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.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: America’s inability to achieve a decisive victory over Iran and its unfortunate economic consequences have permanently shattered the belief in Washington’s global dominance.
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.
SCFR Online – Note: Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday morning, April 12, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would block the Strait of Hormuz. This decision, taken in response to the failure of Islamabad’s negotiations with Pakistan, represents—from the perspective of international relations philosophy—not merely a tactical error, but rather a reproduction of the same self-destructive logic that, from the era of ancient Greek city-states to modern empires, has drawn all hegemons emerging from “pure coercion” into the abyss of destruction.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An energy affairs analyst stated that the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, which Donald Trump described as a military success, has disrupted energy markets and intensified concerns over rising oil prices. This event once again underscored Iran’s decisive position in the oil and gas market.
Strategic Council Online– Opinion: The Persian Gulf, as one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world, is an arena for competition among regional and transregional powers, where the security and national interests of the actors take priority. This region holds strategic importance due to its vast energy reserves and the key role it plays in global oil and gas trade.
However, threats like environmental issues, smuggling, and energy security risks have added new complexities to its security equations. Iran, with the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf and a strategic geographical position, must protect its interests in a tense environment where extra-regional actors like the United States play a destructive role. In this framework, cooperation in specific areas serves as a tool to mitigate threats and strengthen our position in the regional balance of power.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on subcontinental issues said that India and the United Arab Emirates are working on the first phase of the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as the IMEC Corridor (ArabMed), which is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz and China’s Silk Road plan. Although there are some speculations that with the continuation of the war in Gaza and the unrest in the Middle East, work on this corridor may be sidelined.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: Suspicious explosions of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman waters on June 13 provide an opportunity to reflect on the importance of securing a strategic waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Ali Karbalaie Hosseini – International Law Researcher
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.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: America’s inability to achieve a decisive victory over Iran and its unfortunate economic consequences have permanently shattered the belief in Washington’s global dominance.
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.
SCFR Online – Note: Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday morning, April 12, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would block the Strait of Hormuz. This decision, taken in response to the failure of Islamabad’s negotiations with Pakistan, represents—from the perspective of international relations philosophy—not merely a tactical error, but rather a reproduction of the same self-destructive logic that, from the era of ancient Greek city-states to modern empires, has drawn all hegemons emerging from “pure coercion” into the abyss of destruction.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An energy affairs analyst stated that the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, which Donald Trump described as a military success, has disrupted energy markets and intensified concerns over rising oil prices. This event once again underscored Iran’s decisive position in the oil and gas market.
Strategic Council Online– Opinion: The Persian Gulf, as one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world, is an arena for competition among regional and transregional powers, where the security and national interests of the actors take priority. This region holds strategic importance due to its vast energy reserves and the key role it plays in global oil and gas trade.
However, threats like environmental issues, smuggling, and energy security risks have added new complexities to its security equations. Iran, with the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf and a strategic geographical position, must protect its interests in a tense environment where extra-regional actors like the United States play a destructive role. In this framework, cooperation in specific areas serves as a tool to mitigate threats and strengthen our position in the regional balance of power.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on subcontinental issues said that India and the United Arab Emirates are working on the first phase of the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as the IMEC Corridor (ArabMed), which is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz and China’s Silk Road plan. Although there are some speculations that with the continuation of the war in Gaza and the unrest in the Middle East, work on this corridor may be sidelined.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: Suspicious explosions of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman waters on June 13 provide an opportunity to reflect on the importance of securing a strategic waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Ali Karbalaie Hosseini – International Law Researcher
SCFR Online – Opinion: America’s inability to achieve a decisive victory over Iran and its unfortunate economic consequences have permanently shattered the belief in Washington’s global dominance.
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.
SCFR Online – Note: Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday morning, April 12, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would block the Strait of Hormuz. This decision, taken in response to the failure of Islamabad’s negotiations with Pakistan, represents—from the perspective of international relations philosophy—not merely a tactical error, but rather a reproduction of the same self-destructive logic that, from the era of ancient Greek city-states to modern empires, has drawn all hegemons emerging from “pure coercion” into the abyss of destruction.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An energy affairs analyst stated that the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, which Donald Trump described as a military success, has disrupted energy markets and intensified concerns over rising oil prices. This event once again underscored Iran’s decisive position in the oil and gas market.
Strategic Council Online– Opinion: The Persian Gulf, as one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world, is an arena for competition among regional and transregional powers, where the security and national interests of the actors take priority. This region holds strategic importance due to its vast energy reserves and the key role it plays in global oil and gas trade.
However, threats like environmental issues, smuggling, and energy security risks have added new complexities to its security equations. Iran, with the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf and a strategic geographical position, must protect its interests in a tense environment where extra-regional actors like the United States play a destructive role. In this framework, cooperation in specific areas serves as a tool to mitigate threats and strengthen our position in the regional balance of power.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on subcontinental issues said that India and the United Arab Emirates are working on the first phase of the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as the IMEC Corridor (ArabMed), which is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz and China’s Silk Road plan. Although there are some speculations that with the continuation of the war in Gaza and the unrest in the Middle East, work on this corridor may be sidelined.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: Suspicious explosions of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman waters on June 13 provide an opportunity to reflect on the importance of securing a strategic waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Ali Karbalaie Hosseini – International Law Researcher
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.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: America’s inability to achieve a decisive victory over Iran and its unfortunate economic consequences have permanently shattered the belief in Washington’s global dominance.
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.
SCFR Online – Note: Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday morning, April 12, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would block the Strait of Hormuz. This decision, taken in response to the failure of Islamabad’s negotiations with Pakistan, represents—from the perspective of international relations philosophy—not merely a tactical error, but rather a reproduction of the same self-destructive logic that, from the era of ancient Greek city-states to modern empires, has drawn all hegemons emerging from “pure coercion” into the abyss of destruction.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An energy affairs analyst stated that the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, which Donald Trump described as a military success, has disrupted energy markets and intensified concerns over rising oil prices. This event once again underscored Iran’s decisive position in the oil and gas market.
Strategic Council Online– Opinion: The Persian Gulf, as one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world, is an arena for competition among regional and transregional powers, where the security and national interests of the actors take priority. This region holds strategic importance due to its vast energy reserves and the key role it plays in global oil and gas trade.
However, threats like environmental issues, smuggling, and energy security risks have added new complexities to its security equations. Iran, with the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf and a strategic geographical position, must protect its interests in a tense environment where extra-regional actors like the United States play a destructive role. In this framework, cooperation in specific areas serves as a tool to mitigate threats and strengthen our position in the regional balance of power.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on subcontinental issues said that India and the United Arab Emirates are working on the first phase of the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as the IMEC Corridor (ArabMed), which is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz and China’s Silk Road plan. Although there are some speculations that with the continuation of the war in Gaza and the unrest in the Middle East, work on this corridor may be sidelined.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: Suspicious explosions of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman waters on June 13 provide an opportunity to reflect on the importance of securing a strategic waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Ali Karbalaie Hosseini – International Law Researcher
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.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: America’s inability to achieve a decisive victory over Iran and its unfortunate economic consequences have permanently shattered the belief in Washington’s global dominance.
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.
SCFR Online – Note: Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday morning, April 12, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would block the Strait of Hormuz. This decision, taken in response to the failure of Islamabad’s negotiations with Pakistan, represents—from the perspective of international relations philosophy—not merely a tactical error, but rather a reproduction of the same self-destructive logic that, from the era of ancient Greek city-states to modern empires, has drawn all hegemons emerging from “pure coercion” into the abyss of destruction.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An energy affairs analyst stated that the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, which Donald Trump described as a military success, has disrupted energy markets and intensified concerns over rising oil prices. This event once again underscored Iran’s decisive position in the oil and gas market.
Strategic Council Online– Opinion: The Persian Gulf, as one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world, is an arena for competition among regional and transregional powers, where the security and national interests of the actors take priority. This region holds strategic importance due to its vast energy reserves and the key role it plays in global oil and gas trade.
However, threats like environmental issues, smuggling, and energy security risks have added new complexities to its security equations. Iran, with the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf and a strategic geographical position, must protect its interests in a tense environment where extra-regional actors like the United States play a destructive role. In this framework, cooperation in specific areas serves as a tool to mitigate threats and strengthen our position in the regional balance of power.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on subcontinental issues said that India and the United Arab Emirates are working on the first phase of the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as the IMEC Corridor (ArabMed), which is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz and China’s Silk Road plan. Although there are some speculations that with the continuation of the war in Gaza and the unrest in the Middle East, work on this corridor may be sidelined.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: Suspicious explosions of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman waters on June 13 provide an opportunity to reflect on the importance of securing a strategic waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Ali Karbalaie Hosseini – International Law Researcher
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.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: America’s inability to achieve a decisive victory over Iran and its unfortunate economic consequences have permanently shattered the belief in Washington’s global dominance.
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.
SCFR Online – Note: Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday morning, April 12, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would block the Strait of Hormuz. This decision, taken in response to the failure of Islamabad’s negotiations with Pakistan, represents—from the perspective of international relations philosophy—not merely a tactical error, but rather a reproduction of the same self-destructive logic that, from the era of ancient Greek city-states to modern empires, has drawn all hegemons emerging from “pure coercion” into the abyss of destruction.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An energy affairs analyst stated that the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, which Donald Trump described as a military success, has disrupted energy markets and intensified concerns over rising oil prices. This event once again underscored Iran’s decisive position in the oil and gas market.
Strategic Council Online– Opinion: The Persian Gulf, as one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world, is an arena for competition among regional and transregional powers, where the security and national interests of the actors take priority. This region holds strategic importance due to its vast energy reserves and the key role it plays in global oil and gas trade.
However, threats like environmental issues, smuggling, and energy security risks have added new complexities to its security equations. Iran, with the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf and a strategic geographical position, must protect its interests in a tense environment where extra-regional actors like the United States play a destructive role. In this framework, cooperation in specific areas serves as a tool to mitigate threats and strengthen our position in the regional balance of power.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on subcontinental issues said that India and the United Arab Emirates are working on the first phase of the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as the IMEC Corridor (ArabMed), which is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz and China’s Silk Road plan. Although there are some speculations that with the continuation of the war in Gaza and the unrest in the Middle East, work on this corridor may be sidelined.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: Suspicious explosions of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman waters on June 13 provide an opportunity to reflect on the importance of securing a strategic waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Ali Karbalaie Hosseini – International Law Researcher
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.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: America’s inability to achieve a decisive victory over Iran and its unfortunate economic consequences have permanently shattered the belief in Washington’s global dominance.
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.
SCFR Online – Note: Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday morning, April 12, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would block the Strait of Hormuz. This decision, taken in response to the failure of Islamabad’s negotiations with Pakistan, represents—from the perspective of international relations philosophy—not merely a tactical error, but rather a reproduction of the same self-destructive logic that, from the era of ancient Greek city-states to modern empires, has drawn all hegemons emerging from “pure coercion” into the abyss of destruction.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An energy affairs analyst stated that the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, which Donald Trump described as a military success, has disrupted energy markets and intensified concerns over rising oil prices. This event once again underscored Iran’s decisive position in the oil and gas market.
Strategic Council Online– Opinion: The Persian Gulf, as one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world, is an arena for competition among regional and transregional powers, where the security and national interests of the actors take priority. This region holds strategic importance due to its vast energy reserves and the key role it plays in global oil and gas trade.
However, threats like environmental issues, smuggling, and energy security risks have added new complexities to its security equations. Iran, with the longest coastline in the Persian Gulf and a strategic geographical position, must protect its interests in a tense environment where extra-regional actors like the United States play a destructive role. In this framework, cooperation in specific areas serves as a tool to mitigate threats and strengthen our position in the regional balance of power.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on subcontinental issues said that India and the United Arab Emirates are working on the first phase of the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as the IMEC Corridor (ArabMed), which is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz and China’s Silk Road plan. Although there are some speculations that with the continuation of the war in Gaza and the unrest in the Middle East, work on this corridor may be sidelined.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: Suspicious explosions of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman waters on June 13 provide an opportunity to reflect on the importance of securing a strategic waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. Ali Karbalaie Hosseini – International Law Researcher
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.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.