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 – Interview: An expert on Asia affairs, stating that the recent evidence shows the deepening of Pakistan’s relations with Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, focusing on economic assistance in exchange for military aid, said: The Middle East region is witnessing a new security order and needs to strengthen itself more in terms of military, and the view of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf towards the East and Pakistan can be evaluated in this regard.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat said that currently Indians have a superior position and the upper hand against Pakistan and in response to Islamabad request for reconciliation, set conditions and terms. He added: Due to internal problems, now the relations with India and the issue of Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s priority and their main problem is the terrorist and extremist groups that threaten the Islamabad government in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is interested in creating peace on the Kashmir front so that it can better deal with its internal problems.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The tragic and criminal incident at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, which based on the explicit confession of the assailant, took place with personal motives, ended with the timely intervention of the police force.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said Japan is after preparations to save itself from the strategic isolation created due to the focus of the West on Ukraine. He added: The United States is very willing to turn Southeast Asia into another Ukraine and with China’s military involvement it will be contained by military and security means in which the US has a definite superiority; but so far China has not moved in this direction any way.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus emphasizes lack of common ground between the two sides for peace talks to reach a common solution which has followed concerns among the Cypriot authorities as well as Greek parties. The Greek Cypriot side does not seem satisfied with the UN Secretary General’s reports as an official document of the UN Security Council published on January 13, because such reports are close to the “two societies” policy and include subjective and non-objective views. According to Nicosia, the correct report should ask all parties to adhere to a common solution to the Cyprus issue, which is the formation of a common bi-regional federation and political equality.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Any attempt by Europe to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps–a sovereign body and part of the official defense force of the Islamic Republic of Iran—as a terrorist organization will affect the interests and national security of European countries before it harms the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamid Khoshayand—Expert of regional issues
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media does not necessarily mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region, and said that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement. It is for Netanyahu and the Likud party to divert the attention of public opinion from the internal problems and challenges of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Politics in general, including foreign policy, followed by political action and diplomatic measure, appears natural and is more welcomed when it can emerge from a country’s worldview and its civilizational, historical, moral, religious and political customs. Otherwise, it will not achieve much success. Compliance with the principles may sometimes cause an apparent loss to the holder in the short term, but compliance with the principles will benefit everyone in the long run.
Mohsen Baharvand – Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Turkey affairs, commenting about the zigzag policies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government towards the Syrian government, said: Turkey’s president started great efforts to change his regional policies almost from the middle of 2022; efforts that were visible in the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then the effort to normalize relations with Egypt. At the same time, recently there were murmurs about holding high-level talks between Turkey and Syria.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor stated that Peru has now become a symbol of the conflict between rightism and leftism in the Latin American region and this conflict is showing itself strongly, adding that “what is happening in Peru is related to the fate of the new wave of leftism that has re-emerged in the region and politicians do not allow a socialist character to come to power in this country.
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 – Interview: An expert on Asia affairs, stating that the recent evidence shows the deepening of Pakistan’s relations with Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, focusing on economic assistance in exchange for military aid, said: The Middle East region is witnessing a new security order and needs to strengthen itself more in terms of military, and the view of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf towards the East and Pakistan can be evaluated in this regard.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat said that currently Indians have a superior position and the upper hand against Pakistan and in response to Islamabad request for reconciliation, set conditions and terms. He added: Due to internal problems, now the relations with India and the issue of Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s priority and their main problem is the terrorist and extremist groups that threaten the Islamabad government in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is interested in creating peace on the Kashmir front so that it can better deal with its internal problems.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The tragic and criminal incident at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, which based on the explicit confession of the assailant, took place with personal motives, ended with the timely intervention of the police force.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said Japan is after preparations to save itself from the strategic isolation created due to the focus of the West on Ukraine. He added: The United States is very willing to turn Southeast Asia into another Ukraine and with China’s military involvement it will be contained by military and security means in which the US has a definite superiority; but so far China has not moved in this direction any way.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus emphasizes lack of common ground between the two sides for peace talks to reach a common solution which has followed concerns among the Cypriot authorities as well as Greek parties. The Greek Cypriot side does not seem satisfied with the UN Secretary General’s reports as an official document of the UN Security Council published on January 13, because such reports are close to the “two societies” policy and include subjective and non-objective views. According to Nicosia, the correct report should ask all parties to adhere to a common solution to the Cyprus issue, which is the formation of a common bi-regional federation and political equality.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Any attempt by Europe to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps–a sovereign body and part of the official defense force of the Islamic Republic of Iran—as a terrorist organization will affect the interests and national security of European countries before it harms the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamid Khoshayand—Expert of regional issues
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media does not necessarily mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region, and said that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement. It is for Netanyahu and the Likud party to divert the attention of public opinion from the internal problems and challenges of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Politics in general, including foreign policy, followed by political action and diplomatic measure, appears natural and is more welcomed when it can emerge from a country’s worldview and its civilizational, historical, moral, religious and political customs. Otherwise, it will not achieve much success. Compliance with the principles may sometimes cause an apparent loss to the holder in the short term, but compliance with the principles will benefit everyone in the long run.
Mohsen Baharvand – Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Turkey affairs, commenting about the zigzag policies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government towards the Syrian government, said: Turkey’s president started great efforts to change his regional policies almost from the middle of 2022; efforts that were visible in the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then the effort to normalize relations with Egypt. At the same time, recently there were murmurs about holding high-level talks between Turkey and Syria.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor stated that Peru has now become a symbol of the conflict between rightism and leftism in the Latin American region and this conflict is showing itself strongly, adding that “what is happening in Peru is related to the fate of the new wave of leftism that has re-emerged in the region and politicians do not allow a socialist character to come to power in this country.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Asia affairs, stating that the recent evidence shows the deepening of Pakistan’s relations with Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, focusing on economic assistance in exchange for military aid, said: The Middle East region is witnessing a new security order and needs to strengthen itself more in terms of military, and the view of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf towards the East and Pakistan can be evaluated in this regard.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat said that currently Indians have a superior position and the upper hand against Pakistan and in response to Islamabad request for reconciliation, set conditions and terms. He added: Due to internal problems, now the relations with India and the issue of Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s priority and their main problem is the terrorist and extremist groups that threaten the Islamabad government in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is interested in creating peace on the Kashmir front so that it can better deal with its internal problems.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The tragic and criminal incident at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, which based on the explicit confession of the assailant, took place with personal motives, ended with the timely intervention of the police force.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said Japan is after preparations to save itself from the strategic isolation created due to the focus of the West on Ukraine. He added: The United States is very willing to turn Southeast Asia into another Ukraine and with China’s military involvement it will be contained by military and security means in which the US has a definite superiority; but so far China has not moved in this direction any way.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus emphasizes lack of common ground between the two sides for peace talks to reach a common solution which has followed concerns among the Cypriot authorities as well as Greek parties. The Greek Cypriot side does not seem satisfied with the UN Secretary General’s reports as an official document of the UN Security Council published on January 13, because such reports are close to the “two societies” policy and include subjective and non-objective views. According to Nicosia, the correct report should ask all parties to adhere to a common solution to the Cyprus issue, which is the formation of a common bi-regional federation and political equality.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Any attempt by Europe to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps–a sovereign body and part of the official defense force of the Islamic Republic of Iran—as a terrorist organization will affect the interests and national security of European countries before it harms the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamid Khoshayand—Expert of regional issues
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media does not necessarily mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region, and said that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement. It is for Netanyahu and the Likud party to divert the attention of public opinion from the internal problems and challenges of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Politics in general, including foreign policy, followed by political action and diplomatic measure, appears natural and is more welcomed when it can emerge from a country’s worldview and its civilizational, historical, moral, religious and political customs. Otherwise, it will not achieve much success. Compliance with the principles may sometimes cause an apparent loss to the holder in the short term, but compliance with the principles will benefit everyone in the long run.
Mohsen Baharvand – Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Turkey affairs, commenting about the zigzag policies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government towards the Syrian government, said: Turkey’s president started great efforts to change his regional policies almost from the middle of 2022; efforts that were visible in the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then the effort to normalize relations with Egypt. At the same time, recently there were murmurs about holding high-level talks between Turkey and Syria.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor stated that Peru has now become a symbol of the conflict between rightism and leftism in the Latin American region and this conflict is showing itself strongly, adding that “what is happening in Peru is related to the fate of the new wave of leftism that has re-emerged in the region and politicians do not allow a socialist character to come to power in this country.
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 – Interview: An expert on Asia affairs, stating that the recent evidence shows the deepening of Pakistan’s relations with Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, focusing on economic assistance in exchange for military aid, said: The Middle East region is witnessing a new security order and needs to strengthen itself more in terms of military, and the view of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf towards the East and Pakistan can be evaluated in this regard.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat said that currently Indians have a superior position and the upper hand against Pakistan and in response to Islamabad request for reconciliation, set conditions and terms. He added: Due to internal problems, now the relations with India and the issue of Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s priority and their main problem is the terrorist and extremist groups that threaten the Islamabad government in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is interested in creating peace on the Kashmir front so that it can better deal with its internal problems.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The tragic and criminal incident at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, which based on the explicit confession of the assailant, took place with personal motives, ended with the timely intervention of the police force.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said Japan is after preparations to save itself from the strategic isolation created due to the focus of the West on Ukraine. He added: The United States is very willing to turn Southeast Asia into another Ukraine and with China’s military involvement it will be contained by military and security means in which the US has a definite superiority; but so far China has not moved in this direction any way.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus emphasizes lack of common ground between the two sides for peace talks to reach a common solution which has followed concerns among the Cypriot authorities as well as Greek parties. The Greek Cypriot side does not seem satisfied with the UN Secretary General’s reports as an official document of the UN Security Council published on January 13, because such reports are close to the “two societies” policy and include subjective and non-objective views. According to Nicosia, the correct report should ask all parties to adhere to a common solution to the Cyprus issue, which is the formation of a common bi-regional federation and political equality.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Any attempt by Europe to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps–a sovereign body and part of the official defense force of the Islamic Republic of Iran—as a terrorist organization will affect the interests and national security of European countries before it harms the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamid Khoshayand—Expert of regional issues
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media does not necessarily mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region, and said that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement. It is for Netanyahu and the Likud party to divert the attention of public opinion from the internal problems and challenges of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Politics in general, including foreign policy, followed by political action and diplomatic measure, appears natural and is more welcomed when it can emerge from a country’s worldview and its civilizational, historical, moral, religious and political customs. Otherwise, it will not achieve much success. Compliance with the principles may sometimes cause an apparent loss to the holder in the short term, but compliance with the principles will benefit everyone in the long run.
Mohsen Baharvand – Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Turkey affairs, commenting about the zigzag policies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government towards the Syrian government, said: Turkey’s president started great efforts to change his regional policies almost from the middle of 2022; efforts that were visible in the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then the effort to normalize relations with Egypt. At the same time, recently there were murmurs about holding high-level talks between Turkey and Syria.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor stated that Peru has now become a symbol of the conflict between rightism and leftism in the Latin American region and this conflict is showing itself strongly, adding that “what is happening in Peru is related to the fate of the new wave of leftism that has re-emerged in the region and politicians do not allow a socialist character to come to power in this country.
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 – Interview: An expert on Asia affairs, stating that the recent evidence shows the deepening of Pakistan’s relations with Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, focusing on economic assistance in exchange for military aid, said: The Middle East region is witnessing a new security order and needs to strengthen itself more in terms of military, and the view of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf towards the East and Pakistan can be evaluated in this regard.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat said that currently Indians have a superior position and the upper hand against Pakistan and in response to Islamabad request for reconciliation, set conditions and terms. He added: Due to internal problems, now the relations with India and the issue of Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s priority and their main problem is the terrorist and extremist groups that threaten the Islamabad government in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is interested in creating peace on the Kashmir front so that it can better deal with its internal problems.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The tragic and criminal incident at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, which based on the explicit confession of the assailant, took place with personal motives, ended with the timely intervention of the police force.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said Japan is after preparations to save itself from the strategic isolation created due to the focus of the West on Ukraine. He added: The United States is very willing to turn Southeast Asia into another Ukraine and with China’s military involvement it will be contained by military and security means in which the US has a definite superiority; but so far China has not moved in this direction any way.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus emphasizes lack of common ground between the two sides for peace talks to reach a common solution which has followed concerns among the Cypriot authorities as well as Greek parties. The Greek Cypriot side does not seem satisfied with the UN Secretary General’s reports as an official document of the UN Security Council published on January 13, because such reports are close to the “two societies” policy and include subjective and non-objective views. According to Nicosia, the correct report should ask all parties to adhere to a common solution to the Cyprus issue, which is the formation of a common bi-regional federation and political equality.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Any attempt by Europe to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps–a sovereign body and part of the official defense force of the Islamic Republic of Iran—as a terrorist organization will affect the interests and national security of European countries before it harms the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamid Khoshayand—Expert of regional issues
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media does not necessarily mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region, and said that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement. It is for Netanyahu and the Likud party to divert the attention of public opinion from the internal problems and challenges of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Politics in general, including foreign policy, followed by political action and diplomatic measure, appears natural and is more welcomed when it can emerge from a country’s worldview and its civilizational, historical, moral, religious and political customs. Otherwise, it will not achieve much success. Compliance with the principles may sometimes cause an apparent loss to the holder in the short term, but compliance with the principles will benefit everyone in the long run.
Mohsen Baharvand – Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Turkey affairs, commenting about the zigzag policies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government towards the Syrian government, said: Turkey’s president started great efforts to change his regional policies almost from the middle of 2022; efforts that were visible in the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then the effort to normalize relations with Egypt. At the same time, recently there were murmurs about holding high-level talks between Turkey and Syria.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor stated that Peru has now become a symbol of the conflict between rightism and leftism in the Latin American region and this conflict is showing itself strongly, adding that “what is happening in Peru is related to the fate of the new wave of leftism that has re-emerged in the region and politicians do not allow a socialist character to come to power in this country.
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 – Interview: An expert on Asia affairs, stating that the recent evidence shows the deepening of Pakistan’s relations with Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, focusing on economic assistance in exchange for military aid, said: The Middle East region is witnessing a new security order and needs to strengthen itself more in terms of military, and the view of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf towards the East and Pakistan can be evaluated in this regard.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat said that currently Indians have a superior position and the upper hand against Pakistan and in response to Islamabad request for reconciliation, set conditions and terms. He added: Due to internal problems, now the relations with India and the issue of Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s priority and their main problem is the terrorist and extremist groups that threaten the Islamabad government in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is interested in creating peace on the Kashmir front so that it can better deal with its internal problems.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The tragic and criminal incident at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, which based on the explicit confession of the assailant, took place with personal motives, ended with the timely intervention of the police force.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said Japan is after preparations to save itself from the strategic isolation created due to the focus of the West on Ukraine. He added: The United States is very willing to turn Southeast Asia into another Ukraine and with China’s military involvement it will be contained by military and security means in which the US has a definite superiority; but so far China has not moved in this direction any way.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus emphasizes lack of common ground between the two sides for peace talks to reach a common solution which has followed concerns among the Cypriot authorities as well as Greek parties. The Greek Cypriot side does not seem satisfied with the UN Secretary General’s reports as an official document of the UN Security Council published on January 13, because such reports are close to the “two societies” policy and include subjective and non-objective views. According to Nicosia, the correct report should ask all parties to adhere to a common solution to the Cyprus issue, which is the formation of a common bi-regional federation and political equality.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Any attempt by Europe to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps–a sovereign body and part of the official defense force of the Islamic Republic of Iran—as a terrorist organization will affect the interests and national security of European countries before it harms the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamid Khoshayand—Expert of regional issues
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media does not necessarily mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region, and said that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement. It is for Netanyahu and the Likud party to divert the attention of public opinion from the internal problems and challenges of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Politics in general, including foreign policy, followed by political action and diplomatic measure, appears natural and is more welcomed when it can emerge from a country’s worldview and its civilizational, historical, moral, religious and political customs. Otherwise, it will not achieve much success. Compliance with the principles may sometimes cause an apparent loss to the holder in the short term, but compliance with the principles will benefit everyone in the long run.
Mohsen Baharvand – Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Turkey affairs, commenting about the zigzag policies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government towards the Syrian government, said: Turkey’s president started great efforts to change his regional policies almost from the middle of 2022; efforts that were visible in the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then the effort to normalize relations with Egypt. At the same time, recently there were murmurs about holding high-level talks between Turkey and Syria.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor stated that Peru has now become a symbol of the conflict between rightism and leftism in the Latin American region and this conflict is showing itself strongly, adding that “what is happening in Peru is related to the fate of the new wave of leftism that has re-emerged in the region and politicians do not allow a socialist character to come to power in this country.
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 – Interview: An expert on Asia affairs, stating that the recent evidence shows the deepening of Pakistan’s relations with Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, focusing on economic assistance in exchange for military aid, said: The Middle East region is witnessing a new security order and needs to strengthen itself more in terms of military, and the view of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf towards the East and Pakistan can be evaluated in this regard.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat said that currently Indians have a superior position and the upper hand against Pakistan and in response to Islamabad request for reconciliation, set conditions and terms. He added: Due to internal problems, now the relations with India and the issue of Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s priority and their main problem is the terrorist and extremist groups that threaten the Islamabad government in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is interested in creating peace on the Kashmir front so that it can better deal with its internal problems.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The tragic and criminal incident at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, which based on the explicit confession of the assailant, took place with personal motives, ended with the timely intervention of the police force.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said Japan is after preparations to save itself from the strategic isolation created due to the focus of the West on Ukraine. He added: The United States is very willing to turn Southeast Asia into another Ukraine and with China’s military involvement it will be contained by military and security means in which the US has a definite superiority; but so far China has not moved in this direction any way.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus emphasizes lack of common ground between the two sides for peace talks to reach a common solution which has followed concerns among the Cypriot authorities as well as Greek parties. The Greek Cypriot side does not seem satisfied with the UN Secretary General’s reports as an official document of the UN Security Council published on January 13, because such reports are close to the “two societies” policy and include subjective and non-objective views. According to Nicosia, the correct report should ask all parties to adhere to a common solution to the Cyprus issue, which is the formation of a common bi-regional federation and political equality.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Any attempt by Europe to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps–a sovereign body and part of the official defense force of the Islamic Republic of Iran—as a terrorist organization will affect the interests and national security of European countries before it harms the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamid Khoshayand—Expert of regional issues
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media does not necessarily mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region, and said that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement. It is for Netanyahu and the Likud party to divert the attention of public opinion from the internal problems and challenges of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Politics in general, including foreign policy, followed by political action and diplomatic measure, appears natural and is more welcomed when it can emerge from a country’s worldview and its civilizational, historical, moral, religious and political customs. Otherwise, it will not achieve much success. Compliance with the principles may sometimes cause an apparent loss to the holder in the short term, but compliance with the principles will benefit everyone in the long run.
Mohsen Baharvand – Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Turkey affairs, commenting about the zigzag policies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government towards the Syrian government, said: Turkey’s president started great efforts to change his regional policies almost from the middle of 2022; efforts that were visible in the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then the effort to normalize relations with Egypt. At the same time, recently there were murmurs about holding high-level talks between Turkey and Syria.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor stated that Peru has now become a symbol of the conflict between rightism and leftism in the Latin American region and this conflict is showing itself strongly, adding that “what is happening in Peru is related to the fate of the new wave of leftism that has re-emerged in the region and politicians do not allow a socialist character to come to power in this country.
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.