2023/10/15
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: At the end of August this year, Saudi Arabia announced that it had appointed its first ambassador to the Palestinian Authority. Based on this decision, Nayef bin Bandar al-Sudairi, as the extraordinary, plenipotentiary and non-resident ambassador (accredited) of Saudi Arabia in Ramallah and the Saudi consul general in occupied Quds, handed over his credentials to Majdi Al-Khalidi, the diplomatic advisor of Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority. Now, less than two months have passed since these decisions and actions, the Saudi government has announced that an official delegation from this country, headed by Nayef Bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, will travel to Ramallah to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) and to offer prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque; An unprecedented action since the occupation of Quds in 1967, which will open a new chapter in Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic and role-playing activities in the West Asian region.
Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
2023/09/19
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The idea of developing transportation routes to boost trade in the Persian Gulf and eliminate the need for the strategic Strait of Hormuz was formed among the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states some years ago. To realize the idea, the rail transport corridor along the Persian Gulf was started in 2016 by launching the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council rail network. According to the agreement signed among the member states of the Council, each of the countries was expected to build and complete their rail network independently. Finally, after completing all national lines, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council network would be launched by connecting the national rail networks of those countries. In this way, an Arab railway network would be formed, connecting all six Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member countries through a railway line of 2177 kilometers.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri – University professor
2023/09/15
Strategic Council Online–Interview: An expert on West Asian issues stated that the meeting of the resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon gave the message that any move by the Zionist regime against the resistance front would be met with a multilateral and harsh response, which Israel cannot confront on several fronts at the same time, adding that the resistance groups are increasing the cost for any possible stupidity on the part of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
2023/08/23
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Saudi affairs stated that Saudi Arabia is trying to join the joint project for building fighter jets with Britain, Italy, and Japan to reduce its dependence on the United States and create a domestic arms industry, adding: Through such measures, part of which is propaganda, Riyadh is trying to show that it has high power and at the same time give warning signs to the United States and show those who want to carry out projects with that country that it has the necessary cards to play in choosing different options.
2023/08/23
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Although the United States withdrew its support for the ambitious 2,000-kilometer Eastern Mediterranean natural gas pipeline project, known as EastMed, about a year and a half ago, its consortium known as Posidon, which consists of “Depa,” the operator of Greek Gas Network and “Edison” Energy Group, continues its engineering studies which are expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Mahmoud Fazeli – International affairs analyst