SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Turkey issues commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkish speaking countries which was hosted by Turkey on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Istanbul and said:” more willingness of Turkey to foster the concepts like Turkish World or the Turkish States and Turkish States Council is considered to be an effort to strengthen trans-national identity seeking in the foreign policy of Ankara, which is known as another part of ambitious programs in Euro-Asia region”.
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: The decision made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unprecedented expel of 10 ambassadors (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and the U.S.) from Turkey, while accusing them for supporting the release of Osman Kavala has once again disclosed the disputes between Turkey and the Western countries.
Hassan Ashrafi, Researcher on Turkey affairs
Strategic Council Online – The two governments of Iran and Turkey have been the two balanced, stable and important governments in the region for centuries, and these two governments, within the historical context, have always been the main players in the region.
Dr. Mohsen Eslami – Faculty member of Tarbiat Modarres University
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: Turkish local elections were held on March 31st, the first local election in the presidential system in Turkey, and held in the form of a coalition for the first time since the start of the local elections in 1948.
Sadegh Maleki – Strategist and Senior Political Analyst
Strategic Council Online: Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest number of votes in the local elections on March 31 throughout the country but did not win in key cities. The interesting point is that the Turkish president, for the first time in his political life, is tasting defeat and maybe this is the beginning of the end of the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the undisputed leader of the Justice and Development Party and the Turkish president.
Firouz Dawlat Abadi – Former IRI Ambassador to Turkey and Expert on Regional Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Generally speaking, municipal elections, despite the relative success of the Justice & Development Party, exposed challenges between political parties and groups in Turkey.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Turkey issues commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkish speaking countries which was hosted by Turkey on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Istanbul and said:” more willingness of Turkey to foster the concepts like Turkish World or the Turkish States and Turkish States Council is considered to be an effort to strengthen trans-national identity seeking in the foreign policy of Ankara, which is known as another part of ambitious programs in Euro-Asia region”.
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: The decision made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unprecedented expel of 10 ambassadors (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and the U.S.) from Turkey, while accusing them for supporting the release of Osman Kavala has once again disclosed the disputes between Turkey and the Western countries.
Hassan Ashrafi, Researcher on Turkey affairs
Strategic Council Online – The two governments of Iran and Turkey have been the two balanced, stable and important governments in the region for centuries, and these two governments, within the historical context, have always been the main players in the region.
Dr. Mohsen Eslami – Faculty member of Tarbiat Modarres University
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: Turkish local elections were held on March 31st, the first local election in the presidential system in Turkey, and held in the form of a coalition for the first time since the start of the local elections in 1948.
Sadegh Maleki – Strategist and Senior Political Analyst
Strategic Council Online: Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest number of votes in the local elections on March 31 throughout the country but did not win in key cities. The interesting point is that the Turkish president, for the first time in his political life, is tasting defeat and maybe this is the beginning of the end of the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the undisputed leader of the Justice and Development Party and the Turkish president.
Firouz Dawlat Abadi – Former IRI Ambassador to Turkey and Expert on Regional Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Generally speaking, municipal elections, despite the relative success of the Justice & Development Party, exposed challenges between political parties and groups in Turkey.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Turkey issues commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkish speaking countries which was hosted by Turkey on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Istanbul and said:” more willingness of Turkey to foster the concepts like Turkish World or the Turkish States and Turkish States Council is considered to be an effort to strengthen trans-national identity seeking in the foreign policy of Ankara, which is known as another part of ambitious programs in Euro-Asia region”.
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: The decision made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unprecedented expel of 10 ambassadors (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and the U.S.) from Turkey, while accusing them for supporting the release of Osman Kavala has once again disclosed the disputes between Turkey and the Western countries.
Hassan Ashrafi, Researcher on Turkey affairs
Strategic Council Online – The two governments of Iran and Turkey have been the two balanced, stable and important governments in the region for centuries, and these two governments, within the historical context, have always been the main players in the region.
Dr. Mohsen Eslami – Faculty member of Tarbiat Modarres University
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: Turkish local elections were held on March 31st, the first local election in the presidential system in Turkey, and held in the form of a coalition for the first time since the start of the local elections in 1948.
Sadegh Maleki – Strategist and Senior Political Analyst
Strategic Council Online: Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest number of votes in the local elections on March 31 throughout the country but did not win in key cities. The interesting point is that the Turkish president, for the first time in his political life, is tasting defeat and maybe this is the beginning of the end of the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the undisputed leader of the Justice and Development Party and the Turkish president.
Firouz Dawlat Abadi – Former IRI Ambassador to Turkey and Expert on Regional Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Generally speaking, municipal elections, despite the relative success of the Justice & Development Party, exposed challenges between political parties and groups in Turkey.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Turkey issues commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkish speaking countries which was hosted by Turkey on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Istanbul and said:” more willingness of Turkey to foster the concepts like Turkish World or the Turkish States and Turkish States Council is considered to be an effort to strengthen trans-national identity seeking in the foreign policy of Ankara, which is known as another part of ambitious programs in Euro-Asia region”.
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: The decision made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unprecedented expel of 10 ambassadors (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and the U.S.) from Turkey, while accusing them for supporting the release of Osman Kavala has once again disclosed the disputes between Turkey and the Western countries.
Hassan Ashrafi, Researcher on Turkey affairs
Strategic Council Online – The two governments of Iran and Turkey have been the two balanced, stable and important governments in the region for centuries, and these two governments, within the historical context, have always been the main players in the region.
Dr. Mohsen Eslami – Faculty member of Tarbiat Modarres University
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: Turkish local elections were held on March 31st, the first local election in the presidential system in Turkey, and held in the form of a coalition for the first time since the start of the local elections in 1948.
Sadegh Maleki – Strategist and Senior Political Analyst
Strategic Council Online: Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest number of votes in the local elections on March 31 throughout the country but did not win in key cities. The interesting point is that the Turkish president, for the first time in his political life, is tasting defeat and maybe this is the beginning of the end of the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the undisputed leader of the Justice and Development Party and the Turkish president.
Firouz Dawlat Abadi – Former IRI Ambassador to Turkey and Expert on Regional Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Generally speaking, municipal elections, despite the relative success of the Justice & Development Party, exposed challenges between political parties and groups in Turkey.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Turkey issues commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkish speaking countries which was hosted by Turkey on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Istanbul and said:” more willingness of Turkey to foster the concepts like Turkish World or the Turkish States and Turkish States Council is considered to be an effort to strengthen trans-national identity seeking in the foreign policy of Ankara, which is known as another part of ambitious programs in Euro-Asia region”.
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: The decision made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unprecedented expel of 10 ambassadors (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and the U.S.) from Turkey, while accusing them for supporting the release of Osman Kavala has once again disclosed the disputes between Turkey and the Western countries.
Hassan Ashrafi, Researcher on Turkey affairs
Strategic Council Online – The two governments of Iran and Turkey have been the two balanced, stable and important governments in the region for centuries, and these two governments, within the historical context, have always been the main players in the region.
Dr. Mohsen Eslami – Faculty member of Tarbiat Modarres University
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: Turkish local elections were held on March 31st, the first local election in the presidential system in Turkey, and held in the form of a coalition for the first time since the start of the local elections in 1948.
Sadegh Maleki – Strategist and Senior Political Analyst
Strategic Council Online: Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest number of votes in the local elections on March 31 throughout the country but did not win in key cities. The interesting point is that the Turkish president, for the first time in his political life, is tasting defeat and maybe this is the beginning of the end of the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the undisputed leader of the Justice and Development Party and the Turkish president.
Firouz Dawlat Abadi – Former IRI Ambassador to Turkey and Expert on Regional Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Generally speaking, municipal elections, despite the relative success of the Justice & Development Party, exposed challenges between political parties and groups in Turkey.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Turkey issues commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkish speaking countries which was hosted by Turkey on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Istanbul and said:” more willingness of Turkey to foster the concepts like Turkish World or the Turkish States and Turkish States Council is considered to be an effort to strengthen trans-national identity seeking in the foreign policy of Ankara, which is known as another part of ambitious programs in Euro-Asia region”.
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: The decision made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unprecedented expel of 10 ambassadors (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and the U.S.) from Turkey, while accusing them for supporting the release of Osman Kavala has once again disclosed the disputes between Turkey and the Western countries.
Hassan Ashrafi, Researcher on Turkey affairs
Strategic Council Online – The two governments of Iran and Turkey have been the two balanced, stable and important governments in the region for centuries, and these two governments, within the historical context, have always been the main players in the region.
Dr. Mohsen Eslami – Faculty member of Tarbiat Modarres University
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: Turkish local elections were held on March 31st, the first local election in the presidential system in Turkey, and held in the form of a coalition for the first time since the start of the local elections in 1948.
Sadegh Maleki – Strategist and Senior Political Analyst
Strategic Council Online: Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest number of votes in the local elections on March 31 throughout the country but did not win in key cities. The interesting point is that the Turkish president, for the first time in his political life, is tasting defeat and maybe this is the beginning of the end of the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the undisputed leader of the Justice and Development Party and the Turkish president.
Firouz Dawlat Abadi – Former IRI Ambassador to Turkey and Expert on Regional Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Generally speaking, municipal elections, despite the relative success of the Justice & Development Party, exposed challenges between political parties and groups in Turkey.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Turkey issues commented on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkish speaking countries which was hosted by Turkey on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Istanbul and said:” more willingness of Turkey to foster the concepts like Turkish World or the Turkish States and Turkish States Council is considered to be an effort to strengthen trans-national identity seeking in the foreign policy of Ankara, which is known as another part of ambitious programs in Euro-Asia region”.
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: The decision made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unprecedented expel of 10 ambassadors (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and the U.S.) from Turkey, while accusing them for supporting the release of Osman Kavala has once again disclosed the disputes between Turkey and the Western countries.
Hassan Ashrafi, Researcher on Turkey affairs
Strategic Council Online – The two governments of Iran and Turkey have been the two balanced, stable and important governments in the region for centuries, and these two governments, within the historical context, have always been the main players in the region.
Dr. Mohsen Eslami – Faculty member of Tarbiat Modarres University
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: Turkish local elections were held on March 31st, the first local election in the presidential system in Turkey, and held in the form of a coalition for the first time since the start of the local elections in 1948.
Sadegh Maleki – Strategist and Senior Political Analyst
Strategic Council Online: Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest number of votes in the local elections on March 31 throughout the country but did not win in key cities. The interesting point is that the Turkish president, for the first time in his political life, is tasting defeat and maybe this is the beginning of the end of the authority of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the undisputed leader of the Justice and Development Party and the Turkish president.
Firouz Dawlat Abadi – Former IRI Ambassador to Turkey and Expert on Regional Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Generally speaking, municipal elections, despite the relative success of the Justice & Development Party, exposed challenges between political parties and groups in Turkey.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.