SCFRonline– Opinion: Iran’s geopolitical power is not limited solely to oil and the Strait of Hormuz; the unintended emergence of disruptions in the future global food and energy security chains can also demonstrate Iran’s strategic importance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Competition among great powers is no longer solely about oil; rather, control over rare minerals has now become the most important geopolitical arena for the global economy and technology.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The confrontation between Iran and the West has moved beyond traditional military arenas and now continues in the realm of perception, data, and artificial intelligence.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s display of power in the recent imposed war and Washington’s turning away from its traditional allies have pushed Persian Gulf countries toward new partners in the East.
SCFR Online–Opinion: By providing an extensive network of social, healthcare, educational, and post-war reconstruction services, Hezbollah has established a strong social base for itself among Lebanon’s Shiites and Sunnis, and even beyond that, among other segments of Lebanese society, including Christians. Hezbollah has never been an external actor imposed upon Lebanon; rather, it is a phenomenon fundamentally born out of the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime and itself influenced by popular resistance.
SCFR Online– Opinion: Security and military developments in the region over recent months indicate that the ongoing crises and wars in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syrian territory encompass broader dimensions of geopolitical and geostrategic transformations. In this context, the increased military presence and control of the Zionist regime over parts of the territories of these areas, along with proposals regarding the creation of buffer zones or even the expansion of security borders, have raised serious questions about the future of the regional order and its consequences for the countries of West Asia.
SCFR Online – Note: Articles from Western think tanks confirm that, contrary to Western assumptions, the war has failed to cause Iran’s economy to collapse, and this situation has led Washington to seek a pathway for exiting the quagmire.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when regional security equations have reached a sensitive stage under the influence of Iran’s strategic confrontation with the United States and the Zionist regime, the question of the nature of Tehran’s defensive power has gained greater significance than ever before. While Washington and Tel Aviv rely on their technological superiority, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a model of deterrence that extends beyond the material calculations of the world’s classical militaries. This power, rooted in the connection between “the field” and “the people,” has not only altered the balance of power in recent conflicts but has also disrupted adversaries’ calculations when confronting Iran’s strategic depth.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dominant discourse in the field of European energy security over the past two decades has revolved around diversification of supply sources and the gradual reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This narrative, which gained particular momentum after the Ukraine gas crisis in 2006 and its intensification in 2014 and 2022, was based on the assumption that Europe could free itself from the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from dependence on specific suppliers through investment in renewable energy, imports of liquefied natural gas from diversified sources, and the establishment of new infrastructure. However, a closer analysis of energy trade data and the structure of the global oil and gas supply chain presents a different picture. Europe has not only failed to meaningfully reduce its dependence on the Persian Gulf, but in some sectors — particularly in liquefied natural gas imports — this dependence has deepened. This reality, which is often overlooked in public discourse, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of Europe’s energy security strategies and their impact on regional power equations.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In the strategic geography of the global economy, certain regions attain such significance that they effectively become determining factors of the international order. The Strait of Hormuz is among these points; a narrow yet vital passage through which a considerable portion of the world’s energy transits, and whose stability is directly intertwined with the interests and economic security of many countries. However, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is not limited solely to the volume of energy passing through it. This strait is also a stage upon which the limitations and challenges of great power politics are revealed. From China’s perspective, the policy of the United States regarding the security of this strategic chokepoint, rather than reflecting a stable order, demonstrates a set of contradictions and strategic difficulties that Washington faces in managing the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a question from Faisal al-Abbas, a Saudi journalist and editor of the English-language newspaper Arab News, announced Saudi Arabia as a “suitable option” for a possible peace meeting between Moscow and Kyiv.
Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: Normalization of Iran-Saudi relations with China’s mediation, which is an indication of Beijing’s more significant influence and role in new regional trends in the Middle East, increased speculations about the possibility of changes in the geostrategy of other powers.
Abbas Aslani – Expert on international relations
Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that signing of Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership is the reflection of European leaders’ concern about expansion of ties among countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with China and particularly Russia at present junction, an expert of West Asia Affairs said:” Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership may prepare a more suitable ground for increased security presence of Europeans in the Persian Gulf region in future”.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent months, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its various consequences in regional and international arenas has become the main subject of analysts of politics and international relations. A war that has affected the security and stability of Eurasia, the order of international relations, food security, energy security and the like in various dimensions, and since the passage of more than three months from its beginning, there is still no clear end in sight.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Having referred to current trends of developments between Russia and Europe and also international political economy, one of the global important challenges of the present century is the challenge on energy security and resources, particularly oil and gas.
Pouria Nabipour, Ph.D., Political Science & International Relations
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The European Union is currently facing an unprecedented rise in energy prices which could hamper economic recovery after the Coronavirus epidemic in the Union, limit household incomes, and even challenge the so-called green transition. A set of market, geographical and political components has created the current unfavorable conditions.
Alireza Thamoudi – Expert on European affairs
Strategic Council Online – New movements on the Russian-Ukrainian borders are more related to the resurgence of traditional differences and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the United States than to the Moscow-Kiev bilateral relationship.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project which lies undersea from Russia through the Black Sea to Germany has caused something like a “geopolitical earthquake” and concerns in the United States and some European countries. There are discussions Nord Stream 2 can provide Kremlin with a new leverage against Germany and other NATO members. The construction of this pipeline which stopped in 2019 has resumed in December 2020 in the midst of discussions as to whether the new US sanctions could once again disrupt the completion of the pipeline.
Alireza Samoodi—Expert of European issues
SCFRonline– Opinion: Iran’s geopolitical power is not limited solely to oil and the Strait of Hormuz; the unintended emergence of disruptions in the future global food and energy security chains can also demonstrate Iran’s strategic importance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Competition among great powers is no longer solely about oil; rather, control over rare minerals has now become the most important geopolitical arena for the global economy and technology.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The confrontation between Iran and the West has moved beyond traditional military arenas and now continues in the realm of perception, data, and artificial intelligence.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s display of power in the recent imposed war and Washington’s turning away from its traditional allies have pushed Persian Gulf countries toward new partners in the East.
SCFR Online–Opinion: By providing an extensive network of social, healthcare, educational, and post-war reconstruction services, Hezbollah has established a strong social base for itself among Lebanon’s Shiites and Sunnis, and even beyond that, among other segments of Lebanese society, including Christians. Hezbollah has never been an external actor imposed upon Lebanon; rather, it is a phenomenon fundamentally born out of the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime and itself influenced by popular resistance.
SCFR Online– Opinion: Security and military developments in the region over recent months indicate that the ongoing crises and wars in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syrian territory encompass broader dimensions of geopolitical and geostrategic transformations. In this context, the increased military presence and control of the Zionist regime over parts of the territories of these areas, along with proposals regarding the creation of buffer zones or even the expansion of security borders, have raised serious questions about the future of the regional order and its consequences for the countries of West Asia.
SCFR Online – Note: Articles from Western think tanks confirm that, contrary to Western assumptions, the war has failed to cause Iran’s economy to collapse, and this situation has led Washington to seek a pathway for exiting the quagmire.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when regional security equations have reached a sensitive stage under the influence of Iran’s strategic confrontation with the United States and the Zionist regime, the question of the nature of Tehran’s defensive power has gained greater significance than ever before. While Washington and Tel Aviv rely on their technological superiority, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a model of deterrence that extends beyond the material calculations of the world’s classical militaries. This power, rooted in the connection between “the field” and “the people,” has not only altered the balance of power in recent conflicts but has also disrupted adversaries’ calculations when confronting Iran’s strategic depth.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dominant discourse in the field of European energy security over the past two decades has revolved around diversification of supply sources and the gradual reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This narrative, which gained particular momentum after the Ukraine gas crisis in 2006 and its intensification in 2014 and 2022, was based on the assumption that Europe could free itself from the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from dependence on specific suppliers through investment in renewable energy, imports of liquefied natural gas from diversified sources, and the establishment of new infrastructure. However, a closer analysis of energy trade data and the structure of the global oil and gas supply chain presents a different picture. Europe has not only failed to meaningfully reduce its dependence on the Persian Gulf, but in some sectors — particularly in liquefied natural gas imports — this dependence has deepened. This reality, which is often overlooked in public discourse, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of Europe’s energy security strategies and their impact on regional power equations.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In the strategic geography of the global economy, certain regions attain such significance that they effectively become determining factors of the international order. The Strait of Hormuz is among these points; a narrow yet vital passage through which a considerable portion of the world’s energy transits, and whose stability is directly intertwined with the interests and economic security of many countries. However, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is not limited solely to the volume of energy passing through it. This strait is also a stage upon which the limitations and challenges of great power politics are revealed. From China’s perspective, the policy of the United States regarding the security of this strategic chokepoint, rather than reflecting a stable order, demonstrates a set of contradictions and strategic difficulties that Washington faces in managing the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a question from Faisal al-Abbas, a Saudi journalist and editor of the English-language newspaper Arab News, announced Saudi Arabia as a “suitable option” for a possible peace meeting between Moscow and Kyiv.
Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: Normalization of Iran-Saudi relations with China’s mediation, which is an indication of Beijing’s more significant influence and role in new regional trends in the Middle East, increased speculations about the possibility of changes in the geostrategy of other powers.
Abbas Aslani – Expert on international relations
Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that signing of Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership is the reflection of European leaders’ concern about expansion of ties among countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with China and particularly Russia at present junction, an expert of West Asia Affairs said:” Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership may prepare a more suitable ground for increased security presence of Europeans in the Persian Gulf region in future”.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent months, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its various consequences in regional and international arenas has become the main subject of analysts of politics and international relations. A war that has affected the security and stability of Eurasia, the order of international relations, food security, energy security and the like in various dimensions, and since the passage of more than three months from its beginning, there is still no clear end in sight.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Having referred to current trends of developments between Russia and Europe and also international political economy, one of the global important challenges of the present century is the challenge on energy security and resources, particularly oil and gas.
Pouria Nabipour, Ph.D., Political Science & International Relations
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The European Union is currently facing an unprecedented rise in energy prices which could hamper economic recovery after the Coronavirus epidemic in the Union, limit household incomes, and even challenge the so-called green transition. A set of market, geographical and political components has created the current unfavorable conditions.
Alireza Thamoudi – Expert on European affairs
Strategic Council Online – New movements on the Russian-Ukrainian borders are more related to the resurgence of traditional differences and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the United States than to the Moscow-Kiev bilateral relationship.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project which lies undersea from Russia through the Black Sea to Germany has caused something like a “geopolitical earthquake” and concerns in the United States and some European countries. There are discussions Nord Stream 2 can provide Kremlin with a new leverage against Germany and other NATO members. The construction of this pipeline which stopped in 2019 has resumed in December 2020 in the midst of discussions as to whether the new US sanctions could once again disrupt the completion of the pipeline.
Alireza Samoodi—Expert of European issues
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dominant discourse in the field of European energy security over the past two decades has revolved around diversification of supply sources and the gradual reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This narrative, which gained particular momentum after the Ukraine gas crisis in 2006 and its intensification in 2014 and 2022, was based on the assumption that Europe could free itself from the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from dependence on specific suppliers through investment in renewable energy, imports of liquefied natural gas from diversified sources, and the establishment of new infrastructure. However, a closer analysis of energy trade data and the structure of the global oil and gas supply chain presents a different picture. Europe has not only failed to meaningfully reduce its dependence on the Persian Gulf, but in some sectors — particularly in liquefied natural gas imports — this dependence has deepened. This reality, which is often overlooked in public discourse, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of Europe’s energy security strategies and their impact on regional power equations.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In the strategic geography of the global economy, certain regions attain such significance that they effectively become determining factors of the international order. The Strait of Hormuz is among these points; a narrow yet vital passage through which a considerable portion of the world’s energy transits, and whose stability is directly intertwined with the interests and economic security of many countries. However, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is not limited solely to the volume of energy passing through it. This strait is also a stage upon which the limitations and challenges of great power politics are revealed. From China’s perspective, the policy of the United States regarding the security of this strategic chokepoint, rather than reflecting a stable order, demonstrates a set of contradictions and strategic difficulties that Washington faces in managing the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a question from Faisal al-Abbas, a Saudi journalist and editor of the English-language newspaper Arab News, announced Saudi Arabia as a “suitable option” for a possible peace meeting between Moscow and Kyiv.
Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: Normalization of Iran-Saudi relations with China’s mediation, which is an indication of Beijing’s more significant influence and role in new regional trends in the Middle East, increased speculations about the possibility of changes in the geostrategy of other powers.
Abbas Aslani – Expert on international relations
Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that signing of Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership is the reflection of European leaders’ concern about expansion of ties among countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with China and particularly Russia at present junction, an expert of West Asia Affairs said:” Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership may prepare a more suitable ground for increased security presence of Europeans in the Persian Gulf region in future”.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent months, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its various consequences in regional and international arenas has become the main subject of analysts of politics and international relations. A war that has affected the security and stability of Eurasia, the order of international relations, food security, energy security and the like in various dimensions, and since the passage of more than three months from its beginning, there is still no clear end in sight.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Having referred to current trends of developments between Russia and Europe and also international political economy, one of the global important challenges of the present century is the challenge on energy security and resources, particularly oil and gas.
Pouria Nabipour, Ph.D., Political Science & International Relations
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The European Union is currently facing an unprecedented rise in energy prices which could hamper economic recovery after the Coronavirus epidemic in the Union, limit household incomes, and even challenge the so-called green transition. A set of market, geographical and political components has created the current unfavorable conditions.
Alireza Thamoudi – Expert on European affairs
Strategic Council Online – New movements on the Russian-Ukrainian borders are more related to the resurgence of traditional differences and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the United States than to the Moscow-Kiev bilateral relationship.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project which lies undersea from Russia through the Black Sea to Germany has caused something like a “geopolitical earthquake” and concerns in the United States and some European countries. There are discussions Nord Stream 2 can provide Kremlin with a new leverage against Germany and other NATO members. The construction of this pipeline which stopped in 2019 has resumed in December 2020 in the midst of discussions as to whether the new US sanctions could once again disrupt the completion of the pipeline.
Alireza Samoodi—Expert of European issues
SCFRonline– Opinion: Iran’s geopolitical power is not limited solely to oil and the Strait of Hormuz; the unintended emergence of disruptions in the future global food and energy security chains can also demonstrate Iran’s strategic importance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Competition among great powers is no longer solely about oil; rather, control over rare minerals has now become the most important geopolitical arena for the global economy and technology.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The confrontation between Iran and the West has moved beyond traditional military arenas and now continues in the realm of perception, data, and artificial intelligence.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s display of power in the recent imposed war and Washington’s turning away from its traditional allies have pushed Persian Gulf countries toward new partners in the East.
SCFR Online–Opinion: By providing an extensive network of social, healthcare, educational, and post-war reconstruction services, Hezbollah has established a strong social base for itself among Lebanon’s Shiites and Sunnis, and even beyond that, among other segments of Lebanese society, including Christians. Hezbollah has never been an external actor imposed upon Lebanon; rather, it is a phenomenon fundamentally born out of the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime and itself influenced by popular resistance.
SCFR Online– Opinion: Security and military developments in the region over recent months indicate that the ongoing crises and wars in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syrian territory encompass broader dimensions of geopolitical and geostrategic transformations. In this context, the increased military presence and control of the Zionist regime over parts of the territories of these areas, along with proposals regarding the creation of buffer zones or even the expansion of security borders, have raised serious questions about the future of the regional order and its consequences for the countries of West Asia.
SCFR Online – Note: Articles from Western think tanks confirm that, contrary to Western assumptions, the war has failed to cause Iran’s economy to collapse, and this situation has led Washington to seek a pathway for exiting the quagmire.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when regional security equations have reached a sensitive stage under the influence of Iran’s strategic confrontation with the United States and the Zionist regime, the question of the nature of Tehran’s defensive power has gained greater significance than ever before. While Washington and Tel Aviv rely on their technological superiority, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a model of deterrence that extends beyond the material calculations of the world’s classical militaries. This power, rooted in the connection between “the field” and “the people,” has not only altered the balance of power in recent conflicts but has also disrupted adversaries’ calculations when confronting Iran’s strategic depth.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dominant discourse in the field of European energy security over the past two decades has revolved around diversification of supply sources and the gradual reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This narrative, which gained particular momentum after the Ukraine gas crisis in 2006 and its intensification in 2014 and 2022, was based on the assumption that Europe could free itself from the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from dependence on specific suppliers through investment in renewable energy, imports of liquefied natural gas from diversified sources, and the establishment of new infrastructure. However, a closer analysis of energy trade data and the structure of the global oil and gas supply chain presents a different picture. Europe has not only failed to meaningfully reduce its dependence on the Persian Gulf, but in some sectors — particularly in liquefied natural gas imports — this dependence has deepened. This reality, which is often overlooked in public discourse, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of Europe’s energy security strategies and their impact on regional power equations.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In the strategic geography of the global economy, certain regions attain such significance that they effectively become determining factors of the international order. The Strait of Hormuz is among these points; a narrow yet vital passage through which a considerable portion of the world’s energy transits, and whose stability is directly intertwined with the interests and economic security of many countries. However, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is not limited solely to the volume of energy passing through it. This strait is also a stage upon which the limitations and challenges of great power politics are revealed. From China’s perspective, the policy of the United States regarding the security of this strategic chokepoint, rather than reflecting a stable order, demonstrates a set of contradictions and strategic difficulties that Washington faces in managing the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a question from Faisal al-Abbas, a Saudi journalist and editor of the English-language newspaper Arab News, announced Saudi Arabia as a “suitable option” for a possible peace meeting between Moscow and Kyiv.
Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: Normalization of Iran-Saudi relations with China’s mediation, which is an indication of Beijing’s more significant influence and role in new regional trends in the Middle East, increased speculations about the possibility of changes in the geostrategy of other powers.
Abbas Aslani – Expert on international relations
Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that signing of Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership is the reflection of European leaders’ concern about expansion of ties among countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with China and particularly Russia at present junction, an expert of West Asia Affairs said:” Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership may prepare a more suitable ground for increased security presence of Europeans in the Persian Gulf region in future”.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent months, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its various consequences in regional and international arenas has become the main subject of analysts of politics and international relations. A war that has affected the security and stability of Eurasia, the order of international relations, food security, energy security and the like in various dimensions, and since the passage of more than three months from its beginning, there is still no clear end in sight.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Having referred to current trends of developments between Russia and Europe and also international political economy, one of the global important challenges of the present century is the challenge on energy security and resources, particularly oil and gas.
Pouria Nabipour, Ph.D., Political Science & International Relations
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The European Union is currently facing an unprecedented rise in energy prices which could hamper economic recovery after the Coronavirus epidemic in the Union, limit household incomes, and even challenge the so-called green transition. A set of market, geographical and political components has created the current unfavorable conditions.
Alireza Thamoudi – Expert on European affairs
Strategic Council Online – New movements on the Russian-Ukrainian borders are more related to the resurgence of traditional differences and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the United States than to the Moscow-Kiev bilateral relationship.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project which lies undersea from Russia through the Black Sea to Germany has caused something like a “geopolitical earthquake” and concerns in the United States and some European countries. There are discussions Nord Stream 2 can provide Kremlin with a new leverage against Germany and other NATO members. The construction of this pipeline which stopped in 2019 has resumed in December 2020 in the midst of discussions as to whether the new US sanctions could once again disrupt the completion of the pipeline.
Alireza Samoodi—Expert of European issues
SCFRonline– Opinion: Iran’s geopolitical power is not limited solely to oil and the Strait of Hormuz; the unintended emergence of disruptions in the future global food and energy security chains can also demonstrate Iran’s strategic importance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Competition among great powers is no longer solely about oil; rather, control over rare minerals has now become the most important geopolitical arena for the global economy and technology.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The confrontation between Iran and the West has moved beyond traditional military arenas and now continues in the realm of perception, data, and artificial intelligence.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s display of power in the recent imposed war and Washington’s turning away from its traditional allies have pushed Persian Gulf countries toward new partners in the East.
SCFR Online–Opinion: By providing an extensive network of social, healthcare, educational, and post-war reconstruction services, Hezbollah has established a strong social base for itself among Lebanon’s Shiites and Sunnis, and even beyond that, among other segments of Lebanese society, including Christians. Hezbollah has never been an external actor imposed upon Lebanon; rather, it is a phenomenon fundamentally born out of the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime and itself influenced by popular resistance.
SCFR Online– Opinion: Security and military developments in the region over recent months indicate that the ongoing crises and wars in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syrian territory encompass broader dimensions of geopolitical and geostrategic transformations. In this context, the increased military presence and control of the Zionist regime over parts of the territories of these areas, along with proposals regarding the creation of buffer zones or even the expansion of security borders, have raised serious questions about the future of the regional order and its consequences for the countries of West Asia.
SCFR Online – Note: Articles from Western think tanks confirm that, contrary to Western assumptions, the war has failed to cause Iran’s economy to collapse, and this situation has led Washington to seek a pathway for exiting the quagmire.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when regional security equations have reached a sensitive stage under the influence of Iran’s strategic confrontation with the United States and the Zionist regime, the question of the nature of Tehran’s defensive power has gained greater significance than ever before. While Washington and Tel Aviv rely on their technological superiority, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a model of deterrence that extends beyond the material calculations of the world’s classical militaries. This power, rooted in the connection between “the field” and “the people,” has not only altered the balance of power in recent conflicts but has also disrupted adversaries’ calculations when confronting Iran’s strategic depth.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dominant discourse in the field of European energy security over the past two decades has revolved around diversification of supply sources and the gradual reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This narrative, which gained particular momentum after the Ukraine gas crisis in 2006 and its intensification in 2014 and 2022, was based on the assumption that Europe could free itself from the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from dependence on specific suppliers through investment in renewable energy, imports of liquefied natural gas from diversified sources, and the establishment of new infrastructure. However, a closer analysis of energy trade data and the structure of the global oil and gas supply chain presents a different picture. Europe has not only failed to meaningfully reduce its dependence on the Persian Gulf, but in some sectors — particularly in liquefied natural gas imports — this dependence has deepened. This reality, which is often overlooked in public discourse, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of Europe’s energy security strategies and their impact on regional power equations.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In the strategic geography of the global economy, certain regions attain such significance that they effectively become determining factors of the international order. The Strait of Hormuz is among these points; a narrow yet vital passage through which a considerable portion of the world’s energy transits, and whose stability is directly intertwined with the interests and economic security of many countries. However, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is not limited solely to the volume of energy passing through it. This strait is also a stage upon which the limitations and challenges of great power politics are revealed. From China’s perspective, the policy of the United States regarding the security of this strategic chokepoint, rather than reflecting a stable order, demonstrates a set of contradictions and strategic difficulties that Washington faces in managing the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a question from Faisal al-Abbas, a Saudi journalist and editor of the English-language newspaper Arab News, announced Saudi Arabia as a “suitable option” for a possible peace meeting between Moscow and Kyiv.
Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: Normalization of Iran-Saudi relations with China’s mediation, which is an indication of Beijing’s more significant influence and role in new regional trends in the Middle East, increased speculations about the possibility of changes in the geostrategy of other powers.
Abbas Aslani – Expert on international relations
Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that signing of Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership is the reflection of European leaders’ concern about expansion of ties among countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with China and particularly Russia at present junction, an expert of West Asia Affairs said:” Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership may prepare a more suitable ground for increased security presence of Europeans in the Persian Gulf region in future”.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent months, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its various consequences in regional and international arenas has become the main subject of analysts of politics and international relations. A war that has affected the security and stability of Eurasia, the order of international relations, food security, energy security and the like in various dimensions, and since the passage of more than three months from its beginning, there is still no clear end in sight.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Having referred to current trends of developments between Russia and Europe and also international political economy, one of the global important challenges of the present century is the challenge on energy security and resources, particularly oil and gas.
Pouria Nabipour, Ph.D., Political Science & International Relations
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The European Union is currently facing an unprecedented rise in energy prices which could hamper economic recovery after the Coronavirus epidemic in the Union, limit household incomes, and even challenge the so-called green transition. A set of market, geographical and political components has created the current unfavorable conditions.
Alireza Thamoudi – Expert on European affairs
Strategic Council Online – New movements on the Russian-Ukrainian borders are more related to the resurgence of traditional differences and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the United States than to the Moscow-Kiev bilateral relationship.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project which lies undersea from Russia through the Black Sea to Germany has caused something like a “geopolitical earthquake” and concerns in the United States and some European countries. There are discussions Nord Stream 2 can provide Kremlin with a new leverage against Germany and other NATO members. The construction of this pipeline which stopped in 2019 has resumed in December 2020 in the midst of discussions as to whether the new US sanctions could once again disrupt the completion of the pipeline.
Alireza Samoodi—Expert of European issues
SCFRonline– Opinion: Iran’s geopolitical power is not limited solely to oil and the Strait of Hormuz; the unintended emergence of disruptions in the future global food and energy security chains can also demonstrate Iran’s strategic importance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Competition among great powers is no longer solely about oil; rather, control over rare minerals has now become the most important geopolitical arena for the global economy and technology.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The confrontation between Iran and the West has moved beyond traditional military arenas and now continues in the realm of perception, data, and artificial intelligence.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s display of power in the recent imposed war and Washington’s turning away from its traditional allies have pushed Persian Gulf countries toward new partners in the East.
SCFR Online–Opinion: By providing an extensive network of social, healthcare, educational, and post-war reconstruction services, Hezbollah has established a strong social base for itself among Lebanon’s Shiites and Sunnis, and even beyond that, among other segments of Lebanese society, including Christians. Hezbollah has never been an external actor imposed upon Lebanon; rather, it is a phenomenon fundamentally born out of the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime and itself influenced by popular resistance.
SCFR Online– Opinion: Security and military developments in the region over recent months indicate that the ongoing crises and wars in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syrian territory encompass broader dimensions of geopolitical and geostrategic transformations. In this context, the increased military presence and control of the Zionist regime over parts of the territories of these areas, along with proposals regarding the creation of buffer zones or even the expansion of security borders, have raised serious questions about the future of the regional order and its consequences for the countries of West Asia.
SCFR Online – Note: Articles from Western think tanks confirm that, contrary to Western assumptions, the war has failed to cause Iran’s economy to collapse, and this situation has led Washington to seek a pathway for exiting the quagmire.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when regional security equations have reached a sensitive stage under the influence of Iran’s strategic confrontation with the United States and the Zionist regime, the question of the nature of Tehran’s defensive power has gained greater significance than ever before. While Washington and Tel Aviv rely on their technological superiority, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a model of deterrence that extends beyond the material calculations of the world’s classical militaries. This power, rooted in the connection between “the field” and “the people,” has not only altered the balance of power in recent conflicts but has also disrupted adversaries’ calculations when confronting Iran’s strategic depth.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dominant discourse in the field of European energy security over the past two decades has revolved around diversification of supply sources and the gradual reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This narrative, which gained particular momentum after the Ukraine gas crisis in 2006 and its intensification in 2014 and 2022, was based on the assumption that Europe could free itself from the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from dependence on specific suppliers through investment in renewable energy, imports of liquefied natural gas from diversified sources, and the establishment of new infrastructure. However, a closer analysis of energy trade data and the structure of the global oil and gas supply chain presents a different picture. Europe has not only failed to meaningfully reduce its dependence on the Persian Gulf, but in some sectors — particularly in liquefied natural gas imports — this dependence has deepened. This reality, which is often overlooked in public discourse, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of Europe’s energy security strategies and their impact on regional power equations.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In the strategic geography of the global economy, certain regions attain such significance that they effectively become determining factors of the international order. The Strait of Hormuz is among these points; a narrow yet vital passage through which a considerable portion of the world’s energy transits, and whose stability is directly intertwined with the interests and economic security of many countries. However, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is not limited solely to the volume of energy passing through it. This strait is also a stage upon which the limitations and challenges of great power politics are revealed. From China’s perspective, the policy of the United States regarding the security of this strategic chokepoint, rather than reflecting a stable order, demonstrates a set of contradictions and strategic difficulties that Washington faces in managing the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a question from Faisal al-Abbas, a Saudi journalist and editor of the English-language newspaper Arab News, announced Saudi Arabia as a “suitable option” for a possible peace meeting between Moscow and Kyiv.
Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: Normalization of Iran-Saudi relations with China’s mediation, which is an indication of Beijing’s more significant influence and role in new regional trends in the Middle East, increased speculations about the possibility of changes in the geostrategy of other powers.
Abbas Aslani – Expert on international relations
Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that signing of Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership is the reflection of European leaders’ concern about expansion of ties among countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with China and particularly Russia at present junction, an expert of West Asia Affairs said:” Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership may prepare a more suitable ground for increased security presence of Europeans in the Persian Gulf region in future”.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent months, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its various consequences in regional and international arenas has become the main subject of analysts of politics and international relations. A war that has affected the security and stability of Eurasia, the order of international relations, food security, energy security and the like in various dimensions, and since the passage of more than three months from its beginning, there is still no clear end in sight.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Having referred to current trends of developments between Russia and Europe and also international political economy, one of the global important challenges of the present century is the challenge on energy security and resources, particularly oil and gas.
Pouria Nabipour, Ph.D., Political Science & International Relations
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The European Union is currently facing an unprecedented rise in energy prices which could hamper economic recovery after the Coronavirus epidemic in the Union, limit household incomes, and even challenge the so-called green transition. A set of market, geographical and political components has created the current unfavorable conditions.
Alireza Thamoudi – Expert on European affairs
Strategic Council Online – New movements on the Russian-Ukrainian borders are more related to the resurgence of traditional differences and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the United States than to the Moscow-Kiev bilateral relationship.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project which lies undersea from Russia through the Black Sea to Germany has caused something like a “geopolitical earthquake” and concerns in the United States and some European countries. There are discussions Nord Stream 2 can provide Kremlin with a new leverage against Germany and other NATO members. The construction of this pipeline which stopped in 2019 has resumed in December 2020 in the midst of discussions as to whether the new US sanctions could once again disrupt the completion of the pipeline.
Alireza Samoodi—Expert of European issues
SCFRonline– Opinion: Iran’s geopolitical power is not limited solely to oil and the Strait of Hormuz; the unintended emergence of disruptions in the future global food and energy security chains can also demonstrate Iran’s strategic importance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Competition among great powers is no longer solely about oil; rather, control over rare minerals has now become the most important geopolitical arena for the global economy and technology.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The confrontation between Iran and the West has moved beyond traditional military arenas and now continues in the realm of perception, data, and artificial intelligence.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s display of power in the recent imposed war and Washington’s turning away from its traditional allies have pushed Persian Gulf countries toward new partners in the East.
SCFR Online–Opinion: By providing an extensive network of social, healthcare, educational, and post-war reconstruction services, Hezbollah has established a strong social base for itself among Lebanon’s Shiites and Sunnis, and even beyond that, among other segments of Lebanese society, including Christians. Hezbollah has never been an external actor imposed upon Lebanon; rather, it is a phenomenon fundamentally born out of the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime and itself influenced by popular resistance.
SCFR Online– Opinion: Security and military developments in the region over recent months indicate that the ongoing crises and wars in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syrian territory encompass broader dimensions of geopolitical and geostrategic transformations. In this context, the increased military presence and control of the Zionist regime over parts of the territories of these areas, along with proposals regarding the creation of buffer zones or even the expansion of security borders, have raised serious questions about the future of the regional order and its consequences for the countries of West Asia.
SCFR Online – Note: Articles from Western think tanks confirm that, contrary to Western assumptions, the war has failed to cause Iran’s economy to collapse, and this situation has led Washington to seek a pathway for exiting the quagmire.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when regional security equations have reached a sensitive stage under the influence of Iran’s strategic confrontation with the United States and the Zionist regime, the question of the nature of Tehran’s defensive power has gained greater significance than ever before. While Washington and Tel Aviv rely on their technological superiority, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a model of deterrence that extends beyond the material calculations of the world’s classical militaries. This power, rooted in the connection between “the field” and “the people,” has not only altered the balance of power in recent conflicts but has also disrupted adversaries’ calculations when confronting Iran’s strategic depth.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The dominant discourse in the field of European energy security over the past two decades has revolved around diversification of supply sources and the gradual reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. This narrative, which gained particular momentum after the Ukraine gas crisis in 2006 and its intensification in 2014 and 2022, was based on the assumption that Europe could free itself from the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from dependence on specific suppliers through investment in renewable energy, imports of liquefied natural gas from diversified sources, and the establishment of new infrastructure. However, a closer analysis of energy trade data and the structure of the global oil and gas supply chain presents a different picture. Europe has not only failed to meaningfully reduce its dependence on the Persian Gulf, but in some sectors — particularly in liquefied natural gas imports — this dependence has deepened. This reality, which is often overlooked in public discourse, raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of Europe’s energy security strategies and their impact on regional power equations.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In the strategic geography of the global economy, certain regions attain such significance that they effectively become determining factors of the international order. The Strait of Hormuz is among these points; a narrow yet vital passage through which a considerable portion of the world’s energy transits, and whose stability is directly intertwined with the interests and economic security of many countries. However, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is not limited solely to the volume of energy passing through it. This strait is also a stage upon which the limitations and challenges of great power politics are revealed. From China’s perspective, the policy of the United States regarding the security of this strategic chokepoint, rather than reflecting a stable order, demonstrates a set of contradictions and strategic difficulties that Washington faces in managing the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a question from Faisal al-Abbas, a Saudi journalist and editor of the English-language newspaper Arab News, announced Saudi Arabia as a “suitable option” for a possible peace meeting between Moscow and Kyiv.
Strategic Council Online – Guest Opinion: Normalization of Iran-Saudi relations with China’s mediation, which is an indication of Beijing’s more significant influence and role in new regional trends in the Middle East, increased speculations about the possibility of changes in the geostrategy of other powers.
Abbas Aslani – Expert on international relations
Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that signing of Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership is the reflection of European leaders’ concern about expansion of ties among countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council with China and particularly Russia at present junction, an expert of West Asia Affairs said:” Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership may prepare a more suitable ground for increased security presence of Europeans in the Persian Gulf region in future”.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent months, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its various consequences in regional and international arenas has become the main subject of analysts of politics and international relations. A war that has affected the security and stability of Eurasia, the order of international relations, food security, energy security and the like in various dimensions, and since the passage of more than three months from its beginning, there is still no clear end in sight.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Having referred to current trends of developments between Russia and Europe and also international political economy, one of the global important challenges of the present century is the challenge on energy security and resources, particularly oil and gas.
Pouria Nabipour, Ph.D., Political Science & International Relations
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The European Union is currently facing an unprecedented rise in energy prices which could hamper economic recovery after the Coronavirus epidemic in the Union, limit household incomes, and even challenge the so-called green transition. A set of market, geographical and political components has created the current unfavorable conditions.
Alireza Thamoudi – Expert on European affairs
Strategic Council Online – New movements on the Russian-Ukrainian borders are more related to the resurgence of traditional differences and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the United States than to the Moscow-Kiev bilateral relationship.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project which lies undersea from Russia through the Black Sea to Germany has caused something like a “geopolitical earthquake” and concerns in the United States and some European countries. There are discussions Nord Stream 2 can provide Kremlin with a new leverage against Germany and other NATO members. The construction of this pipeline which stopped in 2019 has resumed in December 2020 in the midst of discussions as to whether the new US sanctions could once again disrupt the completion of the pipeline.
Alireza Samoodi—Expert of European issues
SCFRonline– Opinion: Iran’s geopolitical power is not limited solely to oil and the Strait of Hormuz; the unintended emergence of disruptions in the future global food and energy security chains can also demonstrate Iran’s strategic importance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Competition among great powers is no longer solely about oil; rather, control over rare minerals has now become the most important geopolitical arena for the global economy and technology.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The confrontation between Iran and the West has moved beyond traditional military arenas and now continues in the realm of perception, data, and artificial intelligence.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s display of power in the recent imposed war and Washington’s turning away from its traditional allies have pushed Persian Gulf countries toward new partners in the East.
SCFR Online–Opinion: By providing an extensive network of social, healthcare, educational, and post-war reconstruction services, Hezbollah has established a strong social base for itself among Lebanon’s Shiites and Sunnis, and even beyond that, among other segments of Lebanese society, including Christians. Hezbollah has never been an external actor imposed upon Lebanon; rather, it is a phenomenon fundamentally born out of the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime and itself influenced by popular resistance.
SCFR Online– Opinion: Security and military developments in the region over recent months indicate that the ongoing crises and wars in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syrian territory encompass broader dimensions of geopolitical and geostrategic transformations. In this context, the increased military presence and control of the Zionist regime over parts of the territories of these areas, along with proposals regarding the creation of buffer zones or even the expansion of security borders, have raised serious questions about the future of the regional order and its consequences for the countries of West Asia.
SCFR Online – Note: Articles from Western think tanks confirm that, contrary to Western assumptions, the war has failed to cause Iran’s economy to collapse, and this situation has led Washington to seek a pathway for exiting the quagmire.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when regional security equations have reached a sensitive stage under the influence of Iran’s strategic confrontation with the United States and the Zionist regime, the question of the nature of Tehran’s defensive power has gained greater significance than ever before. While Washington and Tel Aviv rely on their technological superiority, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a model of deterrence that extends beyond the material calculations of the world’s classical militaries. This power, rooted in the connection between “the field” and “the people,” has not only altered the balance of power in recent conflicts but has also disrupted adversaries’ calculations when confronting Iran’s strategic depth.