Strategic Council Online: Former Middle East Director-General of the IRI Foreign Ministry believes that after the recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, the authorities in Riyadh have concluded that the crisis is getting out of control.
Strategic Council Online: Former Iranian ambassador to Baghdad believes Iran-Iraq relations are strong enough so that the attack on the Iranian consulate in Najaf under the provocation of third parties, or the resignation of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi cannot disrupt the foundation of those ties.
Strategic Council Online: Former Director of Afghanistan Affairs Department at IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the US President’s unannounced visit to Afghanistan and presence at Bagram military base was an unusual act contrary to the independence of an independent state. He added: Although the US claims that talks to reach a peace deal are on track, but they are unlikely to have a tangible outcome in the current situation, and after Trump’s trip to Afghanistan, Taliban officials have said they are not ready for peace talks unless an agreement is signed.
Strategic Council Online: The main goal of the Zionist regime in getting close to certain Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, on the one hand, is to show that some Arab leaders have recognized its legitimacy and to get close to Iran’s strategic borders on the other side.
Davood Ahmadzadeh – Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: A Middle East affairs expert and history researcher says the Riyadh agreement between the Yemeni Transitional Council and Mansour Hadi cannot help restore calm in Yemen. He said the aim of the deal is not peace but to increase pressure on Ansarullah.
Strategic Council Online: The United States uses the label of support for terrorism to tarnish Iran’s image. Iran needs to make revelations to counter these allegations by Washington. In fact, the main weakness of our country is the question of publicity. In other words, Iran should clarify these issues for the world people
Abdolreza Farajirad – Expert on Geopolitical Issues
Strategic Council Online: An analyst on regional issues, referring to the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the pressure of certain countries to wage a civil war in Lebanon and weaken the Lebanese Hezbollah, said that today more than being normal events based on current developments the recent unrests revolve around the demands of the external elements with an aim to undermine stability and peace in Lebanon.
Strategic Council Online: By dispatching an American delegation to the Davos Summit in Riyadh, President Donald Trump is trying to change the ruthless image of Bin Salman in the media and public opinion around the world, including Asia, Europe, America and Africa following the heinous murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Strategic Council Online: A regional affairs analyst has no doubt that the recent unrest in Lebanon had both internal causes and many evidences showing external intervention. He added that with the prudence exercised by the Hezbollah leadership, the negotiations that took place and the measures taken by the Lebanese government to introduce reforms the result was a new victory for the Islamic Resistance and the Hezbollah.
Strategic Council Online: The Bahraini regime is now one of the weak links in opposition to Iranian regional policy in the Middle East and sees the best way to move closer to the Zionist regime to advance its anti-Iranian goals.
Davood Ahmadzadeh – Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: The declared goal of the US and its allies’ maritime exercises in the Persian Gulf is to limit Iran’s maneuvering power and controlling the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and Oman Sea, and it looks like the US will continue to maintain its naval fleet in the Persian Gulf for the next three decades.
Strategic Council Online: White House leaders have shown that US support for Saudi Arabia will continue as long as Saudi petrodollars flow into the pockets of US arms dealers.
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: Most of the OPEC member states are Saudi allies who have taken anti-Iranian positions on various occasions, and more than OPEC they have sought to strengthen the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council.
Reza Majidzadeh – Researcher in Political Economy of Development
Strategic Council Online: Russia seeks to thwart US efforts to build coalitions in the region. Moscow sees the US plan as very dangerous that could both increase military presence in the region and enhance the likelihood of conflicts. So the Kremlin is trying to prevent the US-led coalition from escalating tensions in the region.
Mahmoud Shouri – Russia Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: The US and certain countries in the region are currently trying to mount a wave of popular protests in Iraq in an open sign of intervention in the internal affairs of the country.
Hassan Danaeifar – Former Iranian Ambassador to Iraq
Strategic Council Online: A university professor says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has given up some of his political misconduct over the past year, adding: “Saudi Arabia has human rights problems, but thanks to rich bank accounts, Riyadh has not come under real European and US pressure because for them the Saudi petrodollars are more attractive than the human rights situation.”
Strategic Council Online: A regional affairs analyst pointing to the dimensions and implications of Operation “Victory from God” in Najran and Yemen’s increasing resistance power said the spontaneous improvement could cause a balance of terror and concern among the Saudis. These developments have made Saudi Arabia more inclined to seek a mutually agreed to solution.
Strategic Council Online: Confiscation of $7 billion in Saad Hariri’s property in Saudi Arabia has led the Lebanese prime minister to change his policies towards Riyadh.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: Former Middle East Department Director General of the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it may be better for Iran and Saudi Arabia to talk directly and without mediation. “If Iran and Saudi could reach agreement on a framework both the US influence will decline in the region and the big powers that are interested in getting stronger and seek tension and escalation of regional competitions will become weaker in playing their game,” he said.
Strategic Council Online: An international relations lecturer noted that Saudi Arabia and its crown prince were under intense pressure over the killing of Saudi dissident journalist Gamal Khashoggi. He said accepting responsibility by Bin Salman will not take the burden off his shoulders.
