SCFR Online – Opinion: The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has marked the end of Washington’s direct military presence in the country; however, America’s financial, political, and security levers can still affect and cause problems for the future of this country.
SCFR Online – Opinion: After months of war and economic pressure, the situation between Iran and the United States has been placed between two conflicting logics; Washington insists on intensifying pressure to gain concessions, and Tehran does not accept negotiations under pressure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
Strategic Council Online – The recent attacks by Israeli jet fighters on areas in the northwest of Syria are a serious warning for the beginning of a new round of the regime’s disputes with Russia in Syria. Until recently, relations between Russia and the Zionist regime in Syria, according to Moscow’s considerations, were defined on the basis of the principle of coordination in some areas of security and intelligence, but with the recent Zionist regime invasion of areas northwest of Syria, where Russian forces are stationed, the previous coordination will be undermined.
Hamid Khoshayand – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry recently announced that Russia is preparing to be removed from SWIFT. His remarks came in response to a European Parliament resolution calling for Russia to cut ties with SWIFT if it continues to invade Ukraine. The question now is how feasible is this Russian move? What are its implications for SWIFT and international trade? What are the roots of this decision and how far can the countries involved in SWIFT go with the option of sanctioning and leaving SWIFT?
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher of development political economy
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of the Middle East affairs said that creating a convergent atmosphere and reaping its results depends on the effective dialogue between important countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia He added: With the reduction of the role of trans-regional powers, countries will have to reconsider mutual relations so that the region will not suffer more from the vacuum of those interactions, especially in relation to the abuse of terrorist and extremist groups.
Strategic Council Online – An American affairs expert said: From the Americans’ point of view, Russia is expanding its military base in Syria and making efforts to establish military bases in Libya and Sudan. It is also expanding its influence from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, he said, adding that China is also moving westward, i.e. the Middle East region, by relying on economic initiatives such as the Silk Road and One Belt One Road initiative.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Asia affairs said that the recent decision of the new US administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for Islamabad, adding that Pakistan views this issue politically and strategically against India and seeks to regain its strategic depth with an economic approach to Afghan markets as well as improving its relations with the United States.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Given that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Iran and China has been top on the headlines of many Iranian and international media outlets, the comparative study of such cooperation can illuminate the public opinion and raise awareness on the nature of such agreements.
Amir Mohammad Reisian—Researcher, Latin America Desk, Economic Diplomacy Studies Office, Imam Sadeq University
Strategic Council Online – An expert and analyst on Caucasus affairs, referring to the role of regional and trans-regional powers in the South Caucasus, said: There are issues and crises in the South Caucasus region, tensions have been frozen and if not properly managed, it is likely that the fire of ethnic and regional and perhaps international conflicts in this region would flare up again.
Strategic Council Online – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on April 13 and met with senior Iranian officials. The content of Lavrov’s visit was to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and paving the way for strategizing these relations.
Seyed Reza Mirtaher – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Russia affairs says the recent military movements of Russia near the border with Ukraine were a reaction to the feeling of threat posed by Washington against Moscow, adding that Russian officials tried to preempt what they had predicated about a change in the US policy towards Moscow during the Biden presidency.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of US affairs says the Biden administration has not yet made an achievement in many domestic areas such as consolidating social cohesion, restrictions concerning the use of weapons and racial discrimination especially in the police structure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has marked the end of Washington’s direct military presence in the country; however, America’s financial, political, and security levers can still affect and cause problems for the future of this country.
SCFR Online – Opinion: After months of war and economic pressure, the situation between Iran and the United States has been placed between two conflicting logics; Washington insists on intensifying pressure to gain concessions, and Tehran does not accept negotiations under pressure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
Strategic Council Online – The recent attacks by Israeli jet fighters on areas in the northwest of Syria are a serious warning for the beginning of a new round of the regime’s disputes with Russia in Syria. Until recently, relations between Russia and the Zionist regime in Syria, according to Moscow’s considerations, were defined on the basis of the principle of coordination in some areas of security and intelligence, but with the recent Zionist regime invasion of areas northwest of Syria, where Russian forces are stationed, the previous coordination will be undermined.
Hamid Khoshayand – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry recently announced that Russia is preparing to be removed from SWIFT. His remarks came in response to a European Parliament resolution calling for Russia to cut ties with SWIFT if it continues to invade Ukraine. The question now is how feasible is this Russian move? What are its implications for SWIFT and international trade? What are the roots of this decision and how far can the countries involved in SWIFT go with the option of sanctioning and leaving SWIFT?
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher of development political economy
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of the Middle East affairs said that creating a convergent atmosphere and reaping its results depends on the effective dialogue between important countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia He added: With the reduction of the role of trans-regional powers, countries will have to reconsider mutual relations so that the region will not suffer more from the vacuum of those interactions, especially in relation to the abuse of terrorist and extremist groups.
Strategic Council Online – An American affairs expert said: From the Americans’ point of view, Russia is expanding its military base in Syria and making efforts to establish military bases in Libya and Sudan. It is also expanding its influence from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, he said, adding that China is also moving westward, i.e. the Middle East region, by relying on economic initiatives such as the Silk Road and One Belt One Road initiative.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Asia affairs said that the recent decision of the new US administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for Islamabad, adding that Pakistan views this issue politically and strategically against India and seeks to regain its strategic depth with an economic approach to Afghan markets as well as improving its relations with the United States.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Given that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Iran and China has been top on the headlines of many Iranian and international media outlets, the comparative study of such cooperation can illuminate the public opinion and raise awareness on the nature of such agreements.
Amir Mohammad Reisian—Researcher, Latin America Desk, Economic Diplomacy Studies Office, Imam Sadeq University
Strategic Council Online – An expert and analyst on Caucasus affairs, referring to the role of regional and trans-regional powers in the South Caucasus, said: There are issues and crises in the South Caucasus region, tensions have been frozen and if not properly managed, it is likely that the fire of ethnic and regional and perhaps international conflicts in this region would flare up again.
Strategic Council Online – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on April 13 and met with senior Iranian officials. The content of Lavrov’s visit was to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and paving the way for strategizing these relations.
Seyed Reza Mirtaher – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Russia affairs says the recent military movements of Russia near the border with Ukraine were a reaction to the feeling of threat posed by Washington against Moscow, adding that Russian officials tried to preempt what they had predicated about a change in the US policy towards Moscow during the Biden presidency.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of US affairs says the Biden administration has not yet made an achievement in many domestic areas such as consolidating social cohesion, restrictions concerning the use of weapons and racial discrimination especially in the police structure.
Strategic Council Online – The recent attacks by Israeli jet fighters on areas in the northwest of Syria are a serious warning for the beginning of a new round of the regime’s disputes with Russia in Syria. Until recently, relations between Russia and the Zionist regime in Syria, according to Moscow’s considerations, were defined on the basis of the principle of coordination in some areas of security and intelligence, but with the recent Zionist regime invasion of areas northwest of Syria, where Russian forces are stationed, the previous coordination will be undermined.
Hamid Khoshayand – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry recently announced that Russia is preparing to be removed from SWIFT. His remarks came in response to a European Parliament resolution calling for Russia to cut ties with SWIFT if it continues to invade Ukraine. The question now is how feasible is this Russian move? What are its implications for SWIFT and international trade? What are the roots of this decision and how far can the countries involved in SWIFT go with the option of sanctioning and leaving SWIFT?
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher of development political economy
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of the Middle East affairs said that creating a convergent atmosphere and reaping its results depends on the effective dialogue between important countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia He added: With the reduction of the role of trans-regional powers, countries will have to reconsider mutual relations so that the region will not suffer more from the vacuum of those interactions, especially in relation to the abuse of terrorist and extremist groups.
Strategic Council Online – An American affairs expert said: From the Americans’ point of view, Russia is expanding its military base in Syria and making efforts to establish military bases in Libya and Sudan. It is also expanding its influence from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, he said, adding that China is also moving westward, i.e. the Middle East region, by relying on economic initiatives such as the Silk Road and One Belt One Road initiative.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Asia affairs said that the recent decision of the new US administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for Islamabad, adding that Pakistan views this issue politically and strategically against India and seeks to regain its strategic depth with an economic approach to Afghan markets as well as improving its relations with the United States.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Given that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Iran and China has been top on the headlines of many Iranian and international media outlets, the comparative study of such cooperation can illuminate the public opinion and raise awareness on the nature of such agreements.
Amir Mohammad Reisian—Researcher, Latin America Desk, Economic Diplomacy Studies Office, Imam Sadeq University
Strategic Council Online – An expert and analyst on Caucasus affairs, referring to the role of regional and trans-regional powers in the South Caucasus, said: There are issues and crises in the South Caucasus region, tensions have been frozen and if not properly managed, it is likely that the fire of ethnic and regional and perhaps international conflicts in this region would flare up again.
Strategic Council Online – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on April 13 and met with senior Iranian officials. The content of Lavrov’s visit was to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and paving the way for strategizing these relations.
Seyed Reza Mirtaher – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Russia affairs says the recent military movements of Russia near the border with Ukraine were a reaction to the feeling of threat posed by Washington against Moscow, adding that Russian officials tried to preempt what they had predicated about a change in the US policy towards Moscow during the Biden presidency.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of US affairs says the Biden administration has not yet made an achievement in many domestic areas such as consolidating social cohesion, restrictions concerning the use of weapons and racial discrimination especially in the police structure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has marked the end of Washington’s direct military presence in the country; however, America’s financial, political, and security levers can still affect and cause problems for the future of this country.
SCFR Online – Opinion: After months of war and economic pressure, the situation between Iran and the United States has been placed between two conflicting logics; Washington insists on intensifying pressure to gain concessions, and Tehran does not accept negotiations under pressure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
Strategic Council Online – The recent attacks by Israeli jet fighters on areas in the northwest of Syria are a serious warning for the beginning of a new round of the regime’s disputes with Russia in Syria. Until recently, relations between Russia and the Zionist regime in Syria, according to Moscow’s considerations, were defined on the basis of the principle of coordination in some areas of security and intelligence, but with the recent Zionist regime invasion of areas northwest of Syria, where Russian forces are stationed, the previous coordination will be undermined.
Hamid Khoshayand – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry recently announced that Russia is preparing to be removed from SWIFT. His remarks came in response to a European Parliament resolution calling for Russia to cut ties with SWIFT if it continues to invade Ukraine. The question now is how feasible is this Russian move? What are its implications for SWIFT and international trade? What are the roots of this decision and how far can the countries involved in SWIFT go with the option of sanctioning and leaving SWIFT?
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher of development political economy
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of the Middle East affairs said that creating a convergent atmosphere and reaping its results depends on the effective dialogue between important countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia He added: With the reduction of the role of trans-regional powers, countries will have to reconsider mutual relations so that the region will not suffer more from the vacuum of those interactions, especially in relation to the abuse of terrorist and extremist groups.
Strategic Council Online – An American affairs expert said: From the Americans’ point of view, Russia is expanding its military base in Syria and making efforts to establish military bases in Libya and Sudan. It is also expanding its influence from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, he said, adding that China is also moving westward, i.e. the Middle East region, by relying on economic initiatives such as the Silk Road and One Belt One Road initiative.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Asia affairs said that the recent decision of the new US administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for Islamabad, adding that Pakistan views this issue politically and strategically against India and seeks to regain its strategic depth with an economic approach to Afghan markets as well as improving its relations with the United States.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Given that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Iran and China has been top on the headlines of many Iranian and international media outlets, the comparative study of such cooperation can illuminate the public opinion and raise awareness on the nature of such agreements.
Amir Mohammad Reisian—Researcher, Latin America Desk, Economic Diplomacy Studies Office, Imam Sadeq University
Strategic Council Online – An expert and analyst on Caucasus affairs, referring to the role of regional and trans-regional powers in the South Caucasus, said: There are issues and crises in the South Caucasus region, tensions have been frozen and if not properly managed, it is likely that the fire of ethnic and regional and perhaps international conflicts in this region would flare up again.
Strategic Council Online – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on April 13 and met with senior Iranian officials. The content of Lavrov’s visit was to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and paving the way for strategizing these relations.
Seyed Reza Mirtaher – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Russia affairs says the recent military movements of Russia near the border with Ukraine were a reaction to the feeling of threat posed by Washington against Moscow, adding that Russian officials tried to preempt what they had predicated about a change in the US policy towards Moscow during the Biden presidency.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of US affairs says the Biden administration has not yet made an achievement in many domestic areas such as consolidating social cohesion, restrictions concerning the use of weapons and racial discrimination especially in the police structure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has marked the end of Washington’s direct military presence in the country; however, America’s financial, political, and security levers can still affect and cause problems for the future of this country.
SCFR Online – Opinion: After months of war and economic pressure, the situation between Iran and the United States has been placed between two conflicting logics; Washington insists on intensifying pressure to gain concessions, and Tehran does not accept negotiations under pressure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
Strategic Council Online – The recent attacks by Israeli jet fighters on areas in the northwest of Syria are a serious warning for the beginning of a new round of the regime’s disputes with Russia in Syria. Until recently, relations between Russia and the Zionist regime in Syria, according to Moscow’s considerations, were defined on the basis of the principle of coordination in some areas of security and intelligence, but with the recent Zionist regime invasion of areas northwest of Syria, where Russian forces are stationed, the previous coordination will be undermined.
Hamid Khoshayand – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry recently announced that Russia is preparing to be removed from SWIFT. His remarks came in response to a European Parliament resolution calling for Russia to cut ties with SWIFT if it continues to invade Ukraine. The question now is how feasible is this Russian move? What are its implications for SWIFT and international trade? What are the roots of this decision and how far can the countries involved in SWIFT go with the option of sanctioning and leaving SWIFT?
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher of development political economy
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of the Middle East affairs said that creating a convergent atmosphere and reaping its results depends on the effective dialogue between important countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia He added: With the reduction of the role of trans-regional powers, countries will have to reconsider mutual relations so that the region will not suffer more from the vacuum of those interactions, especially in relation to the abuse of terrorist and extremist groups.
Strategic Council Online – An American affairs expert said: From the Americans’ point of view, Russia is expanding its military base in Syria and making efforts to establish military bases in Libya and Sudan. It is also expanding its influence from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, he said, adding that China is also moving westward, i.e. the Middle East region, by relying on economic initiatives such as the Silk Road and One Belt One Road initiative.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Asia affairs said that the recent decision of the new US administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for Islamabad, adding that Pakistan views this issue politically and strategically against India and seeks to regain its strategic depth with an economic approach to Afghan markets as well as improving its relations with the United States.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Given that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Iran and China has been top on the headlines of many Iranian and international media outlets, the comparative study of such cooperation can illuminate the public opinion and raise awareness on the nature of such agreements.
Amir Mohammad Reisian—Researcher, Latin America Desk, Economic Diplomacy Studies Office, Imam Sadeq University
Strategic Council Online – An expert and analyst on Caucasus affairs, referring to the role of regional and trans-regional powers in the South Caucasus, said: There are issues and crises in the South Caucasus region, tensions have been frozen and if not properly managed, it is likely that the fire of ethnic and regional and perhaps international conflicts in this region would flare up again.
Strategic Council Online – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on April 13 and met with senior Iranian officials. The content of Lavrov’s visit was to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and paving the way for strategizing these relations.
Seyed Reza Mirtaher – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Russia affairs says the recent military movements of Russia near the border with Ukraine were a reaction to the feeling of threat posed by Washington against Moscow, adding that Russian officials tried to preempt what they had predicated about a change in the US policy towards Moscow during the Biden presidency.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of US affairs says the Biden administration has not yet made an achievement in many domestic areas such as consolidating social cohesion, restrictions concerning the use of weapons and racial discrimination especially in the police structure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has marked the end of Washington’s direct military presence in the country; however, America’s financial, political, and security levers can still affect and cause problems for the future of this country.
SCFR Online – Opinion: After months of war and economic pressure, the situation between Iran and the United States has been placed between two conflicting logics; Washington insists on intensifying pressure to gain concessions, and Tehran does not accept negotiations under pressure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
Strategic Council Online – The recent attacks by Israeli jet fighters on areas in the northwest of Syria are a serious warning for the beginning of a new round of the regime’s disputes with Russia in Syria. Until recently, relations between Russia and the Zionist regime in Syria, according to Moscow’s considerations, were defined on the basis of the principle of coordination in some areas of security and intelligence, but with the recent Zionist regime invasion of areas northwest of Syria, where Russian forces are stationed, the previous coordination will be undermined.
Hamid Khoshayand – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry recently announced that Russia is preparing to be removed from SWIFT. His remarks came in response to a European Parliament resolution calling for Russia to cut ties with SWIFT if it continues to invade Ukraine. The question now is how feasible is this Russian move? What are its implications for SWIFT and international trade? What are the roots of this decision and how far can the countries involved in SWIFT go with the option of sanctioning and leaving SWIFT?
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher of development political economy
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of the Middle East affairs said that creating a convergent atmosphere and reaping its results depends on the effective dialogue between important countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia He added: With the reduction of the role of trans-regional powers, countries will have to reconsider mutual relations so that the region will not suffer more from the vacuum of those interactions, especially in relation to the abuse of terrorist and extremist groups.
Strategic Council Online – An American affairs expert said: From the Americans’ point of view, Russia is expanding its military base in Syria and making efforts to establish military bases in Libya and Sudan. It is also expanding its influence from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, he said, adding that China is also moving westward, i.e. the Middle East region, by relying on economic initiatives such as the Silk Road and One Belt One Road initiative.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Asia affairs said that the recent decision of the new US administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for Islamabad, adding that Pakistan views this issue politically and strategically against India and seeks to regain its strategic depth with an economic approach to Afghan markets as well as improving its relations with the United States.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Given that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Iran and China has been top on the headlines of many Iranian and international media outlets, the comparative study of such cooperation can illuminate the public opinion and raise awareness on the nature of such agreements.
Amir Mohammad Reisian—Researcher, Latin America Desk, Economic Diplomacy Studies Office, Imam Sadeq University
Strategic Council Online – An expert and analyst on Caucasus affairs, referring to the role of regional and trans-regional powers in the South Caucasus, said: There are issues and crises in the South Caucasus region, tensions have been frozen and if not properly managed, it is likely that the fire of ethnic and regional and perhaps international conflicts in this region would flare up again.
Strategic Council Online – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on April 13 and met with senior Iranian officials. The content of Lavrov’s visit was to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and paving the way for strategizing these relations.
Seyed Reza Mirtaher – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Russia affairs says the recent military movements of Russia near the border with Ukraine were a reaction to the feeling of threat posed by Washington against Moscow, adding that Russian officials tried to preempt what they had predicated about a change in the US policy towards Moscow during the Biden presidency.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of US affairs says the Biden administration has not yet made an achievement in many domestic areas such as consolidating social cohesion, restrictions concerning the use of weapons and racial discrimination especially in the police structure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has marked the end of Washington’s direct military presence in the country; however, America’s financial, political, and security levers can still affect and cause problems for the future of this country.
SCFR Online – Opinion: After months of war and economic pressure, the situation between Iran and the United States has been placed between two conflicting logics; Washington insists on intensifying pressure to gain concessions, and Tehran does not accept negotiations under pressure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
Strategic Council Online – The recent attacks by Israeli jet fighters on areas in the northwest of Syria are a serious warning for the beginning of a new round of the regime’s disputes with Russia in Syria. Until recently, relations between Russia and the Zionist regime in Syria, according to Moscow’s considerations, were defined on the basis of the principle of coordination in some areas of security and intelligence, but with the recent Zionist regime invasion of areas northwest of Syria, where Russian forces are stationed, the previous coordination will be undermined.
Hamid Khoshayand – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry recently announced that Russia is preparing to be removed from SWIFT. His remarks came in response to a European Parliament resolution calling for Russia to cut ties with SWIFT if it continues to invade Ukraine. The question now is how feasible is this Russian move? What are its implications for SWIFT and international trade? What are the roots of this decision and how far can the countries involved in SWIFT go with the option of sanctioning and leaving SWIFT?
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher of development political economy
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of the Middle East affairs said that creating a convergent atmosphere and reaping its results depends on the effective dialogue between important countries in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia He added: With the reduction of the role of trans-regional powers, countries will have to reconsider mutual relations so that the region will not suffer more from the vacuum of those interactions, especially in relation to the abuse of terrorist and extremist groups.
Strategic Council Online – An American affairs expert said: From the Americans’ point of view, Russia is expanding its military base in Syria and making efforts to establish military bases in Libya and Sudan. It is also expanding its influence from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, he said, adding that China is also moving westward, i.e. the Middle East region, by relying on economic initiatives such as the Silk Road and One Belt One Road initiative.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Asia affairs said that the recent decision of the new US administration to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for Islamabad, adding that Pakistan views this issue politically and strategically against India and seeks to regain its strategic depth with an economic approach to Afghan markets as well as improving its relations with the United States.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Given that the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Iran and China has been top on the headlines of many Iranian and international media outlets, the comparative study of such cooperation can illuminate the public opinion and raise awareness on the nature of such agreements.
Amir Mohammad Reisian—Researcher, Latin America Desk, Economic Diplomacy Studies Office, Imam Sadeq University
Strategic Council Online – An expert and analyst on Caucasus affairs, referring to the role of regional and trans-regional powers in the South Caucasus, said: There are issues and crises in the South Caucasus region, tensions have been frozen and if not properly managed, it is likely that the fire of ethnic and regional and perhaps international conflicts in this region would flare up again.
Strategic Council Online – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on April 13 and met with senior Iranian officials. The content of Lavrov’s visit was to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and paving the way for strategizing these relations.
Seyed Reza Mirtaher – Analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Russia affairs says the recent military movements of Russia near the border with Ukraine were a reaction to the feeling of threat posed by Washington against Moscow, adding that Russian officials tried to preempt what they had predicated about a change in the US policy towards Moscow during the Biden presidency.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of US affairs says the Biden administration has not yet made an achievement in many domestic areas such as consolidating social cohesion, restrictions concerning the use of weapons and racial discrimination especially in the police structure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq has marked the end of Washington’s direct military presence in the country; however, America’s financial, political, and security levers can still affect and cause problems for the future of this country.
SCFR Online – Opinion: After months of war and economic pressure, the situation between Iran and the United States has been placed between two conflicting logics; Washington insists on intensifying pressure to gain concessions, and Tehran does not accept negotiations under pressure.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.