Reasons for the Ineffectiveness of Trump’s “Economic War” against Iran
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war, by exhausting US military capability on one hand and strengthening European defense capacity on the other, has altered the balance of power in the European continent, cast uncertainty over NATO’s future, and is driving it toward a European NATO.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dissolution of the SDF, although considered an achievement for Turkey’s security, does not put an end to the challenges arising from the Israeli regime’s aggression and expansionism, refugees, and Syria’s fragility.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Concurrent with the official commencement of the United States’ economic war against our country, focusing on sanctions instruments, isolation, and economic pressure, what has now become increasingly important is the lack of alignment of other major global powers, especially China, with this policy.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The new US sanctions against Iran, despite extensive propaganda, face serious obstacles to success due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions tools and opposition from some of Tehran’s trading partners.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs analyst stated: Although only seven months have passed since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the administration’s official narrative of economic performance has again become a contentious subject in American academic, media, and expert circles. Statistics recently released by the Trump administration on economic indicators appear to suggest economic revival, reduced inflation, and a strengthened labor market. However, when these statistics are juxtaposed with independent data and credible surveys, a different and concerning picture of the U.S. economy’s real condition emerges. Rising unemployment rates, declining employment growth, falling labor force participation, consumer inflation exceeding optimal levels, and widespread public dissatisfaction with living costs are the most significant indicators challenging the Trump administration’s narrative. This comes as Trump, repeating his “Make America Great Again” slogan, had promised that protective trade policies and heavy tariffs would increase domestic employment and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries. Yet according to many economists and market observers, these policies have not only failed to revive the economy but have instead increased production costs, burdened domestic consumers, and disrupted global supply chains.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on West Asian affairs stated: The 12-day war of the Israeli regime against Iran, despite its aggressive and destructive nature, can turn into a strategic opportunity for our country; a chance to legitimize defense policies and strengthen the Resistance Discourse in the international system. In a world where public opinion plays an increasing role in shaping policies, effective narrative-building about this war is the key to turning threat into opportunity. Iran, relying on public diplomacy and transnational media, can present the Israeli regime’s attacks as a blatant violation of international law and emphasize its legitimate right to defense and deterrence. Furthermore, by portraying itself as logical, resistant, and oppressed, it can pave the way for increased regional and global empathy. Ultimately, this war can provide a platform for domestic consensus, cohesion of the Resistance Axis, and redefining Iran’s position as a responsible actor in regional security equations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international security analyst stated: The Trump administration’s environmental deregulation policies will inflict serious and long-term damage on international security. The Donald Trump administration has adopted a controversial approach through extensive environmental deregulation policies, including revoking the 2009 scientific finding that identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. This decision, described by Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “the largest deregulation in American history,” not only weakens global efforts to combat global warming but will also have more destructive repercussions in the realm of international security.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that Iran’s hybrid and multidimensional diplomacy, if combined with a measured, flexible, and more effective approach, could lead to tangible domestic and international achievements. The world is transitioning toward a multipolar order in which power is more dispersed and distributed among multiple actors. In this context, Iran, by adopting an inclusive policy and emphasizing cooperation with alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), seeks to reposition itself in the international system strategically. This policy goes beyond a reaction to the so-called Western-imposed isolation; it signifies a normative decision and choice to establish a fairer and more balanced order based on principles of justice, equality, and respect for national sovereignty. However, excessive reliance on specific alliances and blocs could limit Iran’s strategic options.
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that despite the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement reached a few days ago in Al-Suwayda, the Israeli regime’s movements in southern Syria continue. In this context, an important issue that has drawn public attention is Turkey’s reaction to these developments. By supporting Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julene), Turkey managed to lay the groundwork for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, in its view, solidify its foothold in the country. However, over the past few weeks, with the Zionist regime’s attacks on positions held by Julani’s forces in Syria and other areas, Ankara’s calculations in Syria have been significantly disrupted.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat stated that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is primarily a security and intelligence matter, and any expansion of political and economic relations with the Taliban will undoubtedly be carried out with Moscow’s specific considerations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Russia affairs expert stated that Europe will face a complex security environment in the future, including increased militarization, economic challenges stemming from cutting dependence on Russian energy, and the need to redefine relations with the U.S. and NATO. As a result, without sustainable solutions, Europe may face greater existential, economic, and social threats in the future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the Israeli regime’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 has pushed its economy to a fragile point. A 16.2% decline in exports to $3.6 billion is just the tip of the iceberg of the crisis. Simultaneously, global isolation and the continued widening of crimes in Gaza have placed an additional burden on its economy. The weakening of the shekel against the dollar and the destruction of key infrastructure have plunged the Israeli regime’s economy into a whirlpool of a 20.6% trade deficit and a 3.4% drop in six-month exports to $26.97 billion. A 5% increase in imports has further exacerbated the pressure. This crisis, rooted in the Israeli regime’s military adventurism and global isolation, has driven it toward dependence on foreign aid and social collapse.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war, by exhausting US military capability on one hand and strengthening European defense capacity on the other, has altered the balance of power in the European continent, cast uncertainty over NATO’s future, and is driving it toward a European NATO.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dissolution of the SDF, although considered an achievement for Turkey’s security, does not put an end to the challenges arising from the Israeli regime’s aggression and expansionism, refugees, and Syria’s fragility.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Concurrent with the official commencement of the United States’ economic war against our country, focusing on sanctions instruments, isolation, and economic pressure, what has now become increasingly important is the lack of alignment of other major global powers, especially China, with this policy.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The new US sanctions against Iran, despite extensive propaganda, face serious obstacles to success due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions tools and opposition from some of Tehran’s trading partners.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs analyst stated: Although only seven months have passed since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the administration’s official narrative of economic performance has again become a contentious subject in American academic, media, and expert circles. Statistics recently released by the Trump administration on economic indicators appear to suggest economic revival, reduced inflation, and a strengthened labor market. However, when these statistics are juxtaposed with independent data and credible surveys, a different and concerning picture of the U.S. economy’s real condition emerges. Rising unemployment rates, declining employment growth, falling labor force participation, consumer inflation exceeding optimal levels, and widespread public dissatisfaction with living costs are the most significant indicators challenging the Trump administration’s narrative. This comes as Trump, repeating his “Make America Great Again” slogan, had promised that protective trade policies and heavy tariffs would increase domestic employment and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries. Yet according to many economists and market observers, these policies have not only failed to revive the economy but have instead increased production costs, burdened domestic consumers, and disrupted global supply chains.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on West Asian affairs stated: The 12-day war of the Israeli regime against Iran, despite its aggressive and destructive nature, can turn into a strategic opportunity for our country; a chance to legitimize defense policies and strengthen the Resistance Discourse in the international system. In a world where public opinion plays an increasing role in shaping policies, effective narrative-building about this war is the key to turning threat into opportunity. Iran, relying on public diplomacy and transnational media, can present the Israeli regime’s attacks as a blatant violation of international law and emphasize its legitimate right to defense and deterrence. Furthermore, by portraying itself as logical, resistant, and oppressed, it can pave the way for increased regional and global empathy. Ultimately, this war can provide a platform for domestic consensus, cohesion of the Resistance Axis, and redefining Iran’s position as a responsible actor in regional security equations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international security analyst stated: The Trump administration’s environmental deregulation policies will inflict serious and long-term damage on international security. The Donald Trump administration has adopted a controversial approach through extensive environmental deregulation policies, including revoking the 2009 scientific finding that identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. This decision, described by Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “the largest deregulation in American history,” not only weakens global efforts to combat global warming but will also have more destructive repercussions in the realm of international security.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that Iran’s hybrid and multidimensional diplomacy, if combined with a measured, flexible, and more effective approach, could lead to tangible domestic and international achievements. The world is transitioning toward a multipolar order in which power is more dispersed and distributed among multiple actors. In this context, Iran, by adopting an inclusive policy and emphasizing cooperation with alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), seeks to reposition itself in the international system strategically. This policy goes beyond a reaction to the so-called Western-imposed isolation; it signifies a normative decision and choice to establish a fairer and more balanced order based on principles of justice, equality, and respect for national sovereignty. However, excessive reliance on specific alliances and blocs could limit Iran’s strategic options.
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that despite the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement reached a few days ago in Al-Suwayda, the Israeli regime’s movements in southern Syria continue. In this context, an important issue that has drawn public attention is Turkey’s reaction to these developments. By supporting Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julene), Turkey managed to lay the groundwork for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, in its view, solidify its foothold in the country. However, over the past few weeks, with the Zionist regime’s attacks on positions held by Julani’s forces in Syria and other areas, Ankara’s calculations in Syria have been significantly disrupted.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat stated that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is primarily a security and intelligence matter, and any expansion of political and economic relations with the Taliban will undoubtedly be carried out with Moscow’s specific considerations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Russia affairs expert stated that Europe will face a complex security environment in the future, including increased militarization, economic challenges stemming from cutting dependence on Russian energy, and the need to redefine relations with the U.S. and NATO. As a result, without sustainable solutions, Europe may face greater existential, economic, and social threats in the future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the Israeli regime’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 has pushed its economy to a fragile point. A 16.2% decline in exports to $3.6 billion is just the tip of the iceberg of the crisis. Simultaneously, global isolation and the continued widening of crimes in Gaza have placed an additional burden on its economy. The weakening of the shekel against the dollar and the destruction of key infrastructure have plunged the Israeli regime’s economy into a whirlpool of a 20.6% trade deficit and a 3.4% drop in six-month exports to $26.97 billion. A 5% increase in imports has further exacerbated the pressure. This crisis, rooted in the Israeli regime’s military adventurism and global isolation, has driven it toward dependence on foreign aid and social collapse.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs analyst stated: Although only seven months have passed since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the administration’s official narrative of economic performance has again become a contentious subject in American academic, media, and expert circles. Statistics recently released by the Trump administration on economic indicators appear to suggest economic revival, reduced inflation, and a strengthened labor market. However, when these statistics are juxtaposed with independent data and credible surveys, a different and concerning picture of the U.S. economy’s real condition emerges. Rising unemployment rates, declining employment growth, falling labor force participation, consumer inflation exceeding optimal levels, and widespread public dissatisfaction with living costs are the most significant indicators challenging the Trump administration’s narrative. This comes as Trump, repeating his “Make America Great Again” slogan, had promised that protective trade policies and heavy tariffs would increase domestic employment and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries. Yet according to many economists and market observers, these policies have not only failed to revive the economy but have instead increased production costs, burdened domestic consumers, and disrupted global supply chains.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on West Asian affairs stated: The 12-day war of the Israeli regime against Iran, despite its aggressive and destructive nature, can turn into a strategic opportunity for our country; a chance to legitimize defense policies and strengthen the Resistance Discourse in the international system. In a world where public opinion plays an increasing role in shaping policies, effective narrative-building about this war is the key to turning threat into opportunity. Iran, relying on public diplomacy and transnational media, can present the Israeli regime’s attacks as a blatant violation of international law and emphasize its legitimate right to defense and deterrence. Furthermore, by portraying itself as logical, resistant, and oppressed, it can pave the way for increased regional and global empathy. Ultimately, this war can provide a platform for domestic consensus, cohesion of the Resistance Axis, and redefining Iran’s position as a responsible actor in regional security equations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international security analyst stated: The Trump administration’s environmental deregulation policies will inflict serious and long-term damage on international security. The Donald Trump administration has adopted a controversial approach through extensive environmental deregulation policies, including revoking the 2009 scientific finding that identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. This decision, described by Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “the largest deregulation in American history,” not only weakens global efforts to combat global warming but will also have more destructive repercussions in the realm of international security.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that Iran’s hybrid and multidimensional diplomacy, if combined with a measured, flexible, and more effective approach, could lead to tangible domestic and international achievements. The world is transitioning toward a multipolar order in which power is more dispersed and distributed among multiple actors. In this context, Iran, by adopting an inclusive policy and emphasizing cooperation with alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), seeks to reposition itself in the international system strategically. This policy goes beyond a reaction to the so-called Western-imposed isolation; it signifies a normative decision and choice to establish a fairer and more balanced order based on principles of justice, equality, and respect for national sovereignty. However, excessive reliance on specific alliances and blocs could limit Iran’s strategic options.
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that despite the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement reached a few days ago in Al-Suwayda, the Israeli regime’s movements in southern Syria continue. In this context, an important issue that has drawn public attention is Turkey’s reaction to these developments. By supporting Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julene), Turkey managed to lay the groundwork for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, in its view, solidify its foothold in the country. However, over the past few weeks, with the Zionist regime’s attacks on positions held by Julani’s forces in Syria and other areas, Ankara’s calculations in Syria have been significantly disrupted.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat stated that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is primarily a security and intelligence matter, and any expansion of political and economic relations with the Taliban will undoubtedly be carried out with Moscow’s specific considerations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Russia affairs expert stated that Europe will face a complex security environment in the future, including increased militarization, economic challenges stemming from cutting dependence on Russian energy, and the need to redefine relations with the U.S. and NATO. As a result, without sustainable solutions, Europe may face greater existential, economic, and social threats in the future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the Israeli regime’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 has pushed its economy to a fragile point. A 16.2% decline in exports to $3.6 billion is just the tip of the iceberg of the crisis. Simultaneously, global isolation and the continued widening of crimes in Gaza have placed an additional burden on its economy. The weakening of the shekel against the dollar and the destruction of key infrastructure have plunged the Israeli regime’s economy into a whirlpool of a 20.6% trade deficit and a 3.4% drop in six-month exports to $26.97 billion. A 5% increase in imports has further exacerbated the pressure. This crisis, rooted in the Israeli regime’s military adventurism and global isolation, has driven it toward dependence on foreign aid and social collapse.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war, by exhausting US military capability on one hand and strengthening European defense capacity on the other, has altered the balance of power in the European continent, cast uncertainty over NATO’s future, and is driving it toward a European NATO.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dissolution of the SDF, although considered an achievement for Turkey’s security, does not put an end to the challenges arising from the Israeli regime’s aggression and expansionism, refugees, and Syria’s fragility.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Concurrent with the official commencement of the United States’ economic war against our country, focusing on sanctions instruments, isolation, and economic pressure, what has now become increasingly important is the lack of alignment of other major global powers, especially China, with this policy.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The new US sanctions against Iran, despite extensive propaganda, face serious obstacles to success due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions tools and opposition from some of Tehran’s trading partners.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs analyst stated: Although only seven months have passed since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the administration’s official narrative of economic performance has again become a contentious subject in American academic, media, and expert circles. Statistics recently released by the Trump administration on economic indicators appear to suggest economic revival, reduced inflation, and a strengthened labor market. However, when these statistics are juxtaposed with independent data and credible surveys, a different and concerning picture of the U.S. economy’s real condition emerges. Rising unemployment rates, declining employment growth, falling labor force participation, consumer inflation exceeding optimal levels, and widespread public dissatisfaction with living costs are the most significant indicators challenging the Trump administration’s narrative. This comes as Trump, repeating his “Make America Great Again” slogan, had promised that protective trade policies and heavy tariffs would increase domestic employment and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries. Yet according to many economists and market observers, these policies have not only failed to revive the economy but have instead increased production costs, burdened domestic consumers, and disrupted global supply chains.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on West Asian affairs stated: The 12-day war of the Israeli regime against Iran, despite its aggressive and destructive nature, can turn into a strategic opportunity for our country; a chance to legitimize defense policies and strengthen the Resistance Discourse in the international system. In a world where public opinion plays an increasing role in shaping policies, effective narrative-building about this war is the key to turning threat into opportunity. Iran, relying on public diplomacy and transnational media, can present the Israeli regime’s attacks as a blatant violation of international law and emphasize its legitimate right to defense and deterrence. Furthermore, by portraying itself as logical, resistant, and oppressed, it can pave the way for increased regional and global empathy. Ultimately, this war can provide a platform for domestic consensus, cohesion of the Resistance Axis, and redefining Iran’s position as a responsible actor in regional security equations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international security analyst stated: The Trump administration’s environmental deregulation policies will inflict serious and long-term damage on international security. The Donald Trump administration has adopted a controversial approach through extensive environmental deregulation policies, including revoking the 2009 scientific finding that identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. This decision, described by Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “the largest deregulation in American history,” not only weakens global efforts to combat global warming but will also have more destructive repercussions in the realm of international security.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that Iran’s hybrid and multidimensional diplomacy, if combined with a measured, flexible, and more effective approach, could lead to tangible domestic and international achievements. The world is transitioning toward a multipolar order in which power is more dispersed and distributed among multiple actors. In this context, Iran, by adopting an inclusive policy and emphasizing cooperation with alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), seeks to reposition itself in the international system strategically. This policy goes beyond a reaction to the so-called Western-imposed isolation; it signifies a normative decision and choice to establish a fairer and more balanced order based on principles of justice, equality, and respect for national sovereignty. However, excessive reliance on specific alliances and blocs could limit Iran’s strategic options.
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that despite the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement reached a few days ago in Al-Suwayda, the Israeli regime’s movements in southern Syria continue. In this context, an important issue that has drawn public attention is Turkey’s reaction to these developments. By supporting Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julene), Turkey managed to lay the groundwork for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, in its view, solidify its foothold in the country. However, over the past few weeks, with the Zionist regime’s attacks on positions held by Julani’s forces in Syria and other areas, Ankara’s calculations in Syria have been significantly disrupted.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat stated that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is primarily a security and intelligence matter, and any expansion of political and economic relations with the Taliban will undoubtedly be carried out with Moscow’s specific considerations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Russia affairs expert stated that Europe will face a complex security environment in the future, including increased militarization, economic challenges stemming from cutting dependence on Russian energy, and the need to redefine relations with the U.S. and NATO. As a result, without sustainable solutions, Europe may face greater existential, economic, and social threats in the future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the Israeli regime’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 has pushed its economy to a fragile point. A 16.2% decline in exports to $3.6 billion is just the tip of the iceberg of the crisis. Simultaneously, global isolation and the continued widening of crimes in Gaza have placed an additional burden on its economy. The weakening of the shekel against the dollar and the destruction of key infrastructure have plunged the Israeli regime’s economy into a whirlpool of a 20.6% trade deficit and a 3.4% drop in six-month exports to $26.97 billion. A 5% increase in imports has further exacerbated the pressure. This crisis, rooted in the Israeli regime’s military adventurism and global isolation, has driven it toward dependence on foreign aid and social collapse.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war, by exhausting US military capability on one hand and strengthening European defense capacity on the other, has altered the balance of power in the European continent, cast uncertainty over NATO’s future, and is driving it toward a European NATO.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dissolution of the SDF, although considered an achievement for Turkey’s security, does not put an end to the challenges arising from the Israeli regime’s aggression and expansionism, refugees, and Syria’s fragility.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Concurrent with the official commencement of the United States’ economic war against our country, focusing on sanctions instruments, isolation, and economic pressure, what has now become increasingly important is the lack of alignment of other major global powers, especially China, with this policy.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The new US sanctions against Iran, despite extensive propaganda, face serious obstacles to success due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions tools and opposition from some of Tehran’s trading partners.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs analyst stated: Although only seven months have passed since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the administration’s official narrative of economic performance has again become a contentious subject in American academic, media, and expert circles. Statistics recently released by the Trump administration on economic indicators appear to suggest economic revival, reduced inflation, and a strengthened labor market. However, when these statistics are juxtaposed with independent data and credible surveys, a different and concerning picture of the U.S. economy’s real condition emerges. Rising unemployment rates, declining employment growth, falling labor force participation, consumer inflation exceeding optimal levels, and widespread public dissatisfaction with living costs are the most significant indicators challenging the Trump administration’s narrative. This comes as Trump, repeating his “Make America Great Again” slogan, had promised that protective trade policies and heavy tariffs would increase domestic employment and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries. Yet according to many economists and market observers, these policies have not only failed to revive the economy but have instead increased production costs, burdened domestic consumers, and disrupted global supply chains.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on West Asian affairs stated: The 12-day war of the Israeli regime against Iran, despite its aggressive and destructive nature, can turn into a strategic opportunity for our country; a chance to legitimize defense policies and strengthen the Resistance Discourse in the international system. In a world where public opinion plays an increasing role in shaping policies, effective narrative-building about this war is the key to turning threat into opportunity. Iran, relying on public diplomacy and transnational media, can present the Israeli regime’s attacks as a blatant violation of international law and emphasize its legitimate right to defense and deterrence. Furthermore, by portraying itself as logical, resistant, and oppressed, it can pave the way for increased regional and global empathy. Ultimately, this war can provide a platform for domestic consensus, cohesion of the Resistance Axis, and redefining Iran’s position as a responsible actor in regional security equations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international security analyst stated: The Trump administration’s environmental deregulation policies will inflict serious and long-term damage on international security. The Donald Trump administration has adopted a controversial approach through extensive environmental deregulation policies, including revoking the 2009 scientific finding that identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. This decision, described by Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “the largest deregulation in American history,” not only weakens global efforts to combat global warming but will also have more destructive repercussions in the realm of international security.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that Iran’s hybrid and multidimensional diplomacy, if combined with a measured, flexible, and more effective approach, could lead to tangible domestic and international achievements. The world is transitioning toward a multipolar order in which power is more dispersed and distributed among multiple actors. In this context, Iran, by adopting an inclusive policy and emphasizing cooperation with alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), seeks to reposition itself in the international system strategically. This policy goes beyond a reaction to the so-called Western-imposed isolation; it signifies a normative decision and choice to establish a fairer and more balanced order based on principles of justice, equality, and respect for national sovereignty. However, excessive reliance on specific alliances and blocs could limit Iran’s strategic options.
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that despite the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement reached a few days ago in Al-Suwayda, the Israeli regime’s movements in southern Syria continue. In this context, an important issue that has drawn public attention is Turkey’s reaction to these developments. By supporting Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julene), Turkey managed to lay the groundwork for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, in its view, solidify its foothold in the country. However, over the past few weeks, with the Zionist regime’s attacks on positions held by Julani’s forces in Syria and other areas, Ankara’s calculations in Syria have been significantly disrupted.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat stated that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is primarily a security and intelligence matter, and any expansion of political and economic relations with the Taliban will undoubtedly be carried out with Moscow’s specific considerations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Russia affairs expert stated that Europe will face a complex security environment in the future, including increased militarization, economic challenges stemming from cutting dependence on Russian energy, and the need to redefine relations with the U.S. and NATO. As a result, without sustainable solutions, Europe may face greater existential, economic, and social threats in the future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the Israeli regime’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 has pushed its economy to a fragile point. A 16.2% decline in exports to $3.6 billion is just the tip of the iceberg of the crisis. Simultaneously, global isolation and the continued widening of crimes in Gaza have placed an additional burden on its economy. The weakening of the shekel against the dollar and the destruction of key infrastructure have plunged the Israeli regime’s economy into a whirlpool of a 20.6% trade deficit and a 3.4% drop in six-month exports to $26.97 billion. A 5% increase in imports has further exacerbated the pressure. This crisis, rooted in the Israeli regime’s military adventurism and global isolation, has driven it toward dependence on foreign aid and social collapse.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war, by exhausting US military capability on one hand and strengthening European defense capacity on the other, has altered the balance of power in the European continent, cast uncertainty over NATO’s future, and is driving it toward a European NATO.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dissolution of the SDF, although considered an achievement for Turkey’s security, does not put an end to the challenges arising from the Israeli regime’s aggression and expansionism, refugees, and Syria’s fragility.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Concurrent with the official commencement of the United States’ economic war against our country, focusing on sanctions instruments, isolation, and economic pressure, what has now become increasingly important is the lack of alignment of other major global powers, especially China, with this policy.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The new US sanctions against Iran, despite extensive propaganda, face serious obstacles to success due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions tools and opposition from some of Tehran’s trading partners.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs analyst stated: Although only seven months have passed since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the administration’s official narrative of economic performance has again become a contentious subject in American academic, media, and expert circles. Statistics recently released by the Trump administration on economic indicators appear to suggest economic revival, reduced inflation, and a strengthened labor market. However, when these statistics are juxtaposed with independent data and credible surveys, a different and concerning picture of the U.S. economy’s real condition emerges. Rising unemployment rates, declining employment growth, falling labor force participation, consumer inflation exceeding optimal levels, and widespread public dissatisfaction with living costs are the most significant indicators challenging the Trump administration’s narrative. This comes as Trump, repeating his “Make America Great Again” slogan, had promised that protective trade policies and heavy tariffs would increase domestic employment and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries. Yet according to many economists and market observers, these policies have not only failed to revive the economy but have instead increased production costs, burdened domestic consumers, and disrupted global supply chains.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on West Asian affairs stated: The 12-day war of the Israeli regime against Iran, despite its aggressive and destructive nature, can turn into a strategic opportunity for our country; a chance to legitimize defense policies and strengthen the Resistance Discourse in the international system. In a world where public opinion plays an increasing role in shaping policies, effective narrative-building about this war is the key to turning threat into opportunity. Iran, relying on public diplomacy and transnational media, can present the Israeli regime’s attacks as a blatant violation of international law and emphasize its legitimate right to defense and deterrence. Furthermore, by portraying itself as logical, resistant, and oppressed, it can pave the way for increased regional and global empathy. Ultimately, this war can provide a platform for domestic consensus, cohesion of the Resistance Axis, and redefining Iran’s position as a responsible actor in regional security equations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international security analyst stated: The Trump administration’s environmental deregulation policies will inflict serious and long-term damage on international security. The Donald Trump administration has adopted a controversial approach through extensive environmental deregulation policies, including revoking the 2009 scientific finding that identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. This decision, described by Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “the largest deregulation in American history,” not only weakens global efforts to combat global warming but will also have more destructive repercussions in the realm of international security.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that Iran’s hybrid and multidimensional diplomacy, if combined with a measured, flexible, and more effective approach, could lead to tangible domestic and international achievements. The world is transitioning toward a multipolar order in which power is more dispersed and distributed among multiple actors. In this context, Iran, by adopting an inclusive policy and emphasizing cooperation with alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), seeks to reposition itself in the international system strategically. This policy goes beyond a reaction to the so-called Western-imposed isolation; it signifies a normative decision and choice to establish a fairer and more balanced order based on principles of justice, equality, and respect for national sovereignty. However, excessive reliance on specific alliances and blocs could limit Iran’s strategic options.
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that despite the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement reached a few days ago in Al-Suwayda, the Israeli regime’s movements in southern Syria continue. In this context, an important issue that has drawn public attention is Turkey’s reaction to these developments. By supporting Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julene), Turkey managed to lay the groundwork for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, in its view, solidify its foothold in the country. However, over the past few weeks, with the Zionist regime’s attacks on positions held by Julani’s forces in Syria and other areas, Ankara’s calculations in Syria have been significantly disrupted.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat stated that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is primarily a security and intelligence matter, and any expansion of political and economic relations with the Taliban will undoubtedly be carried out with Moscow’s specific considerations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Russia affairs expert stated that Europe will face a complex security environment in the future, including increased militarization, economic challenges stemming from cutting dependence on Russian energy, and the need to redefine relations with the U.S. and NATO. As a result, without sustainable solutions, Europe may face greater existential, economic, and social threats in the future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the Israeli regime’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 has pushed its economy to a fragile point. A 16.2% decline in exports to $3.6 billion is just the tip of the iceberg of the crisis. Simultaneously, global isolation and the continued widening of crimes in Gaza have placed an additional burden on its economy. The weakening of the shekel against the dollar and the destruction of key infrastructure have plunged the Israeli regime’s economy into a whirlpool of a 20.6% trade deficit and a 3.4% drop in six-month exports to $26.97 billion. A 5% increase in imports has further exacerbated the pressure. This crisis, rooted in the Israeli regime’s military adventurism and global isolation, has driven it toward dependence on foreign aid and social collapse.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war, by exhausting US military capability on one hand and strengthening European defense capacity on the other, has altered the balance of power in the European continent, cast uncertainty over NATO’s future, and is driving it toward a European NATO.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dissolution of the SDF, although considered an achievement for Turkey’s security, does not put an end to the challenges arising from the Israeli regime’s aggression and expansionism, refugees, and Syria’s fragility.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Concurrent with the official commencement of the United States’ economic war against our country, focusing on sanctions instruments, isolation, and economic pressure, what has now become increasingly important is the lack of alignment of other major global powers, especially China, with this policy.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The new US sanctions against Iran, despite extensive propaganda, face serious obstacles to success due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions tools and opposition from some of Tehran’s trading partners.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs analyst stated: Although only seven months have passed since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the administration’s official narrative of economic performance has again become a contentious subject in American academic, media, and expert circles. Statistics recently released by the Trump administration on economic indicators appear to suggest economic revival, reduced inflation, and a strengthened labor market. However, when these statistics are juxtaposed with independent data and credible surveys, a different and concerning picture of the U.S. economy’s real condition emerges. Rising unemployment rates, declining employment growth, falling labor force participation, consumer inflation exceeding optimal levels, and widespread public dissatisfaction with living costs are the most significant indicators challenging the Trump administration’s narrative. This comes as Trump, repeating his “Make America Great Again” slogan, had promised that protective trade policies and heavy tariffs would increase domestic employment and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries. Yet according to many economists and market observers, these policies have not only failed to revive the economy but have instead increased production costs, burdened domestic consumers, and disrupted global supply chains.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A researcher on West Asian affairs stated: The 12-day war of the Israeli regime against Iran, despite its aggressive and destructive nature, can turn into a strategic opportunity for our country; a chance to legitimize defense policies and strengthen the Resistance Discourse in the international system. In a world where public opinion plays an increasing role in shaping policies, effective narrative-building about this war is the key to turning threat into opportunity. Iran, relying on public diplomacy and transnational media, can present the Israeli regime’s attacks as a blatant violation of international law and emphasize its legitimate right to defense and deterrence. Furthermore, by portraying itself as logical, resistant, and oppressed, it can pave the way for increased regional and global empathy. Ultimately, this war can provide a platform for domestic consensus, cohesion of the Resistance Axis, and redefining Iran’s position as a responsible actor in regional security equations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international security analyst stated: The Trump administration’s environmental deregulation policies will inflict serious and long-term damage on international security. The Donald Trump administration has adopted a controversial approach through extensive environmental deregulation policies, including revoking the 2009 scientific finding that identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. This decision, described by Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “the largest deregulation in American history,” not only weakens global efforts to combat global warming but will also have more destructive repercussions in the realm of international security.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that Iran’s hybrid and multidimensional diplomacy, if combined with a measured, flexible, and more effective approach, could lead to tangible domestic and international achievements. The world is transitioning toward a multipolar order in which power is more dispersed and distributed among multiple actors. In this context, Iran, by adopting an inclusive policy and emphasizing cooperation with alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), seeks to reposition itself in the international system strategically. This policy goes beyond a reaction to the so-called Western-imposed isolation; it signifies a normative decision and choice to establish a fairer and more balanced order based on principles of justice, equality, and respect for national sovereignty. However, excessive reliance on specific alliances and blocs could limit Iran’s strategic options.
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that despite the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement reached a few days ago in Al-Suwayda, the Israeli regime’s movements in southern Syria continue. In this context, an important issue that has drawn public attention is Turkey’s reaction to these developments. By supporting Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julene), Turkey managed to lay the groundwork for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, in its view, solidify its foothold in the country. However, over the past few weeks, with the Zionist regime’s attacks on positions held by Julani’s forces in Syria and other areas, Ankara’s calculations in Syria have been significantly disrupted.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A former Iranian diplomat stated that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is primarily a security and intelligence matter, and any expansion of political and economic relations with the Taliban will undoubtedly be carried out with Moscow’s specific considerations.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Russia affairs expert stated that Europe will face a complex security environment in the future, including increased militarization, economic challenges stemming from cutting dependence on Russian energy, and the need to redefine relations with the U.S. and NATO. As a result, without sustainable solutions, Europe may face greater existential, economic, and social threats in the future.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the Israeli regime’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 has pushed its economy to a fragile point. A 16.2% decline in exports to $3.6 billion is just the tip of the iceberg of the crisis. Simultaneously, global isolation and the continued widening of crimes in Gaza have placed an additional burden on its economy. The weakening of the shekel against the dollar and the destruction of key infrastructure have plunged the Israeli regime’s economy into a whirlpool of a 20.6% trade deficit and a 3.4% drop in six-month exports to $26.97 billion. A 5% increase in imports has further exacerbated the pressure. This crisis, rooted in the Israeli regime’s military adventurism and global isolation, has driven it toward dependence on foreign aid and social collapse.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war, by exhausting US military capability on one hand and strengthening European defense capacity on the other, has altered the balance of power in the European continent, cast uncertainty over NATO’s future, and is driving it toward a European NATO.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dissolution of the SDF, although considered an achievement for Turkey’s security, does not put an end to the challenges arising from the Israeli regime’s aggression and expansionism, refugees, and Syria’s fragility.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Concurrent with the official commencement of the United States’ economic war against our country, focusing on sanctions instruments, isolation, and economic pressure, what has now become increasingly important is the lack of alignment of other major global powers, especially China, with this policy.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The new US sanctions against Iran, despite extensive propaganda, face serious obstacles to success due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions tools and opposition from some of Tehran’s trading partners.