any case, the way of interaction and balance between the members will determine its future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor says the issue of prolonging the presidential election (in Lebanon) is due to the differences among the Resistance Coalition. He added: The power structure and political groups have reached peaceful coexistence with the interim government and the existence of a power vacuum, and apparently, the presence or absence of the president does not matter much to them. In this situation, negotiations and bargaining do not reach a result that is the most desirable affair for the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece in Ankara was held in a friendly atmosphere under the influence of Greece’s aid to Turkey following the two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and then Turkey’s condolences to Greece for the deadly train accident earlier this year. This meeting was held after the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Conservative Prime Minister Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in July. In recent negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed old disputes such as the Cyprus issue, the stalled process of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and illegal immigration, the framework for strengthening economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of cooperation in fields such as transportation, maritime cooperation, trade, and technology, environment protection and fighting against natural disasters.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Strategic Council Online: His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdulhian, attended the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, 12 Sep. 2023, and briefed the council members on the latest status of nuclear negotiations, the release of Iran’s foreign assets, the revival of relations with Saudi Arabia and its regional dimensions and other regional and international issues.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The disclosure of the news on the meeting of the Libyan foreign minister with her Israeli counterpart has sparked a wave of protests in various Libyan cities, including Misrata, Al-Zantan, and Tripoli.
Barsam Mohammadi – Expert on regional affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on African affairs emphasized: Developments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali showed that the colonial power of France has weakened and the policies of the Macron government have failed to find a solution in Africa. Today, the Elysee Palace has concluded that they should reconsider their African policies and, as a result, even the European Union is forced to rethink their behavior and methods by examining the reasons for the failure of the policies of European countries in Africa.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of European issues considered the sharp atmosphere related to immigration and its consequences as one of the main reasons for the growth of extremist parties in Europe, adding that the increase in dissatisfaction of people with the main parties in those countries causes the rise in attention to extreme-right parties in Europe.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on Afghanistan affairs, recalling that NATO and other Western countries also declared that they do not support the armed resistance in Afghanistan, said: Russia, in a situation in which it is worried about the activities of ISIS and extremist groups in Central Asia, is much more cautious than changing its attitude towards those groups by annoying the Taliban.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A foreign policy expert says that with the increase in BRICS members, this group will continue to be a space where the balance between the members will determine its future. He noted that if it is to be a cold war between China, probably with the company of Russia, and the United States, BRICS will suffer. But if by adjusting the dispute between China and the US, the possibility will be provided for members to cooperate easily, BRICS can have more successful efforts. In any case, the way of interaction and balance between the members will determine its future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor says the issue of prolonging the presidential election (in Lebanon) is due to the differences among the Resistance Coalition. He added: The power structure and political groups have reached peaceful coexistence with the interim government and the existence of a power vacuum, and apparently, the presence or absence of the president does not matter much to them. In this situation, negotiations and bargaining do not reach a result that is the most desirable affair for the Zionist regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece in Ankara was held in a friendly atmosphere under the influence of Greece’s aid to Turkey following the two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and then Turkey’s condolences to Greece for the deadly train accident earlier this year. This meeting was held after the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Conservative Prime Minister Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in July. In recent negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed old disputes such as the Cyprus issue, the stalled process of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and illegal immigration, the framework for strengthening economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of cooperation in fields such as transportation, maritime cooperation, trade, and technology, environment protection and fighting against natural disasters.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Strategic Council Online: His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdulhian, attended the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, 12 Sep. 2023, and briefed the council members on the latest status of nuclear negotiations, the release of Iran’s foreign assets, the revival of relations with Saudi Arabia and its regional dimensions and other regional and international issues.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The disclosure of the news on the meeting of the Libyan foreign minister with her Israeli counterpart has sparked a wave of protests in various Libyan cities, including Misrata, Al-Zantan, and Tripoli.
Barsam Mohammadi – Expert on regional affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on African affairs emphasized: Developments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali showed that the colonial power of France has weakened and the policies of the Macron government have failed to find a solution in Africa. Today, the Elysee Palace has concluded that they should reconsider their African policies and, as a result, even the European Union is forced to rethink their behavior and methods by examining the reasons for the failure of the policies of European countries in Africa.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of European issues considered the sharp atmosphere related to immigration and its consequences as one of the main reasons for the growth of extremist parties in Europe, adding that the increase in dissatisfaction of people with the main parties in those countries causes the rise in attention to extreme-right parties in Europe.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on Afghanistan affairs, recalling that NATO and other Western countries also declared that they do not support the armed resistance in Afghanistan, said: Russia, in a situation in which it is worried about the activities of ISIS and extremist groups in Central Asia, is much more cautious than changing its attitude towards those groups by annoying the Taliban.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A foreign policy expert says that with the increase in BRICS members, this group will continue to be a space where the balance between the members will determine its future. He noted that if it is to be a cold war between China, probably with the company of Russia, and the United States, BRICS will suffer. But if by adjusting the dispute between China and the US, the possibility will be provided for members to cooperate easily, BRICS can have more successful efforts. In any case, the way of interaction and balance between the members will determine its future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor says the issue of prolonging the presidential election (in Lebanon) is due to the differences among the Resistance Coalition. He added: The power structure and political groups have reached peaceful coexistence with the interim government and the existence of a power vacuum, and apparently, the presence or absence of the president does not matter much to them. In this situation, negotiations and bargaining do not reach a result that is the most desirable affair for the Zionist regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece in Ankara was held in a friendly atmosphere under the influence of Greece’s aid to Turkey following the two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and then Turkey’s condolences to Greece for the deadly train accident earlier this year. This meeting was held after the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Conservative Prime Minister Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in July. In recent negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed old disputes such as the Cyprus issue, the stalled process of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and illegal immigration, the framework for strengthening economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of cooperation in fields such as transportation, maritime cooperation, trade, and technology, environment protection and fighting against natural disasters.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Strategic Council Online: His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdulhian, attended the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, 12 Sep. 2023, and briefed the council members on the latest status of nuclear negotiations, the release of Iran’s foreign assets, the revival of relations with Saudi Arabia and its regional dimensions and other regional and international issues.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The disclosure of the news on the meeting of the Libyan foreign minister with her Israeli counterpart has sparked a wave of protests in various Libyan cities, including Misrata, Al-Zantan, and Tripoli.
Barsam Mohammadi – Expert on regional affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on African affairs emphasized: Developments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali showed that the colonial power of France has weakened and the policies of the Macron government have failed to find a solution in Africa. Today, the Elysee Palace has concluded that they should reconsider their African policies and, as a result, even the European Union is forced to rethink their behavior and methods by examining the reasons for the failure of the policies of European countries in Africa.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of European issues considered the sharp atmosphere related to immigration and its consequences as one of the main reasons for the growth of extremist parties in Europe, adding that the increase in dissatisfaction of people with the main parties in those countries causes the rise in attention to extreme-right parties in Europe.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on Afghanistan affairs, recalling that NATO and other Western countries also declared that they do not support the armed resistance in Afghanistan, said: Russia, in a situation in which it is worried about the activities of ISIS and extremist groups in Central Asia, is much more cautious than changing its attitude towards those groups by annoying the Taliban.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A foreign policy expert says that with the increase in BRICS members, this group will continue to be a space where the balance between the members will determine its future. He noted that if it is to be a cold war between China, probably with the company of Russia, and the United States, BRICS will suffer. But if by adjusting the dispute between China and the US, the possibility will be provided for members to cooperate easily, BRICS can have more successful efforts. In any case, the way of interaction and balance between the members will determine its future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor says the issue of prolonging the presidential election (in Lebanon) is due to the differences among the Resistance Coalition. He added: The power structure and political groups have reached peaceful coexistence with the interim government and the existence of a power vacuum, and apparently, the presence or absence of the president does not matter much to them. In this situation, negotiations and bargaining do not reach a result that is the most desirable affair for the Zionist regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece in Ankara was held in a friendly atmosphere under the influence of Greece’s aid to Turkey following the two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and then Turkey’s condolences to Greece for the deadly train accident earlier this year. This meeting was held after the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Conservative Prime Minister Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in July. In recent negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed old disputes such as the Cyprus issue, the stalled process of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and illegal immigration, the framework for strengthening economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of cooperation in fields such as transportation, maritime cooperation, trade, and technology, environment protection and fighting against natural disasters.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Strategic Council Online: His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdulhian, attended the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, 12 Sep. 2023, and briefed the council members on the latest status of nuclear negotiations, the release of Iran’s foreign assets, the revival of relations with Saudi Arabia and its regional dimensions and other regional and international issues.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The disclosure of the news on the meeting of the Libyan foreign minister with her Israeli counterpart has sparked a wave of protests in various Libyan cities, including Misrata, Al-Zantan, and Tripoli.
Barsam Mohammadi – Expert on regional affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on African affairs emphasized: Developments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali showed that the colonial power of France has weakened and the policies of the Macron government have failed to find a solution in Africa. Today, the Elysee Palace has concluded that they should reconsider their African policies and, as a result, even the European Union is forced to rethink their behavior and methods by examining the reasons for the failure of the policies of European countries in Africa.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of European issues considered the sharp atmosphere related to immigration and its consequences as one of the main reasons for the growth of extremist parties in Europe, adding that the increase in dissatisfaction of people with the main parties in those countries causes the rise in attention to extreme-right parties in Europe.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on Afghanistan affairs, recalling that NATO and other Western countries also declared that they do not support the armed resistance in Afghanistan, said: Russia, in a situation in which it is worried about the activities of ISIS and extremist groups in Central Asia, is much more cautious than changing its attitude towards those groups by annoying the Taliban.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A foreign policy expert says that with the increase in BRICS members, this group will continue to be a space where the balance between the members will determine its future. He noted that if it is to be a cold war between China, probably with the company of Russia, and the United States, BRICS will suffer. But if by adjusting the dispute between China and the US, the possibility will be provided for members to cooperate easily, BRICS can have more successful efforts. In any case, the way of interaction and balance between the members will determine its future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor says the issue of prolonging the presidential election (in Lebanon) is due to the differences among the Resistance Coalition. He added: The power structure and political groups have reached peaceful coexistence with the interim government and the existence of a power vacuum, and apparently, the presence or absence of the president does not matter much to them. In this situation, negotiations and bargaining do not reach a result that is the most desirable affair for the Zionist regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece in Ankara was held in a friendly atmosphere under the influence of Greece’s aid to Turkey following the two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and then Turkey’s condolences to Greece for the deadly train accident earlier this year. This meeting was held after the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Conservative Prime Minister Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in July. In recent negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed old disputes such as the Cyprus issue, the stalled process of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and illegal immigration, the framework for strengthening economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of cooperation in fields such as transportation, maritime cooperation, trade, and technology, environment protection and fighting against natural disasters.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Strategic Council Online: His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdulhian, attended the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, 12 Sep. 2023, and briefed the council members on the latest status of nuclear negotiations, the release of Iran’s foreign assets, the revival of relations with Saudi Arabia and its regional dimensions and other regional and international issues.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The disclosure of the news on the meeting of the Libyan foreign minister with her Israeli counterpart has sparked a wave of protests in various Libyan cities, including Misrata, Al-Zantan, and Tripoli.
Barsam Mohammadi – Expert on regional affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on African affairs emphasized: Developments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali showed that the colonial power of France has weakened and the policies of the Macron government have failed to find a solution in Africa. Today, the Elysee Palace has concluded that they should reconsider their African policies and, as a result, even the European Union is forced to rethink their behavior and methods by examining the reasons for the failure of the policies of European countries in Africa.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of European issues considered the sharp atmosphere related to immigration and its consequences as one of the main reasons for the growth of extremist parties in Europe, adding that the increase in dissatisfaction of people with the main parties in those countries causes the rise in attention to extreme-right parties in Europe.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on Afghanistan affairs, recalling that NATO and other Western countries also declared that they do not support the armed resistance in Afghanistan, said: Russia, in a situation in which it is worried about the activities of ISIS and extremist groups in Central Asia, is much more cautious than changing its attitude towards those groups by annoying the Taliban.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A foreign policy expert says that with the increase in BRICS members, this group will continue to be a space where the balance between the members will determine its future. He noted that if it is to be a cold war between China, probably with the company of Russia, and the United States, BRICS will suffer. But if by adjusting the dispute between China and the US, the possibility will be provided for members to cooperate easily, BRICS can have more successful efforts. In any case, the way of interaction and balance between the members will determine its future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor says the issue of prolonging the presidential election (in Lebanon) is due to the differences among the Resistance Coalition. He added: The power structure and political groups have reached peaceful coexistence with the interim government and the existence of a power vacuum, and apparently, the presence or absence of the president does not matter much to them. In this situation, negotiations and bargaining do not reach a result that is the most desirable affair for the Zionist regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.