Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on international issues says what has led to further expansion and closeness of Tehran-Moscow relations today is primarily Russia’s interest in using the experiences and achievements that the Islamic Republic of Iran has obtained in dealing with the sanctions over the past 40 years.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Europe affairs saying that the US used the opportunity to confront Russia and pulled Europe towards itself in the new cold war it has started with China, added: At the Madrid summit, with a harsh and clear language, NATO called China its strategic priority for the next decade and declared Russia a direct inherent threat against the organization.
Strategic Council Online: President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations presented Iran’s views on resolving the crises in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan and in fighting terrorism.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations said: Our people’s mobilization in the Iraqi war against Iran showed that when a nation defends its ideals as a religious duty, it has such a power that can defeat the best-equipped armies of the region. During the imposed war, we called our defense the Sacred Defense, because our people defended the revolution and their homeland based on their religious beliefs. This valuable experience had its impacts on other nations as well, and gradually popular resistance forces were formed in some other countries.
Strategic Council Online – An expert on geopolitical affairs commenting on NATO cooperation with Arab states, especially those in the Persian Gulf, said: Countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia since their independence had been under British tutelage and were totally dependent on that country and after Britain withdrew from east of the Suez Canal, the United States replaced it. In fact, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf think that by setting up their bases Western countries would provide them with security, but this is not the case, as we see today that Saudi Arabia is the target of the Yemeni missiles.
The international system during the past few decades has witnessed the steady rise of China as a new great power and game-changer. For over a century the United States has possessed the world’s largest economy, but at present trajectories, China may replace it during the first half of the century and emerge as the leading economy of the world. China’s economic growth has also fueled a rapid modernization of its armed forces enabling Beijing to assert its presence more bluntly in areas of dispute especially in the Taiwan Strait and the south china sea. China’s territory size, population, Geography, vibrant economy, relative stability and growing military capabilities have all helped it to confidently elevate its international standing with improved geopolitical status enabling Beijing to establish itself as a decisive player in global affairs.
Hossein Ebrahim Khani – Former ambassador, and research fellow at the IPIS, Tehran
Strategic Council Online: A West Asian expert says the meeting between Bahraini Foreign Minister and an Israeli official has taken place to solve the problem of the Zionist regime these days especially after the defeat of the “Deal of the Century.” They needed to place sticks under the arms of the Zionist regime and that was done through the exposure of relations between Arab states and the Tel Aviv regime.
Strategic Council Online: Commenting on US and European efforts to devise a new security system in the Persian Gulf, an international relations expert says Iran should declare that it is imperative for the issue of oil tankers traffic to be considered on a large international scale and should not be focused on a particular region like the Persian Gulf.
The chronic internal conflict in Afghanistan and the bleak likelihood of a workable peace agreement acceptable to all local players as well as the outside stakeholders remain to be a source of instability in the region and a potential breeding ground for international terrorism posing direct threats at regional and global security.
Hossein Ebrahim Khani
Strategic Council Online: Libya has now been turned into a field for the rivalry of the regional and trans-regional powers. The plurality of power centres and domestic actors in the Libyan crisis, the multiplicity of interests in the neighbouring countries and in the international environment have created a complicated situation for the country.
Jafar Ghanadbashi – West Asian Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: Riyadh and Abu Dhabi seem to consider the current situation in Sudan and other African countries an opportunity to strengthen their strategic interests in North Africa.
Ahmad Bakhshi – African Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process Meeting is expected to help build peace and stability in Afghanistan so that the interests of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan are also served.
Pir Mohammad Mollazehi – Subcontinent Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: Washington’s trade war with certain countries, particularly with China was the most important issue that cast a shadow on the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.
Tahmores Gholami – American Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: Generally, the majority of the Republican Party believes that the United States should not enter into a military confrontation with Iran, and they have repeatedly warned Trump about this issue
Amir Ali Abolfatah – American Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: The Muslim Brotherhood has in fact been the victim of intimidations, uncertainties and threats from outside regional players in North Africa; as in the past, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has been the victim of such a game, and the same is happening in Libya today.
Dr Hossein Ebrahimnia – Lecturer and Researcher
Strategic Council Online: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as the most powerful political-military party of the Syrian Kurds has once again raised the question of autonomy in the Kurdish populated regions of Syria.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: For a possible European response at the end of the 60-day deadline set by Iran, there are two general scenarios: Resuming the strategy of getting the finger on the trigger, or a change in the current approach and full compensation of US sanctions against Iran in the financial-trade area and strengthening of INSTEX and other possible channels.
Reza Majidzadeh – International Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: The most important goal of Mr Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Pakistan is to draw the attention of the Islamabad government and Mr Imran Khan’s support for the peace process in Afghanistan.
Mohammad Reza Asgari Moroudi – Expert on the Subcontinent Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Although Donald Trump should focus on the 2020 presidential election campaign, however his appraisal and that of his team on the probability of a win will make it possible to expand the scope of US trade war to other countries with a potential to generate challenges for foreign trade, technology and markets under the control of American companies.
Reza Majidzadeh – Expert on Political Economy of Development
Strategic Council Online: Following the revolutions in Arab states these countries have adopted policies to change the course of the events out of concern over the influence of Islamists or the spread of democracy.
