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.
جدیدترین مطالب
The Strategic Competition Between Beijing and Washington in the Field of Chips and Artificial Intelligence
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.
Shanghai Summit; An Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation
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.
The Makkah Defense Pact and the Emergence of an Indigenous Security Structure in West Asia
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.
The Redefinition of European Security and the Erosion of NATO’s Umbrella in the Shadow of the Ukraine War
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.
The Dissolution of the SDF and Turkey’s Endless Challenges in Syria
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.
China’s Rejection of US Sanctions; Strengthening Iran’s Geopolitical Leverage
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.
Why America’s economic terrorism operation against Iran is doomed to failure?
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.
interview
A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Imposing the Demands of the Israeli Regime via Washington
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs expert stated: Trump’s new plan for ending the Gaza war is accompanied by ambiguities and unilateral conditions that have created deep skepticism among the Resistance forces and a segment of Arab and Palestinian public opinion.
The Impact of the Baghdad-Erbil Agreement on the Balance of Power in Iraq
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have resumed after a halt of over two years, following a tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies. These exports had been suspended since March 2023 due to a ruling by the Paris arbitration court against Turkey. The court stated that Ankara had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to export oil independently since 2014. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that oil exports have commenced at full capacity and are continuing without any technical issues. The ministry described the recent move as a significant step toward strengthening the management of national wealth. Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also described this event as historic and a significant achievement for the whole of Iraq. On the other hand, the Baghdad government announced that the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region could add between $ 400 million and $ 500 million monthly to the federal budget and play a significant role in boosting national revenues.
The Contradiction Between U.S. Policies and the Inevitability of Investment in Clean Energy
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: An American affairs expert stated that despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate commitments, the trend of American companies investing in clean energy has not stopped. Independent analysts believe that this contradiction between the government’s official policy and private sector behavior indicates a complex economic reality: companies know that in the short term, profits might be higher through continued use of fossil fuels and the plundering of natural resources, but in the long term, participation in renewable energy is inevitable.
The Prospect of Regional Order: Scenarios of Deterrence, Cooperation, and Crisis
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: After October 7, 2023, and the start of the cycle of killing and aggression by the Israeli regime, the equations of the Middle East entered a new and more complex stage. This development not only altered the security and diplomatic balances but also impacted the region’s geopolitical structure, and over the past two years, has led to the emergence of a new regional architecture. Today, the Middle East has become a multi-layered arena with changing conflicts and alliances.
The Gaza crisis and the reaction of public opinion in the region’s countries have also altered the internal calculations of governments and put their foreign policies under pressure from public opinion. The wave of official recognition of the state of Palestine, along with the experience of the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran and Tehran’s decisive response, has made the current situation completely different from the past. It appears that in the near future, the new regional architecture will require multilateral interactions and a redefinition of power relations beyond traditional equations.
An Analysis of Iraq’s Vision 2050 Plan: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the unveiling of Iraq’s Vision 2050 plan by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, is assessed as a turning point on the path of economic development and reducing the country’s dependence on oil revenues. This plan is designed to create a diversified economy, develop infrastructure, and position Iraq at the heart of Asia-Europe trade corridors. If realized, it could alter the region’s geopolitical equations. In this plan, Al-Sudani has emphasized diverting 20 percent of the Asia-Europe trade through Iraq, which, if successful, will make the country a key player in global trade. On the other hand, environmental crises, security challenges, and the necessity of reforming governance structures in Iraq have made this plan a multidimensional and complex issue. For Iran, the implementation of Vision 2050 not only creates economic opportunities in the fields of energy and transit but also provides the possibility of enhancing political and security cooperation. However, the success of this plan is contingent upon resolving internal obstacles and Baghdad’s smart management of foreign relations, an issue that could improve the future of Iran-Iraq interactions and the regional standing of both countries in the coming decades.
Consequences of Global Sanctions Against the Israeli Regime
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Inefficiency of the West’s Economic Lever for Ending the Ukraine War
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international economics expert stated that sanctions, as discussed in political and economic literature, are tools used to force countries to change their behavior in foreign or domestic policies. However, the fundamental question is whether these tools consistently achieve the expected results. The European Union, which has intensified its sanctions policy against Russia since 2014, especially after the Ukraine war in 2022, now faces the question of to what extent these sanctions have been able to halt Moscow’s economic machine. Although more than 50 sanction packages have been imposed against Russia since 2014, statistics and analyses show that Russia has been able to overcome the pressures in many cases and even gain more profit in some areas. Experts believe that the lack of unity in European decision-making, the conflict of economic interests among member states, and the historical dependence of some on Russian energy have all combined to cause Europe’s sanctions policy not only to fail to achieve its ultimate goal but, in some cases, to yield opposite results. Meanwhile, the debate over “secondary sanctions” and the change in the European Union’s strategies after the Ukraine war marks a turning point in the future path of Moscow-Brussels relations.
France at a Crossroads Between Meeting Domestic Public Demands and Playing an International Role
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that the French government’s inability to meet public demands has led to a resurgence of domestic protests. The budget deficit has compelled Emmanuel Macron’s government to implement measures such as reducing public service expenditures, eliminating national holidays, cutting wages, and increasing taxes to offset the shortfall, which has further fueled the protests.
Consequences of Four Iraqi Shiite Groups Being Placed on the US Terrorist List
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A senior Iraqi affairs analyst stated that the recent action by the US Department of State in placing four Iraqi Shiite groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations has not only seriously challenged Iraq’s security dimension but has also broadly overshadowed Baghdad’s political and diplomatic equations. This decision, interpreted as a continuation of Washington’s policy of maximum pressure in the region, could have multi-layered consequences for Iraq’s internal security, foreign relations, and even the balance of power. The groups affected by this decision are part of the official structure of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and were key players in the defeat of ISIS; therefore, their placement on the terrorist list is not only considered a threat against US interests but also calls into question the legitimacy and cohesion of Iraq’s security forces. This move could cast a shadow over the process of withdrawing US forces from Iraq and provide a pretext for the continuation of Washington’s military presence. Similarly, at the regional level, it further frees the hands of the Israeli regime for aggressive actions.
أحدث الوظائف
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.
The Strategic Competition Between Beijing and Washington in the Field of Chips and Artificial Intelligence
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.
Shanghai Summit; An Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation
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.
The Makkah Defense Pact and the Emergence of an Indigenous Security Structure in West Asia
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.
The Redefinition of European Security and the Erosion of NATO’s Umbrella in the Shadow of the Ukraine War
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.
The Dissolution of the SDF and Turkey’s Endless Challenges in Syria
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.
China’s Rejection of US Sanctions; Strengthening Iran’s Geopolitical Leverage
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.
Why America’s economic terrorism operation against Iran is doomed to failure?
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.
interview
A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Imposing the Demands of the Israeli Regime via Washington
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs expert stated: Trump’s new plan for ending the Gaza war is accompanied by ambiguities and unilateral conditions that have created deep skepticism among the Resistance forces and a segment of Arab and Palestinian public opinion.
The Impact of the Baghdad-Erbil Agreement on the Balance of Power in Iraq
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have resumed after a halt of over two years, following a tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies. These exports had been suspended since March 2023 due to a ruling by the Paris arbitration court against Turkey. The court stated that Ankara had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to export oil independently since 2014. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that oil exports have commenced at full capacity and are continuing without any technical issues. The ministry described the recent move as a significant step toward strengthening the management of national wealth. Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also described this event as historic and a significant achievement for the whole of Iraq. On the other hand, the Baghdad government announced that the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region could add between $ 400 million and $ 500 million monthly to the federal budget and play a significant role in boosting national revenues.
The Contradiction Between U.S. Policies and the Inevitability of Investment in Clean Energy
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: An American affairs expert stated that despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate commitments, the trend of American companies investing in clean energy has not stopped. Independent analysts believe that this contradiction between the government’s official policy and private sector behavior indicates a complex economic reality: companies know that in the short term, profits might be higher through continued use of fossil fuels and the plundering of natural resources, but in the long term, participation in renewable energy is inevitable.
The Prospect of Regional Order: Scenarios of Deterrence, Cooperation, and Crisis
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: After October 7, 2023, and the start of the cycle of killing and aggression by the Israeli regime, the equations of the Middle East entered a new and more complex stage. This development not only altered the security and diplomatic balances but also impacted the region’s geopolitical structure, and over the past two years, has led to the emergence of a new regional architecture. Today, the Middle East has become a multi-layered arena with changing conflicts and alliances.
The Gaza crisis and the reaction of public opinion in the region’s countries have also altered the internal calculations of governments and put their foreign policies under pressure from public opinion. The wave of official recognition of the state of Palestine, along with the experience of the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran and Tehran’s decisive response, has made the current situation completely different from the past. It appears that in the near future, the new regional architecture will require multilateral interactions and a redefinition of power relations beyond traditional equations.
An Analysis of Iraq’s Vision 2050 Plan: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the unveiling of Iraq’s Vision 2050 plan by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, is assessed as a turning point on the path of economic development and reducing the country’s dependence on oil revenues. This plan is designed to create a diversified economy, develop infrastructure, and position Iraq at the heart of Asia-Europe trade corridors. If realized, it could alter the region’s geopolitical equations. In this plan, Al-Sudani has emphasized diverting 20 percent of the Asia-Europe trade through Iraq, which, if successful, will make the country a key player in global trade. On the other hand, environmental crises, security challenges, and the necessity of reforming governance structures in Iraq have made this plan a multidimensional and complex issue. For Iran, the implementation of Vision 2050 not only creates economic opportunities in the fields of energy and transit but also provides the possibility of enhancing political and security cooperation. However, the success of this plan is contingent upon resolving internal obstacles and Baghdad’s smart management of foreign relations, an issue that could improve the future of Iran-Iraq interactions and the regional standing of both countries in the coming decades.
Consequences of Global Sanctions Against the Israeli Regime
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Inefficiency of the West’s Economic Lever for Ending the Ukraine War
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international economics expert stated that sanctions, as discussed in political and economic literature, are tools used to force countries to change their behavior in foreign or domestic policies. However, the fundamental question is whether these tools consistently achieve the expected results. The European Union, which has intensified its sanctions policy against Russia since 2014, especially after the Ukraine war in 2022, now faces the question of to what extent these sanctions have been able to halt Moscow’s economic machine. Although more than 50 sanction packages have been imposed against Russia since 2014, statistics and analyses show that Russia has been able to overcome the pressures in many cases and even gain more profit in some areas. Experts believe that the lack of unity in European decision-making, the conflict of economic interests among member states, and the historical dependence of some on Russian energy have all combined to cause Europe’s sanctions policy not only to fail to achieve its ultimate goal but, in some cases, to yield opposite results. Meanwhile, the debate over “secondary sanctions” and the change in the European Union’s strategies after the Ukraine war marks a turning point in the future path of Moscow-Brussels relations.
France at a Crossroads Between Meeting Domestic Public Demands and Playing an International Role
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that the French government’s inability to meet public demands has led to a resurgence of domestic protests. The budget deficit has compelled Emmanuel Macron’s government to implement measures such as reducing public service expenditures, eliminating national holidays, cutting wages, and increasing taxes to offset the shortfall, which has further fueled the protests.
Consequences of Four Iraqi Shiite Groups Being Placed on the US Terrorist List
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A senior Iraqi affairs analyst stated that the recent action by the US Department of State in placing four Iraqi Shiite groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations has not only seriously challenged Iraq’s security dimension but has also broadly overshadowed Baghdad’s political and diplomatic equations. This decision, interpreted as a continuation of Washington’s policy of maximum pressure in the region, could have multi-layered consequences for Iraq’s internal security, foreign relations, and even the balance of power. The groups affected by this decision are part of the official structure of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and were key players in the defeat of ISIS; therefore, their placement on the terrorist list is not only considered a threat against US interests but also calls into question the legitimacy and cohesion of Iraq’s security forces. This move could cast a shadow over the process of withdrawing US forces from Iraq and provide a pretext for the continuation of Washington’s military presence. Similarly, at the regional level, it further frees the hands of the Israeli regime for aggressive actions.
interview
A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Imposing the Demands of the Israeli Regime via Washington
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs expert stated: Trump’s new plan for ending the Gaza war is accompanied by ambiguities and unilateral conditions that have created deep skepticism among the Resistance forces and a segment of Arab and Palestinian public opinion.
The Impact of the Baghdad-Erbil Agreement on the Balance of Power in Iraq
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have resumed after a halt of over two years, following a tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies. These exports had been suspended since March 2023 due to a ruling by the Paris arbitration court against Turkey. The court stated that Ankara had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to export oil independently since 2014. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that oil exports have commenced at full capacity and are continuing without any technical issues. The ministry described the recent move as a significant step toward strengthening the management of national wealth. Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also described this event as historic and a significant achievement for the whole of Iraq. On the other hand, the Baghdad government announced that the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region could add between $ 400 million and $ 500 million monthly to the federal budget and play a significant role in boosting national revenues.
The Contradiction Between U.S. Policies and the Inevitability of Investment in Clean Energy
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: An American affairs expert stated that despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate commitments, the trend of American companies investing in clean energy has not stopped. Independent analysts believe that this contradiction between the government’s official policy and private sector behavior indicates a complex economic reality: companies know that in the short term, profits might be higher through continued use of fossil fuels and the plundering of natural resources, but in the long term, participation in renewable energy is inevitable.
The Prospect of Regional Order: Scenarios of Deterrence, Cooperation, and Crisis
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: After October 7, 2023, and the start of the cycle of killing and aggression by the Israeli regime, the equations of the Middle East entered a new and more complex stage. This development not only altered the security and diplomatic balances but also impacted the region’s geopolitical structure, and over the past two years, has led to the emergence of a new regional architecture. Today, the Middle East has become a multi-layered arena with changing conflicts and alliances.
The Gaza crisis and the reaction of public opinion in the region’s countries have also altered the internal calculations of governments and put their foreign policies under pressure from public opinion. The wave of official recognition of the state of Palestine, along with the experience of the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran and Tehran’s decisive response, has made the current situation completely different from the past. It appears that in the near future, the new regional architecture will require multilateral interactions and a redefinition of power relations beyond traditional equations.
An Analysis of Iraq’s Vision 2050 Plan: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the unveiling of Iraq’s Vision 2050 plan by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, is assessed as a turning point on the path of economic development and reducing the country’s dependence on oil revenues. This plan is designed to create a diversified economy, develop infrastructure, and position Iraq at the heart of Asia-Europe trade corridors. If realized, it could alter the region’s geopolitical equations. In this plan, Al-Sudani has emphasized diverting 20 percent of the Asia-Europe trade through Iraq, which, if successful, will make the country a key player in global trade. On the other hand, environmental crises, security challenges, and the necessity of reforming governance structures in Iraq have made this plan a multidimensional and complex issue. For Iran, the implementation of Vision 2050 not only creates economic opportunities in the fields of energy and transit but also provides the possibility of enhancing political and security cooperation. However, the success of this plan is contingent upon resolving internal obstacles and Baghdad’s smart management of foreign relations, an issue that could improve the future of Iran-Iraq interactions and the regional standing of both countries in the coming decades.
Consequences of Global Sanctions Against the Israeli Regime
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Inefficiency of the West’s Economic Lever for Ending the Ukraine War
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international economics expert stated that sanctions, as discussed in political and economic literature, are tools used to force countries to change their behavior in foreign or domestic policies. However, the fundamental question is whether these tools consistently achieve the expected results. The European Union, which has intensified its sanctions policy against Russia since 2014, especially after the Ukraine war in 2022, now faces the question of to what extent these sanctions have been able to halt Moscow’s economic machine. Although more than 50 sanction packages have been imposed against Russia since 2014, statistics and analyses show that Russia has been able to overcome the pressures in many cases and even gain more profit in some areas. Experts believe that the lack of unity in European decision-making, the conflict of economic interests among member states, and the historical dependence of some on Russian energy have all combined to cause Europe’s sanctions policy not only to fail to achieve its ultimate goal but, in some cases, to yield opposite results. Meanwhile, the debate over “secondary sanctions” and the change in the European Union’s strategies after the Ukraine war marks a turning point in the future path of Moscow-Brussels relations.
France at a Crossroads Between Meeting Domestic Public Demands and Playing an International Role
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that the French government’s inability to meet public demands has led to a resurgence of domestic protests. The budget deficit has compelled Emmanuel Macron’s government to implement measures such as reducing public service expenditures, eliminating national holidays, cutting wages, and increasing taxes to offset the shortfall, which has further fueled the protests.
Consequences of Four Iraqi Shiite Groups Being Placed on the US Terrorist List
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A senior Iraqi affairs analyst stated that the recent action by the US Department of State in placing four Iraqi Shiite groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations has not only seriously challenged Iraq’s security dimension but has also broadly overshadowed Baghdad’s political and diplomatic equations. This decision, interpreted as a continuation of Washington’s policy of maximum pressure in the region, could have multi-layered consequences for Iraq’s internal security, foreign relations, and even the balance of power. The groups affected by this decision are part of the official structure of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and were key players in the defeat of ISIS; therefore, their placement on the terrorist list is not only considered a threat against US interests but also calls into question the legitimacy and cohesion of Iraq’s security forces. This move could cast a shadow over the process of withdrawing US forces from Iraq and provide a pretext for the continuation of Washington’s military presence. Similarly, at the regional level, it further frees the hands of the Israeli regime for aggressive actions.
LATEST CONTENT
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.
The Strategic Competition Between Beijing and Washington in the Field of Chips and Artificial Intelligence
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.
Shanghai Summit; An Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation
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.
The Makkah Defense Pact and the Emergence of an Indigenous Security Structure in West Asia
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.
The Redefinition of European Security and the Erosion of NATO’s Umbrella in the Shadow of the Ukraine War
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.
The Dissolution of the SDF and Turkey’s Endless Challenges in Syria
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.
China’s Rejection of US Sanctions; Strengthening Iran’s Geopolitical Leverage
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.
Why America’s economic terrorism operation against Iran is doomed to failure?
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.
interview
A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Imposing the Demands of the Israeli Regime via Washington
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs expert stated: Trump’s new plan for ending the Gaza war is accompanied by ambiguities and unilateral conditions that have created deep skepticism among the Resistance forces and a segment of Arab and Palestinian public opinion.
The Impact of the Baghdad-Erbil Agreement on the Balance of Power in Iraq
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have resumed after a halt of over two years, following a tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies. These exports had been suspended since March 2023 due to a ruling by the Paris arbitration court against Turkey. The court stated that Ankara had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to export oil independently since 2014. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that oil exports have commenced at full capacity and are continuing without any technical issues. The ministry described the recent move as a significant step toward strengthening the management of national wealth. Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also described this event as historic and a significant achievement for the whole of Iraq. On the other hand, the Baghdad government announced that the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region could add between $ 400 million and $ 500 million monthly to the federal budget and play a significant role in boosting national revenues.
The Contradiction Between U.S. Policies and the Inevitability of Investment in Clean Energy
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: An American affairs expert stated that despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate commitments, the trend of American companies investing in clean energy has not stopped. Independent analysts believe that this contradiction between the government’s official policy and private sector behavior indicates a complex economic reality: companies know that in the short term, profits might be higher through continued use of fossil fuels and the plundering of natural resources, but in the long term, participation in renewable energy is inevitable.
The Prospect of Regional Order: Scenarios of Deterrence, Cooperation, and Crisis
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: After October 7, 2023, and the start of the cycle of killing and aggression by the Israeli regime, the equations of the Middle East entered a new and more complex stage. This development not only altered the security and diplomatic balances but also impacted the region’s geopolitical structure, and over the past two years, has led to the emergence of a new regional architecture. Today, the Middle East has become a multi-layered arena with changing conflicts and alliances.
The Gaza crisis and the reaction of public opinion in the region’s countries have also altered the internal calculations of governments and put their foreign policies under pressure from public opinion. The wave of official recognition of the state of Palestine, along with the experience of the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran and Tehran’s decisive response, has made the current situation completely different from the past. It appears that in the near future, the new regional architecture will require multilateral interactions and a redefinition of power relations beyond traditional equations.
An Analysis of Iraq’s Vision 2050 Plan: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the unveiling of Iraq’s Vision 2050 plan by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, is assessed as a turning point on the path of economic development and reducing the country’s dependence on oil revenues. This plan is designed to create a diversified economy, develop infrastructure, and position Iraq at the heart of Asia-Europe trade corridors. If realized, it could alter the region’s geopolitical equations. In this plan, Al-Sudani has emphasized diverting 20 percent of the Asia-Europe trade through Iraq, which, if successful, will make the country a key player in global trade. On the other hand, environmental crises, security challenges, and the necessity of reforming governance structures in Iraq have made this plan a multidimensional and complex issue. For Iran, the implementation of Vision 2050 not only creates economic opportunities in the fields of energy and transit but also provides the possibility of enhancing political and security cooperation. However, the success of this plan is contingent upon resolving internal obstacles and Baghdad’s smart management of foreign relations, an issue that could improve the future of Iran-Iraq interactions and the regional standing of both countries in the coming decades.
Consequences of Global Sanctions Against the Israeli Regime
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Inefficiency of the West’s Economic Lever for Ending the Ukraine War
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international economics expert stated that sanctions, as discussed in political and economic literature, are tools used to force countries to change their behavior in foreign or domestic policies. However, the fundamental question is whether these tools consistently achieve the expected results. The European Union, which has intensified its sanctions policy against Russia since 2014, especially after the Ukraine war in 2022, now faces the question of to what extent these sanctions have been able to halt Moscow’s economic machine. Although more than 50 sanction packages have been imposed against Russia since 2014, statistics and analyses show that Russia has been able to overcome the pressures in many cases and even gain more profit in some areas. Experts believe that the lack of unity in European decision-making, the conflict of economic interests among member states, and the historical dependence of some on Russian energy have all combined to cause Europe’s sanctions policy not only to fail to achieve its ultimate goal but, in some cases, to yield opposite results. Meanwhile, the debate over “secondary sanctions” and the change in the European Union’s strategies after the Ukraine war marks a turning point in the future path of Moscow-Brussels relations.
France at a Crossroads Between Meeting Domestic Public Demands and Playing an International Role
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that the French government’s inability to meet public demands has led to a resurgence of domestic protests. The budget deficit has compelled Emmanuel Macron’s government to implement measures such as reducing public service expenditures, eliminating national holidays, cutting wages, and increasing taxes to offset the shortfall, which has further fueled the protests.
Consequences of Four Iraqi Shiite Groups Being Placed on the US Terrorist List
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A senior Iraqi affairs analyst stated that the recent action by the US Department of State in placing four Iraqi Shiite groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations has not only seriously challenged Iraq’s security dimension but has also broadly overshadowed Baghdad’s political and diplomatic equations. This decision, interpreted as a continuation of Washington’s policy of maximum pressure in the region, could have multi-layered consequences for Iraq’s internal security, foreign relations, and even the balance of power. The groups affected by this decision are part of the official structure of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and were key players in the defeat of ISIS; therefore, their placement on the terrorist list is not only considered a threat against US interests but also calls into question the legitimacy and cohesion of Iraq’s security forces. This move could cast a shadow over the process of withdrawing US forces from Iraq and provide a pretext for the continuation of Washington’s military presence. Similarly, at the regional level, it further frees the hands of the Israeli regime for aggressive actions.
ÚLTIMAS PUBLICACIONES
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.
The Strategic Competition Between Beijing and Washington in the Field of Chips and Artificial Intelligence
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.
Shanghai Summit; An Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation
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.
The Makkah Defense Pact and the Emergence of an Indigenous Security Structure in West Asia
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.
The Redefinition of European Security and the Erosion of NATO’s Umbrella in the Shadow of the Ukraine War
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.
The Dissolution of the SDF and Turkey’s Endless Challenges in Syria
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.
China’s Rejection of US Sanctions; Strengthening Iran’s Geopolitical Leverage
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.
Why America’s economic terrorism operation against Iran is doomed to failure?
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.
interview
A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Imposing the Demands of the Israeli Regime via Washington
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs expert stated: Trump’s new plan for ending the Gaza war is accompanied by ambiguities and unilateral conditions that have created deep skepticism among the Resistance forces and a segment of Arab and Palestinian public opinion.
The Impact of the Baghdad-Erbil Agreement on the Balance of Power in Iraq
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have resumed after a halt of over two years, following a tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies. These exports had been suspended since March 2023 due to a ruling by the Paris arbitration court against Turkey. The court stated that Ankara had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to export oil independently since 2014. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that oil exports have commenced at full capacity and are continuing without any technical issues. The ministry described the recent move as a significant step toward strengthening the management of national wealth. Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also described this event as historic and a significant achievement for the whole of Iraq. On the other hand, the Baghdad government announced that the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region could add between $ 400 million and $ 500 million monthly to the federal budget and play a significant role in boosting national revenues.
The Contradiction Between U.S. Policies and the Inevitability of Investment in Clean Energy
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: An American affairs expert stated that despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate commitments, the trend of American companies investing in clean energy has not stopped. Independent analysts believe that this contradiction between the government’s official policy and private sector behavior indicates a complex economic reality: companies know that in the short term, profits might be higher through continued use of fossil fuels and the plundering of natural resources, but in the long term, participation in renewable energy is inevitable.
The Prospect of Regional Order: Scenarios of Deterrence, Cooperation, and Crisis
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: After October 7, 2023, and the start of the cycle of killing and aggression by the Israeli regime, the equations of the Middle East entered a new and more complex stage. This development not only altered the security and diplomatic balances but also impacted the region’s geopolitical structure, and over the past two years, has led to the emergence of a new regional architecture. Today, the Middle East has become a multi-layered arena with changing conflicts and alliances.
The Gaza crisis and the reaction of public opinion in the region’s countries have also altered the internal calculations of governments and put their foreign policies under pressure from public opinion. The wave of official recognition of the state of Palestine, along with the experience of the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran and Tehran’s decisive response, has made the current situation completely different from the past. It appears that in the near future, the new regional architecture will require multilateral interactions and a redefinition of power relations beyond traditional equations.
An Analysis of Iraq’s Vision 2050 Plan: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the unveiling of Iraq’s Vision 2050 plan by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, is assessed as a turning point on the path of economic development and reducing the country’s dependence on oil revenues. This plan is designed to create a diversified economy, develop infrastructure, and position Iraq at the heart of Asia-Europe trade corridors. If realized, it could alter the region’s geopolitical equations. In this plan, Al-Sudani has emphasized diverting 20 percent of the Asia-Europe trade through Iraq, which, if successful, will make the country a key player in global trade. On the other hand, environmental crises, security challenges, and the necessity of reforming governance structures in Iraq have made this plan a multidimensional and complex issue. For Iran, the implementation of Vision 2050 not only creates economic opportunities in the fields of energy and transit but also provides the possibility of enhancing political and security cooperation. However, the success of this plan is contingent upon resolving internal obstacles and Baghdad’s smart management of foreign relations, an issue that could improve the future of Iran-Iraq interactions and the regional standing of both countries in the coming decades.
Consequences of Global Sanctions Against the Israeli Regime
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Inefficiency of the West’s Economic Lever for Ending the Ukraine War
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international economics expert stated that sanctions, as discussed in political and economic literature, are tools used to force countries to change their behavior in foreign or domestic policies. However, the fundamental question is whether these tools consistently achieve the expected results. The European Union, which has intensified its sanctions policy against Russia since 2014, especially after the Ukraine war in 2022, now faces the question of to what extent these sanctions have been able to halt Moscow’s economic machine. Although more than 50 sanction packages have been imposed against Russia since 2014, statistics and analyses show that Russia has been able to overcome the pressures in many cases and even gain more profit in some areas. Experts believe that the lack of unity in European decision-making, the conflict of economic interests among member states, and the historical dependence of some on Russian energy have all combined to cause Europe’s sanctions policy not only to fail to achieve its ultimate goal but, in some cases, to yield opposite results. Meanwhile, the debate over “secondary sanctions” and the change in the European Union’s strategies after the Ukraine war marks a turning point in the future path of Moscow-Brussels relations.
France at a Crossroads Between Meeting Domestic Public Demands and Playing an International Role
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that the French government’s inability to meet public demands has led to a resurgence of domestic protests. The budget deficit has compelled Emmanuel Macron’s government to implement measures such as reducing public service expenditures, eliminating national holidays, cutting wages, and increasing taxes to offset the shortfall, which has further fueled the protests.
Consequences of Four Iraqi Shiite Groups Being Placed on the US Terrorist List
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A senior Iraqi affairs analyst stated that the recent action by the US Department of State in placing four Iraqi Shiite groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations has not only seriously challenged Iraq’s security dimension but has also broadly overshadowed Baghdad’s political and diplomatic equations. This decision, interpreted as a continuation of Washington’s policy of maximum pressure in the region, could have multi-layered consequences for Iraq’s internal security, foreign relations, and even the balance of power. The groups affected by this decision are part of the official structure of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and were key players in the defeat of ISIS; therefore, their placement on the terrorist list is not only considered a threat against US interests but also calls into question the legitimacy and cohesion of Iraq’s security forces. This move could cast a shadow over the process of withdrawing US forces from Iraq and provide a pretext for the continuation of Washington’s military presence. Similarly, at the regional level, it further frees the hands of the Israeli regime for aggressive actions.
ÚLTIMAS PUBLICACIONES
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.
The Strategic Competition Between Beijing and Washington in the Field of Chips and Artificial Intelligence
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.
Shanghai Summit; An Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation
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.
The Makkah Defense Pact and the Emergence of an Indigenous Security Structure in West Asia
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.
The Redefinition of European Security and the Erosion of NATO’s Umbrella in the Shadow of the Ukraine War
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.
The Dissolution of the SDF and Turkey’s Endless Challenges in Syria
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.
China’s Rejection of US Sanctions; Strengthening Iran’s Geopolitical Leverage
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.
Why America’s economic terrorism operation against Iran is doomed to failure?
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.
interview
A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Imposing the Demands of the Israeli Regime via Washington
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs expert stated: Trump’s new plan for ending the Gaza war is accompanied by ambiguities and unilateral conditions that have created deep skepticism among the Resistance forces and a segment of Arab and Palestinian public opinion.
The Impact of the Baghdad-Erbil Agreement on the Balance of Power in Iraq
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have resumed after a halt of over two years, following a tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies. These exports had been suspended since March 2023 due to a ruling by the Paris arbitration court against Turkey. The court stated that Ankara had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to export oil independently since 2014. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that oil exports have commenced at full capacity and are continuing without any technical issues. The ministry described the recent move as a significant step toward strengthening the management of national wealth. Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also described this event as historic and a significant achievement for the whole of Iraq. On the other hand, the Baghdad government announced that the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region could add between $ 400 million and $ 500 million monthly to the federal budget and play a significant role in boosting national revenues.
The Contradiction Between U.S. Policies and the Inevitability of Investment in Clean Energy
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: An American affairs expert stated that despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate commitments, the trend of American companies investing in clean energy has not stopped. Independent analysts believe that this contradiction between the government’s official policy and private sector behavior indicates a complex economic reality: companies know that in the short term, profits might be higher through continued use of fossil fuels and the plundering of natural resources, but in the long term, participation in renewable energy is inevitable.
The Prospect of Regional Order: Scenarios of Deterrence, Cooperation, and Crisis
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: After October 7, 2023, and the start of the cycle of killing and aggression by the Israeli regime, the equations of the Middle East entered a new and more complex stage. This development not only altered the security and diplomatic balances but also impacted the region’s geopolitical structure, and over the past two years, has led to the emergence of a new regional architecture. Today, the Middle East has become a multi-layered arena with changing conflicts and alliances.
The Gaza crisis and the reaction of public opinion in the region’s countries have also altered the internal calculations of governments and put their foreign policies under pressure from public opinion. The wave of official recognition of the state of Palestine, along with the experience of the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran and Tehran’s decisive response, has made the current situation completely different from the past. It appears that in the near future, the new regional architecture will require multilateral interactions and a redefinition of power relations beyond traditional equations.
An Analysis of Iraq’s Vision 2050 Plan: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the unveiling of Iraq’s Vision 2050 plan by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, is assessed as a turning point on the path of economic development and reducing the country’s dependence on oil revenues. This plan is designed to create a diversified economy, develop infrastructure, and position Iraq at the heart of Asia-Europe trade corridors. If realized, it could alter the region’s geopolitical equations. In this plan, Al-Sudani has emphasized diverting 20 percent of the Asia-Europe trade through Iraq, which, if successful, will make the country a key player in global trade. On the other hand, environmental crises, security challenges, and the necessity of reforming governance structures in Iraq have made this plan a multidimensional and complex issue. For Iran, the implementation of Vision 2050 not only creates economic opportunities in the fields of energy and transit but also provides the possibility of enhancing political and security cooperation. However, the success of this plan is contingent upon resolving internal obstacles and Baghdad’s smart management of foreign relations, an issue that could improve the future of Iran-Iraq interactions and the regional standing of both countries in the coming decades.
Consequences of Global Sanctions Against the Israeli Regime
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Inefficiency of the West’s Economic Lever for Ending the Ukraine War
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international economics expert stated that sanctions, as discussed in political and economic literature, are tools used to force countries to change their behavior in foreign or domestic policies. However, the fundamental question is whether these tools consistently achieve the expected results. The European Union, which has intensified its sanctions policy against Russia since 2014, especially after the Ukraine war in 2022, now faces the question of to what extent these sanctions have been able to halt Moscow’s economic machine. Although more than 50 sanction packages have been imposed against Russia since 2014, statistics and analyses show that Russia has been able to overcome the pressures in many cases and even gain more profit in some areas. Experts believe that the lack of unity in European decision-making, the conflict of economic interests among member states, and the historical dependence of some on Russian energy have all combined to cause Europe’s sanctions policy not only to fail to achieve its ultimate goal but, in some cases, to yield opposite results. Meanwhile, the debate over “secondary sanctions” and the change in the European Union’s strategies after the Ukraine war marks a turning point in the future path of Moscow-Brussels relations.
France at a Crossroads Between Meeting Domestic Public Demands and Playing an International Role
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that the French government’s inability to meet public demands has led to a resurgence of domestic protests. The budget deficit has compelled Emmanuel Macron’s government to implement measures such as reducing public service expenditures, eliminating national holidays, cutting wages, and increasing taxes to offset the shortfall, which has further fueled the protests.
Consequences of Four Iraqi Shiite Groups Being Placed on the US Terrorist List
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A senior Iraqi affairs analyst stated that the recent action by the US Department of State in placing four Iraqi Shiite groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations has not only seriously challenged Iraq’s security dimension but has also broadly overshadowed Baghdad’s political and diplomatic equations. This decision, interpreted as a continuation of Washington’s policy of maximum pressure in the region, could have multi-layered consequences for Iraq’s internal security, foreign relations, and even the balance of power. The groups affected by this decision are part of the official structure of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and were key players in the defeat of ISIS; therefore, their placement on the terrorist list is not only considered a threat against US interests but also calls into question the legitimacy and cohesion of Iraq’s security forces. This move could cast a shadow over the process of withdrawing US forces from Iraq and provide a pretext for the continuation of Washington’s military presence. Similarly, at the regional level, it further frees the hands of the Israeli regime for aggressive actions.
ÚLTIMAS PUBLICACIONES
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.
The Strategic Competition Between Beijing and Washington in the Field of Chips and Artificial Intelligence
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.
Shanghai Summit; An Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation
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.
The Makkah Defense Pact and the Emergence of an Indigenous Security Structure in West Asia
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.
The Redefinition of European Security and the Erosion of NATO’s Umbrella in the Shadow of the Ukraine War
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.
The Dissolution of the SDF and Turkey’s Endless Challenges in Syria
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.
China’s Rejection of US Sanctions; Strengthening Iran’s Geopolitical Leverage
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.
Why America’s economic terrorism operation against Iran is doomed to failure?
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.
interview
A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Imposing the Demands of the Israeli Regime via Washington
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs expert stated: Trump’s new plan for ending the Gaza war is accompanied by ambiguities and unilateral conditions that have created deep skepticism among the Resistance forces and a segment of Arab and Palestinian public opinion.
The Impact of the Baghdad-Erbil Agreement on the Balance of Power in Iraq
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have resumed after a halt of over two years, following a tripartite agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and oil companies. These exports had been suspended since March 2023 due to a ruling by the Paris arbitration court against Turkey. The court stated that Ankara had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement with Baghdad by allowing Erbil to export oil independently since 2014. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced that oil exports have commenced at full capacity and are continuing without any technical issues. The ministry described the recent move as a significant step toward strengthening the management of national wealth. Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also described this event as historic and a significant achievement for the whole of Iraq. On the other hand, the Baghdad government announced that the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region could add between $ 400 million and $ 500 million monthly to the federal budget and play a significant role in boosting national revenues.
The Contradiction Between U.S. Policies and the Inevitability of Investment in Clean Energy
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: An American affairs expert stated that despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate commitments, the trend of American companies investing in clean energy has not stopped. Independent analysts believe that this contradiction between the government’s official policy and private sector behavior indicates a complex economic reality: companies know that in the short term, profits might be higher through continued use of fossil fuels and the plundering of natural resources, but in the long term, participation in renewable energy is inevitable.
The Prospect of Regional Order: Scenarios of Deterrence, Cooperation, and Crisis
Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: After October 7, 2023, and the start of the cycle of killing and aggression by the Israeli regime, the equations of the Middle East entered a new and more complex stage. This development not only altered the security and diplomatic balances but also impacted the region’s geopolitical structure, and over the past two years, has led to the emergence of a new regional architecture. Today, the Middle East has become a multi-layered arena with changing conflicts and alliances.
The Gaza crisis and the reaction of public opinion in the region’s countries have also altered the internal calculations of governments and put their foreign policies under pressure from public opinion. The wave of official recognition of the state of Palestine, along with the experience of the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran and Tehran’s decisive response, has made the current situation completely different from the past. It appears that in the near future, the new regional architecture will require multilateral interactions and a redefinition of power relations beyond traditional equations.
An Analysis of Iraq’s Vision 2050 Plan: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the unveiling of Iraq’s Vision 2050 plan by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, is assessed as a turning point on the path of economic development and reducing the country’s dependence on oil revenues. This plan is designed to create a diversified economy, develop infrastructure, and position Iraq at the heart of Asia-Europe trade corridors. If realized, it could alter the region’s geopolitical equations. In this plan, Al-Sudani has emphasized diverting 20 percent of the Asia-Europe trade through Iraq, which, if successful, will make the country a key player in global trade. On the other hand, environmental crises, security challenges, and the necessity of reforming governance structures in Iraq have made this plan a multidimensional and complex issue. For Iran, the implementation of Vision 2050 not only creates economic opportunities in the fields of energy and transit but also provides the possibility of enhancing political and security cooperation. However, the success of this plan is contingent upon resolving internal obstacles and Baghdad’s smart management of foreign relations, an issue that could improve the future of Iran-Iraq interactions and the regional standing of both countries in the coming decades.
Consequences of Global Sanctions Against the Israeli Regime
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Inefficiency of the West’s Economic Lever for Ending the Ukraine War
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international economics expert stated that sanctions, as discussed in political and economic literature, are tools used to force countries to change their behavior in foreign or domestic policies. However, the fundamental question is whether these tools consistently achieve the expected results. The European Union, which has intensified its sanctions policy against Russia since 2014, especially after the Ukraine war in 2022, now faces the question of to what extent these sanctions have been able to halt Moscow’s economic machine. Although more than 50 sanction packages have been imposed against Russia since 2014, statistics and analyses show that Russia has been able to overcome the pressures in many cases and even gain more profit in some areas. Experts believe that the lack of unity in European decision-making, the conflict of economic interests among member states, and the historical dependence of some on Russian energy have all combined to cause Europe’s sanctions policy not only to fail to achieve its ultimate goal but, in some cases, to yield opposite results. Meanwhile, the debate over “secondary sanctions” and the change in the European Union’s strategies after the Ukraine war marks a turning point in the future path of Moscow-Brussels relations.
France at a Crossroads Between Meeting Domestic Public Demands and Playing an International Role
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that the French government’s inability to meet public demands has led to a resurgence of domestic protests. The budget deficit has compelled Emmanuel Macron’s government to implement measures such as reducing public service expenditures, eliminating national holidays, cutting wages, and increasing taxes to offset the shortfall, which has further fueled the protests.
Consequences of Four Iraqi Shiite Groups Being Placed on the US Terrorist List
Strategic Council Online– Interview: A senior Iraqi affairs analyst stated that the recent action by the US Department of State in placing four Iraqi Shiite groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations has not only seriously challenged Iraq’s security dimension but has also broadly overshadowed Baghdad’s political and diplomatic equations. This decision, interpreted as a continuation of Washington’s policy of maximum pressure in the region, could have multi-layered consequences for Iraq’s internal security, foreign relations, and even the balance of power. The groups affected by this decision are part of the official structure of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and were key players in the defeat of ISIS; therefore, their placement on the terrorist list is not only considered a threat against US interests but also calls into question the legitimacy and cohesion of Iraq’s security forces. This move could cast a shadow over the process of withdrawing US forces from Iraq and provide a pretext for the continuation of Washington’s military presence. Similarly, at the regional level, it further frees the hands of the Israeli regime for aggressive actions.
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China’s Rejection of US Sanctions; Strengthening Iran’s Geopolitical Leverage
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.
Why America’s economic terrorism operation against Iran is doomed to failure?
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