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: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
Strategic Council Online: According to the agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in March 2018, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin and by mid-July (July 2020) the number of US combat troops will reach 8600 persons. This is happening at a time when the bilateral security agreement between the United States and the Afghan government is still valid. In addition, in recent months, the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan have not diminished, but in addition to the Taliban’s spring attacks, ISIS terrorist activities in Afghanistan are taking civilian tolls from among the oppressed people of Afghanistan, and the atmosphere of insecurity has not changed. Although the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is important, it may have significant implications for the future of Afghanistan and the region, given the shortcomings and negligence in fulfilling their commitments, especially in the field of training Afghan forces. Americans should accept responsibility and pay the damages.
Seyed Mostafa Hashemi – Afghan Affairs Expert
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: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
Strategic Council Online: According to the agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in March 2018, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin and by mid-July (July 2020) the number of US combat troops will reach 8600 persons. This is happening at a time when the bilateral security agreement between the United States and the Afghan government is still valid. In addition, in recent months, the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan have not diminished, but in addition to the Taliban’s spring attacks, ISIS terrorist activities in Afghanistan are taking civilian tolls from among the oppressed people of Afghanistan, and the atmosphere of insecurity has not changed. Although the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is important, it may have significant implications for the future of Afghanistan and the region, given the shortcomings and negligence in fulfilling their commitments, especially in the field of training Afghan forces. Americans should accept responsibility and pay the damages.
Seyed Mostafa Hashemi – Afghan Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: According to the agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in March 2018, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin and by mid-July (July 2020) the number of US combat troops will reach 8600 persons. This is happening at a time when the bilateral security agreement between the United States and the Afghan government is still valid. In addition, in recent months, the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan have not diminished, but in addition to the Taliban’s spring attacks, ISIS terrorist activities in Afghanistan are taking civilian tolls from among the oppressed people of Afghanistan, and the atmosphere of insecurity has not changed. Although the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is important, it may have significant implications for the future of Afghanistan and the region, given the shortcomings and negligence in fulfilling their commitments, especially in the field of training Afghan forces. Americans should accept responsibility and pay the damages.
Seyed Mostafa Hashemi – Afghan Affairs Expert
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: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
Strategic Council Online: According to the agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in March 2018, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin and by mid-July (July 2020) the number of US combat troops will reach 8600 persons. This is happening at a time when the bilateral security agreement between the United States and the Afghan government is still valid. In addition, in recent months, the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan have not diminished, but in addition to the Taliban’s spring attacks, ISIS terrorist activities in Afghanistan are taking civilian tolls from among the oppressed people of Afghanistan, and the atmosphere of insecurity has not changed. Although the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is important, it may have significant implications for the future of Afghanistan and the region, given the shortcomings and negligence in fulfilling their commitments, especially in the field of training Afghan forces. Americans should accept responsibility and pay the damages.
Seyed Mostafa Hashemi – Afghan Affairs Expert
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: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
Strategic Council Online: According to the agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in March 2018, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin and by mid-July (July 2020) the number of US combat troops will reach 8600 persons. This is happening at a time when the bilateral security agreement between the United States and the Afghan government is still valid. In addition, in recent months, the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan have not diminished, but in addition to the Taliban’s spring attacks, ISIS terrorist activities in Afghanistan are taking civilian tolls from among the oppressed people of Afghanistan, and the atmosphere of insecurity has not changed. Although the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is important, it may have significant implications for the future of Afghanistan and the region, given the shortcomings and negligence in fulfilling their commitments, especially in the field of training Afghan forces. Americans should accept responsibility and pay the damages.
Seyed Mostafa Hashemi – Afghan Affairs Expert
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: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
Strategic Council Online: According to the agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in March 2018, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin and by mid-July (July 2020) the number of US combat troops will reach 8600 persons. This is happening at a time when the bilateral security agreement between the United States and the Afghan government is still valid. In addition, in recent months, the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan have not diminished, but in addition to the Taliban’s spring attacks, ISIS terrorist activities in Afghanistan are taking civilian tolls from among the oppressed people of Afghanistan, and the atmosphere of insecurity has not changed. Although the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is important, it may have significant implications for the future of Afghanistan and the region, given the shortcomings and negligence in fulfilling their commitments, especially in the field of training Afghan forces. Americans should accept responsibility and pay the damages.
Seyed Mostafa Hashemi – Afghan Affairs Expert
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: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
Strategic Council Online: According to the agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in March 2018, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin and by mid-July (July 2020) the number of US combat troops will reach 8600 persons. This is happening at a time when the bilateral security agreement between the United States and the Afghan government is still valid. In addition, in recent months, the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan have not diminished, but in addition to the Taliban’s spring attacks, ISIS terrorist activities in Afghanistan are taking civilian tolls from among the oppressed people of Afghanistan, and the atmosphere of insecurity has not changed. Although the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is important, it may have significant implications for the future of Afghanistan and the region, given the shortcomings and negligence in fulfilling their commitments, especially in the field of training Afghan forces. Americans should accept responsibility and pay the damages.
Seyed Mostafa Hashemi – Afghan Affairs Expert
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: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.