SCFR Online – Opinion: In the war between Iran and the United States, the main battlefield was not defined solely in the military domain; rather, the battle of narratives in cyberspace—particularly through memes—reached a decisive level.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Only one month after the beginning of the Ramadan War, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased dramatically, with Bloomberg announcing a reduction of 103 vessels; Brent oil prices rose by more than 50 percent, and gasoline prices in the United States increased by 31.4 percent. Additionally, benchmark gas prices in Europe showed a 73.4 percent increase.
SCFR Online – Note: After approximately five months of political deadlock and institutional confusion, Ali al-Zaydi has finally been selected as Iraq’s Prime Minister. Al-Zaydi’s selection as Prime Minister represents a positive sign of the completion of the government formation process and the beginning of a new phase in Iraqi politics and governance. The emergence of a young, technocratic figure from the third generation of politicians—in a context where the country has been administered by traditional figures for decades—revives hope that Iraq may perhaps distance itself from the repetitive cycle of crises and experience a new path of stability, efficiency, and regional convergence.
SCFR Online – Note: Europe’s refusal to align with the United States in the war against Iran is not a temporary tactic, but rather a sign of strategic divergence and a move toward forced autonomy.
SCFR Online – Note: The militarization of artificial intelligence has eroded the boundaries of ethics and responsibility in warfare, transforming contemporary conflicts into arenas where human decision-making has become increasingly marginalized.
SCFR Online – Note: Over recent decades, support for the Zionist regime has been one of the few issues commanding bipartisan consensus in US foreign policy. Since the Cold War era, Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed on the necessity of preserving the security and survival of the Zionist regime as Washington’s most strategic ally in West Asia—and indeed, globally. However, developments in recent years—particularly the Gaza war, escalating regional conflicts, the expansion of tensions into Lebanon, and this regime’s recent warmongering against Iran—have caused this traditional consensus, especially within the Democratic Party, to face significant fractures.
SCFR Online – Note: Following the resumption of the US and Israeli regime’s war against Iran on February 28, certain divisions have emerged within the United States regarding this issue, both among the public and among political factions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The internal situation of the Israeli regime during the 40-day war can be analyzed from several perspectives. The popularity levels of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu until February 28, 2026, remained approximately the same as during the preceding year. The most recent factor that had somewhat increased Netanyahu’s popularity was the advancement of the 2024 war with Hezbollah Lebanon. Subsequently, his popularity temporarily increased during the 12-day war with Iran, but after the war, it returned to its previous state.
Online Strategic Council – Note: The recent movements by the Zionist regime to open a new front in Iraq indicate the continuation of this regime’s policy of creating crises and an effort to restore its lost deterrence in the region.
Online Strategic Council – Memo: In September 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry officially announced that the Israeli regime had committed genocide during the Gaza war. The commission clarified that this regime had carried out four of the five acts defined by the Convention as genocidal acts, and that the statements of Israeli regime officials also indicated an intent to destroy a national group (Palestinians).
Online Strategic Council – Interview: The crisis of legitimacy of the Israeli regime, both internationally and domestically, has become one of its main challenges during the two years of relentless crime in Gaza. The Zionist regime, once considered a strategic ally of the West and particularly the United States, has now clearly lost its legitimacy due to committing unprecedented massacres, escalating settlement activities, and racist behavior. This trend has led Arab and Islamic countries, and even some former allies, to view the Zionist regime as the leading cause of regional instability and to level widespread criticism against its policies.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior Egyptian affairs analyst stated that Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with the Zionist regime in 1979, has now adopted a new strategy due to concerns about the regime’s expansionist policies. The developments following the 2023 Gaza war revealed that Tel Aviv, with the unconditional support of the United States, seeks to alter the balance of power in West Asia —a matter that has compelled Cairo to expand its relations with Iran and Turkey, two significant regional powers. By holding joint military exercises with Turkey, mediating in Iran’s nuclear dossier, and seeking military and technological cooperation, Egypt is trying to prevent the Zionists’ hegemony in the region. Although the formation of a trilateral military alliance seems unlikely for now, Cairo’s rapprochement with Tehran and Ankara is considered a potential threat to the Israeli regime. In fact, in the face of regional pressures and border crises, Egypt is seeking to create a strategic balance to curb Tel Aviv’s influence and enhance its own position in the West Asian equations.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the recent United Nations meeting, which centered on recognizing the state of Palestine and the two-state solution, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Supporters of this plan see it as a step towards peace. Still, critics view it with skepticism and believe that this move is more of a tool to deceive public opinion and solidify the existence of the Zionist regime than to resolve the crisis. The initiative by France and some European countries is being proposed while the genocide in Gaza continues, and the West has so far taken no effective action to stop it. Some analysts say the primary goal of this plan is not the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, but rather the disarmament of resistance groups and the isolation of Hamas—an action that, through superficial negotiations and apparent peace, paves the way for realizing the interests of the Israeli regime. Iran, by rejecting the two-state solution, presents a different narrative for the future of Palestine, based on a referendum involving all indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: American technology companies have played a significant role in facilitating and justifying the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Contrary to the Trump administration’s claim that it was unaware of and had no role in the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, the reality is that the Zionist regime, with the U.S. green light, targeted a country that was a pioneer in normalizing relations with this regime. It is a given that the Zionist regime, especially regarding military and security actions against a U.S. ally, takes no action without coordination with the U.S. government.
Strategic Council Online: Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement, met with Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), this afternoon. They discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and the prospects of elections in Iraq.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the war between Iran and the United States, the main battlefield was not defined solely in the military domain; rather, the battle of narratives in cyberspace—particularly through memes—reached a decisive level.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Only one month after the beginning of the Ramadan War, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased dramatically, with Bloomberg announcing a reduction of 103 vessels; Brent oil prices rose by more than 50 percent, and gasoline prices in the United States increased by 31.4 percent. Additionally, benchmark gas prices in Europe showed a 73.4 percent increase.
SCFR Online – Note: After approximately five months of political deadlock and institutional confusion, Ali al-Zaydi has finally been selected as Iraq’s Prime Minister. Al-Zaydi’s selection as Prime Minister represents a positive sign of the completion of the government formation process and the beginning of a new phase in Iraqi politics and governance. The emergence of a young, technocratic figure from the third generation of politicians—in a context where the country has been administered by traditional figures for decades—revives hope that Iraq may perhaps distance itself from the repetitive cycle of crises and experience a new path of stability, efficiency, and regional convergence.
SCFR Online – Note: Europe’s refusal to align with the United States in the war against Iran is not a temporary tactic, but rather a sign of strategic divergence and a move toward forced autonomy.
SCFR Online – Note: The militarization of artificial intelligence has eroded the boundaries of ethics and responsibility in warfare, transforming contemporary conflicts into arenas where human decision-making has become increasingly marginalized.
SCFR Online – Note: Over recent decades, support for the Zionist regime has been one of the few issues commanding bipartisan consensus in US foreign policy. Since the Cold War era, Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed on the necessity of preserving the security and survival of the Zionist regime as Washington’s most strategic ally in West Asia—and indeed, globally. However, developments in recent years—particularly the Gaza war, escalating regional conflicts, the expansion of tensions into Lebanon, and this regime’s recent warmongering against Iran—have caused this traditional consensus, especially within the Democratic Party, to face significant fractures.
SCFR Online – Note: Following the resumption of the US and Israeli regime’s war against Iran on February 28, certain divisions have emerged within the United States regarding this issue, both among the public and among political factions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The internal situation of the Israeli regime during the 40-day war can be analyzed from several perspectives. The popularity levels of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu until February 28, 2026, remained approximately the same as during the preceding year. The most recent factor that had somewhat increased Netanyahu’s popularity was the advancement of the 2024 war with Hezbollah Lebanon. Subsequently, his popularity temporarily increased during the 12-day war with Iran, but after the war, it returned to its previous state.
Online Strategic Council – Note: The recent movements by the Zionist regime to open a new front in Iraq indicate the continuation of this regime’s policy of creating crises and an effort to restore its lost deterrence in the region.
Online Strategic Council – Memo: In September 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry officially announced that the Israeli regime had committed genocide during the Gaza war. The commission clarified that this regime had carried out four of the five acts defined by the Convention as genocidal acts, and that the statements of Israeli regime officials also indicated an intent to destroy a national group (Palestinians).
Online Strategic Council – Interview: The crisis of legitimacy of the Israeli regime, both internationally and domestically, has become one of its main challenges during the two years of relentless crime in Gaza. The Zionist regime, once considered a strategic ally of the West and particularly the United States, has now clearly lost its legitimacy due to committing unprecedented massacres, escalating settlement activities, and racist behavior. This trend has led Arab and Islamic countries, and even some former allies, to view the Zionist regime as the leading cause of regional instability and to level widespread criticism against its policies.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior Egyptian affairs analyst stated that Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with the Zionist regime in 1979, has now adopted a new strategy due to concerns about the regime’s expansionist policies. The developments following the 2023 Gaza war revealed that Tel Aviv, with the unconditional support of the United States, seeks to alter the balance of power in West Asia —a matter that has compelled Cairo to expand its relations with Iran and Turkey, two significant regional powers. By holding joint military exercises with Turkey, mediating in Iran’s nuclear dossier, and seeking military and technological cooperation, Egypt is trying to prevent the Zionists’ hegemony in the region. Although the formation of a trilateral military alliance seems unlikely for now, Cairo’s rapprochement with Tehran and Ankara is considered a potential threat to the Israeli regime. In fact, in the face of regional pressures and border crises, Egypt is seeking to create a strategic balance to curb Tel Aviv’s influence and enhance its own position in the West Asian equations.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the recent United Nations meeting, which centered on recognizing the state of Palestine and the two-state solution, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Supporters of this plan see it as a step towards peace. Still, critics view it with skepticism and believe that this move is more of a tool to deceive public opinion and solidify the existence of the Zionist regime than to resolve the crisis. The initiative by France and some European countries is being proposed while the genocide in Gaza continues, and the West has so far taken no effective action to stop it. Some analysts say the primary goal of this plan is not the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, but rather the disarmament of resistance groups and the isolation of Hamas—an action that, through superficial negotiations and apparent peace, paves the way for realizing the interests of the Israeli regime. Iran, by rejecting the two-state solution, presents a different narrative for the future of Palestine, based on a referendum involving all indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: American technology companies have played a significant role in facilitating and justifying the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Contrary to the Trump administration’s claim that it was unaware of and had no role in the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, the reality is that the Zionist regime, with the U.S. green light, targeted a country that was a pioneer in normalizing relations with this regime. It is a given that the Zionist regime, especially regarding military and security actions against a U.S. ally, takes no action without coordination with the U.S. government.
Strategic Council Online: Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement, met with Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), this afternoon. They discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and the prospects of elections in Iraq.
Online Strategic Council – Note: The recent movements by the Zionist regime to open a new front in Iraq indicate the continuation of this regime’s policy of creating crises and an effort to restore its lost deterrence in the region.
Online Strategic Council – Memo: In September 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry officially announced that the Israeli regime had committed genocide during the Gaza war. The commission clarified that this regime had carried out four of the five acts defined by the Convention as genocidal acts, and that the statements of Israeli regime officials also indicated an intent to destroy a national group (Palestinians).
Online Strategic Council – Interview: The crisis of legitimacy of the Israeli regime, both internationally and domestically, has become one of its main challenges during the two years of relentless crime in Gaza. The Zionist regime, once considered a strategic ally of the West and particularly the United States, has now clearly lost its legitimacy due to committing unprecedented massacres, escalating settlement activities, and racist behavior. This trend has led Arab and Islamic countries, and even some former allies, to view the Zionist regime as the leading cause of regional instability and to level widespread criticism against its policies.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior Egyptian affairs analyst stated that Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with the Zionist regime in 1979, has now adopted a new strategy due to concerns about the regime’s expansionist policies. The developments following the 2023 Gaza war revealed that Tel Aviv, with the unconditional support of the United States, seeks to alter the balance of power in West Asia —a matter that has compelled Cairo to expand its relations with Iran and Turkey, two significant regional powers. By holding joint military exercises with Turkey, mediating in Iran’s nuclear dossier, and seeking military and technological cooperation, Egypt is trying to prevent the Zionists’ hegemony in the region. Although the formation of a trilateral military alliance seems unlikely for now, Cairo’s rapprochement with Tehran and Ankara is considered a potential threat to the Israeli regime. In fact, in the face of regional pressures and border crises, Egypt is seeking to create a strategic balance to curb Tel Aviv’s influence and enhance its own position in the West Asian equations.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the recent United Nations meeting, which centered on recognizing the state of Palestine and the two-state solution, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Supporters of this plan see it as a step towards peace. Still, critics view it with skepticism and believe that this move is more of a tool to deceive public opinion and solidify the existence of the Zionist regime than to resolve the crisis. The initiative by France and some European countries is being proposed while the genocide in Gaza continues, and the West has so far taken no effective action to stop it. Some analysts say the primary goal of this plan is not the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, but rather the disarmament of resistance groups and the isolation of Hamas—an action that, through superficial negotiations and apparent peace, paves the way for realizing the interests of the Israeli regime. Iran, by rejecting the two-state solution, presents a different narrative for the future of Palestine, based on a referendum involving all indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: American technology companies have played a significant role in facilitating and justifying the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Contrary to the Trump administration’s claim that it was unaware of and had no role in the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, the reality is that the Zionist regime, with the U.S. green light, targeted a country that was a pioneer in normalizing relations with this regime. It is a given that the Zionist regime, especially regarding military and security actions against a U.S. ally, takes no action without coordination with the U.S. government.
Strategic Council Online: Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement, met with Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), this afternoon. They discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and the prospects of elections in Iraq.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the war between Iran and the United States, the main battlefield was not defined solely in the military domain; rather, the battle of narratives in cyberspace—particularly through memes—reached a decisive level.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Only one month after the beginning of the Ramadan War, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased dramatically, with Bloomberg announcing a reduction of 103 vessels; Brent oil prices rose by more than 50 percent, and gasoline prices in the United States increased by 31.4 percent. Additionally, benchmark gas prices in Europe showed a 73.4 percent increase.
SCFR Online – Note: After approximately five months of political deadlock and institutional confusion, Ali al-Zaydi has finally been selected as Iraq’s Prime Minister. Al-Zaydi’s selection as Prime Minister represents a positive sign of the completion of the government formation process and the beginning of a new phase in Iraqi politics and governance. The emergence of a young, technocratic figure from the third generation of politicians—in a context where the country has been administered by traditional figures for decades—revives hope that Iraq may perhaps distance itself from the repetitive cycle of crises and experience a new path of stability, efficiency, and regional convergence.
SCFR Online – Note: Europe’s refusal to align with the United States in the war against Iran is not a temporary tactic, but rather a sign of strategic divergence and a move toward forced autonomy.
SCFR Online – Note: The militarization of artificial intelligence has eroded the boundaries of ethics and responsibility in warfare, transforming contemporary conflicts into arenas where human decision-making has become increasingly marginalized.
SCFR Online – Note: Over recent decades, support for the Zionist regime has been one of the few issues commanding bipartisan consensus in US foreign policy. Since the Cold War era, Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed on the necessity of preserving the security and survival of the Zionist regime as Washington’s most strategic ally in West Asia—and indeed, globally. However, developments in recent years—particularly the Gaza war, escalating regional conflicts, the expansion of tensions into Lebanon, and this regime’s recent warmongering against Iran—have caused this traditional consensus, especially within the Democratic Party, to face significant fractures.
SCFR Online – Note: Following the resumption of the US and Israeli regime’s war against Iran on February 28, certain divisions have emerged within the United States regarding this issue, both among the public and among political factions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The internal situation of the Israeli regime during the 40-day war can be analyzed from several perspectives. The popularity levels of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu until February 28, 2026, remained approximately the same as during the preceding year. The most recent factor that had somewhat increased Netanyahu’s popularity was the advancement of the 2024 war with Hezbollah Lebanon. Subsequently, his popularity temporarily increased during the 12-day war with Iran, but after the war, it returned to its previous state.
Online Strategic Council – Note: The recent movements by the Zionist regime to open a new front in Iraq indicate the continuation of this regime’s policy of creating crises and an effort to restore its lost deterrence in the region.
Online Strategic Council – Memo: In September 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry officially announced that the Israeli regime had committed genocide during the Gaza war. The commission clarified that this regime had carried out four of the five acts defined by the Convention as genocidal acts, and that the statements of Israeli regime officials also indicated an intent to destroy a national group (Palestinians).
Online Strategic Council – Interview: The crisis of legitimacy of the Israeli regime, both internationally and domestically, has become one of its main challenges during the two years of relentless crime in Gaza. The Zionist regime, once considered a strategic ally of the West and particularly the United States, has now clearly lost its legitimacy due to committing unprecedented massacres, escalating settlement activities, and racist behavior. This trend has led Arab and Islamic countries, and even some former allies, to view the Zionist regime as the leading cause of regional instability and to level widespread criticism against its policies.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior Egyptian affairs analyst stated that Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with the Zionist regime in 1979, has now adopted a new strategy due to concerns about the regime’s expansionist policies. The developments following the 2023 Gaza war revealed that Tel Aviv, with the unconditional support of the United States, seeks to alter the balance of power in West Asia —a matter that has compelled Cairo to expand its relations with Iran and Turkey, two significant regional powers. By holding joint military exercises with Turkey, mediating in Iran’s nuclear dossier, and seeking military and technological cooperation, Egypt is trying to prevent the Zionists’ hegemony in the region. Although the formation of a trilateral military alliance seems unlikely for now, Cairo’s rapprochement with Tehran and Ankara is considered a potential threat to the Israeli regime. In fact, in the face of regional pressures and border crises, Egypt is seeking to create a strategic balance to curb Tel Aviv’s influence and enhance its own position in the West Asian equations.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the recent United Nations meeting, which centered on recognizing the state of Palestine and the two-state solution, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Supporters of this plan see it as a step towards peace. Still, critics view it with skepticism and believe that this move is more of a tool to deceive public opinion and solidify the existence of the Zionist regime than to resolve the crisis. The initiative by France and some European countries is being proposed while the genocide in Gaza continues, and the West has so far taken no effective action to stop it. Some analysts say the primary goal of this plan is not the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, but rather the disarmament of resistance groups and the isolation of Hamas—an action that, through superficial negotiations and apparent peace, paves the way for realizing the interests of the Israeli regime. Iran, by rejecting the two-state solution, presents a different narrative for the future of Palestine, based on a referendum involving all indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: American technology companies have played a significant role in facilitating and justifying the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Contrary to the Trump administration’s claim that it was unaware of and had no role in the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, the reality is that the Zionist regime, with the U.S. green light, targeted a country that was a pioneer in normalizing relations with this regime. It is a given that the Zionist regime, especially regarding military and security actions against a U.S. ally, takes no action without coordination with the U.S. government.
Strategic Council Online: Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement, met with Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), this afternoon. They discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and the prospects of elections in Iraq.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the war between Iran and the United States, the main battlefield was not defined solely in the military domain; rather, the battle of narratives in cyberspace—particularly through memes—reached a decisive level.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Only one month after the beginning of the Ramadan War, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased dramatically, with Bloomberg announcing a reduction of 103 vessels; Brent oil prices rose by more than 50 percent, and gasoline prices in the United States increased by 31.4 percent. Additionally, benchmark gas prices in Europe showed a 73.4 percent increase.
SCFR Online – Note: After approximately five months of political deadlock and institutional confusion, Ali al-Zaydi has finally been selected as Iraq’s Prime Minister. Al-Zaydi’s selection as Prime Minister represents a positive sign of the completion of the government formation process and the beginning of a new phase in Iraqi politics and governance. The emergence of a young, technocratic figure from the third generation of politicians—in a context where the country has been administered by traditional figures for decades—revives hope that Iraq may perhaps distance itself from the repetitive cycle of crises and experience a new path of stability, efficiency, and regional convergence.
SCFR Online – Note: Europe’s refusal to align with the United States in the war against Iran is not a temporary tactic, but rather a sign of strategic divergence and a move toward forced autonomy.
SCFR Online – Note: The militarization of artificial intelligence has eroded the boundaries of ethics and responsibility in warfare, transforming contemporary conflicts into arenas where human decision-making has become increasingly marginalized.
SCFR Online – Note: Over recent decades, support for the Zionist regime has been one of the few issues commanding bipartisan consensus in US foreign policy. Since the Cold War era, Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed on the necessity of preserving the security and survival of the Zionist regime as Washington’s most strategic ally in West Asia—and indeed, globally. However, developments in recent years—particularly the Gaza war, escalating regional conflicts, the expansion of tensions into Lebanon, and this regime’s recent warmongering against Iran—have caused this traditional consensus, especially within the Democratic Party, to face significant fractures.
SCFR Online – Note: Following the resumption of the US and Israeli regime’s war against Iran on February 28, certain divisions have emerged within the United States regarding this issue, both among the public and among political factions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The internal situation of the Israeli regime during the 40-day war can be analyzed from several perspectives. The popularity levels of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu until February 28, 2026, remained approximately the same as during the preceding year. The most recent factor that had somewhat increased Netanyahu’s popularity was the advancement of the 2024 war with Hezbollah Lebanon. Subsequently, his popularity temporarily increased during the 12-day war with Iran, but after the war, it returned to its previous state.
Online Strategic Council – Note: The recent movements by the Zionist regime to open a new front in Iraq indicate the continuation of this regime’s policy of creating crises and an effort to restore its lost deterrence in the region.
Online Strategic Council – Memo: In September 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry officially announced that the Israeli regime had committed genocide during the Gaza war. The commission clarified that this regime had carried out four of the five acts defined by the Convention as genocidal acts, and that the statements of Israeli regime officials also indicated an intent to destroy a national group (Palestinians).
Online Strategic Council – Interview: The crisis of legitimacy of the Israeli regime, both internationally and domestically, has become one of its main challenges during the two years of relentless crime in Gaza. The Zionist regime, once considered a strategic ally of the West and particularly the United States, has now clearly lost its legitimacy due to committing unprecedented massacres, escalating settlement activities, and racist behavior. This trend has led Arab and Islamic countries, and even some former allies, to view the Zionist regime as the leading cause of regional instability and to level widespread criticism against its policies.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior Egyptian affairs analyst stated that Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with the Zionist regime in 1979, has now adopted a new strategy due to concerns about the regime’s expansionist policies. The developments following the 2023 Gaza war revealed that Tel Aviv, with the unconditional support of the United States, seeks to alter the balance of power in West Asia —a matter that has compelled Cairo to expand its relations with Iran and Turkey, two significant regional powers. By holding joint military exercises with Turkey, mediating in Iran’s nuclear dossier, and seeking military and technological cooperation, Egypt is trying to prevent the Zionists’ hegemony in the region. Although the formation of a trilateral military alliance seems unlikely for now, Cairo’s rapprochement with Tehran and Ankara is considered a potential threat to the Israeli regime. In fact, in the face of regional pressures and border crises, Egypt is seeking to create a strategic balance to curb Tel Aviv’s influence and enhance its own position in the West Asian equations.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the recent United Nations meeting, which centered on recognizing the state of Palestine and the two-state solution, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Supporters of this plan see it as a step towards peace. Still, critics view it with skepticism and believe that this move is more of a tool to deceive public opinion and solidify the existence of the Zionist regime than to resolve the crisis. The initiative by France and some European countries is being proposed while the genocide in Gaza continues, and the West has so far taken no effective action to stop it. Some analysts say the primary goal of this plan is not the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, but rather the disarmament of resistance groups and the isolation of Hamas—an action that, through superficial negotiations and apparent peace, paves the way for realizing the interests of the Israeli regime. Iran, by rejecting the two-state solution, presents a different narrative for the future of Palestine, based on a referendum involving all indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: American technology companies have played a significant role in facilitating and justifying the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Contrary to the Trump administration’s claim that it was unaware of and had no role in the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, the reality is that the Zionist regime, with the U.S. green light, targeted a country that was a pioneer in normalizing relations with this regime. It is a given that the Zionist regime, especially regarding military and security actions against a U.S. ally, takes no action without coordination with the U.S. government.
Strategic Council Online: Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement, met with Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), this afternoon. They discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and the prospects of elections in Iraq.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the war between Iran and the United States, the main battlefield was not defined solely in the military domain; rather, the battle of narratives in cyberspace—particularly through memes—reached a decisive level.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Only one month after the beginning of the Ramadan War, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased dramatically, with Bloomberg announcing a reduction of 103 vessels; Brent oil prices rose by more than 50 percent, and gasoline prices in the United States increased by 31.4 percent. Additionally, benchmark gas prices in Europe showed a 73.4 percent increase.
SCFR Online – Note: After approximately five months of political deadlock and institutional confusion, Ali al-Zaydi has finally been selected as Iraq’s Prime Minister. Al-Zaydi’s selection as Prime Minister represents a positive sign of the completion of the government formation process and the beginning of a new phase in Iraqi politics and governance. The emergence of a young, technocratic figure from the third generation of politicians—in a context where the country has been administered by traditional figures for decades—revives hope that Iraq may perhaps distance itself from the repetitive cycle of crises and experience a new path of stability, efficiency, and regional convergence.
SCFR Online – Note: Europe’s refusal to align with the United States in the war against Iran is not a temporary tactic, but rather a sign of strategic divergence and a move toward forced autonomy.
SCFR Online – Note: The militarization of artificial intelligence has eroded the boundaries of ethics and responsibility in warfare, transforming contemporary conflicts into arenas where human decision-making has become increasingly marginalized.
SCFR Online – Note: Over recent decades, support for the Zionist regime has been one of the few issues commanding bipartisan consensus in US foreign policy. Since the Cold War era, Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed on the necessity of preserving the security and survival of the Zionist regime as Washington’s most strategic ally in West Asia—and indeed, globally. However, developments in recent years—particularly the Gaza war, escalating regional conflicts, the expansion of tensions into Lebanon, and this regime’s recent warmongering against Iran—have caused this traditional consensus, especially within the Democratic Party, to face significant fractures.
SCFR Online – Note: Following the resumption of the US and Israeli regime’s war against Iran on February 28, certain divisions have emerged within the United States regarding this issue, both among the public and among political factions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The internal situation of the Israeli regime during the 40-day war can be analyzed from several perspectives. The popularity levels of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu until February 28, 2026, remained approximately the same as during the preceding year. The most recent factor that had somewhat increased Netanyahu’s popularity was the advancement of the 2024 war with Hezbollah Lebanon. Subsequently, his popularity temporarily increased during the 12-day war with Iran, but after the war, it returned to its previous state.
Online Strategic Council – Note: The recent movements by the Zionist regime to open a new front in Iraq indicate the continuation of this regime’s policy of creating crises and an effort to restore its lost deterrence in the region.
Online Strategic Council – Memo: In September 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry officially announced that the Israeli regime had committed genocide during the Gaza war. The commission clarified that this regime had carried out four of the five acts defined by the Convention as genocidal acts, and that the statements of Israeli regime officials also indicated an intent to destroy a national group (Palestinians).
Online Strategic Council – Interview: The crisis of legitimacy of the Israeli regime, both internationally and domestically, has become one of its main challenges during the two years of relentless crime in Gaza. The Zionist regime, once considered a strategic ally of the West and particularly the United States, has now clearly lost its legitimacy due to committing unprecedented massacres, escalating settlement activities, and racist behavior. This trend has led Arab and Islamic countries, and even some former allies, to view the Zionist regime as the leading cause of regional instability and to level widespread criticism against its policies.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior Egyptian affairs analyst stated that Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with the Zionist regime in 1979, has now adopted a new strategy due to concerns about the regime’s expansionist policies. The developments following the 2023 Gaza war revealed that Tel Aviv, with the unconditional support of the United States, seeks to alter the balance of power in West Asia —a matter that has compelled Cairo to expand its relations with Iran and Turkey, two significant regional powers. By holding joint military exercises with Turkey, mediating in Iran’s nuclear dossier, and seeking military and technological cooperation, Egypt is trying to prevent the Zionists’ hegemony in the region. Although the formation of a trilateral military alliance seems unlikely for now, Cairo’s rapprochement with Tehran and Ankara is considered a potential threat to the Israeli regime. In fact, in the face of regional pressures and border crises, Egypt is seeking to create a strategic balance to curb Tel Aviv’s influence and enhance its own position in the West Asian equations.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the recent United Nations meeting, which centered on recognizing the state of Palestine and the two-state solution, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Supporters of this plan see it as a step towards peace. Still, critics view it with skepticism and believe that this move is more of a tool to deceive public opinion and solidify the existence of the Zionist regime than to resolve the crisis. The initiative by France and some European countries is being proposed while the genocide in Gaza continues, and the West has so far taken no effective action to stop it. Some analysts say the primary goal of this plan is not the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, but rather the disarmament of resistance groups and the isolation of Hamas—an action that, through superficial negotiations and apparent peace, paves the way for realizing the interests of the Israeli regime. Iran, by rejecting the two-state solution, presents a different narrative for the future of Palestine, based on a referendum involving all indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: American technology companies have played a significant role in facilitating and justifying the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Contrary to the Trump administration’s claim that it was unaware of and had no role in the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, the reality is that the Zionist regime, with the U.S. green light, targeted a country that was a pioneer in normalizing relations with this regime. It is a given that the Zionist regime, especially regarding military and security actions against a U.S. ally, takes no action without coordination with the U.S. government.
Strategic Council Online: Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement, met with Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), this afternoon. They discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and the prospects of elections in Iraq.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the war between Iran and the United States, the main battlefield was not defined solely in the military domain; rather, the battle of narratives in cyberspace—particularly through memes—reached a decisive level.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Only one month after the beginning of the Ramadan War, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased dramatically, with Bloomberg announcing a reduction of 103 vessels; Brent oil prices rose by more than 50 percent, and gasoline prices in the United States increased by 31.4 percent. Additionally, benchmark gas prices in Europe showed a 73.4 percent increase.
SCFR Online – Note: After approximately five months of political deadlock and institutional confusion, Ali al-Zaydi has finally been selected as Iraq’s Prime Minister. Al-Zaydi’s selection as Prime Minister represents a positive sign of the completion of the government formation process and the beginning of a new phase in Iraqi politics and governance. The emergence of a young, technocratic figure from the third generation of politicians—in a context where the country has been administered by traditional figures for decades—revives hope that Iraq may perhaps distance itself from the repetitive cycle of crises and experience a new path of stability, efficiency, and regional convergence.
SCFR Online – Note: Europe’s refusal to align with the United States in the war against Iran is not a temporary tactic, but rather a sign of strategic divergence and a move toward forced autonomy.
SCFR Online – Note: The militarization of artificial intelligence has eroded the boundaries of ethics and responsibility in warfare, transforming contemporary conflicts into arenas where human decision-making has become increasingly marginalized.
SCFR Online – Note: Over recent decades, support for the Zionist regime has been one of the few issues commanding bipartisan consensus in US foreign policy. Since the Cold War era, Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed on the necessity of preserving the security and survival of the Zionist regime as Washington’s most strategic ally in West Asia—and indeed, globally. However, developments in recent years—particularly the Gaza war, escalating regional conflicts, the expansion of tensions into Lebanon, and this regime’s recent warmongering against Iran—have caused this traditional consensus, especially within the Democratic Party, to face significant fractures.
SCFR Online – Note: Following the resumption of the US and Israeli regime’s war against Iran on February 28, certain divisions have emerged within the United States regarding this issue, both among the public and among political factions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The internal situation of the Israeli regime during the 40-day war can be analyzed from several perspectives. The popularity levels of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu until February 28, 2026, remained approximately the same as during the preceding year. The most recent factor that had somewhat increased Netanyahu’s popularity was the advancement of the 2024 war with Hezbollah Lebanon. Subsequently, his popularity temporarily increased during the 12-day war with Iran, but after the war, it returned to its previous state.
Online Strategic Council – Note: The recent movements by the Zionist regime to open a new front in Iraq indicate the continuation of this regime’s policy of creating crises and an effort to restore its lost deterrence in the region.
Online Strategic Council – Memo: In September 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry officially announced that the Israeli regime had committed genocide during the Gaza war. The commission clarified that this regime had carried out four of the five acts defined by the Convention as genocidal acts, and that the statements of Israeli regime officials also indicated an intent to destroy a national group (Palestinians).
Online Strategic Council – Interview: The crisis of legitimacy of the Israeli regime, both internationally and domestically, has become one of its main challenges during the two years of relentless crime in Gaza. The Zionist regime, once considered a strategic ally of the West and particularly the United States, has now clearly lost its legitimacy due to committing unprecedented massacres, escalating settlement activities, and racist behavior. This trend has led Arab and Islamic countries, and even some former allies, to view the Zionist regime as the leading cause of regional instability and to level widespread criticism against its policies.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior Egyptian affairs analyst stated that Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with the Zionist regime in 1979, has now adopted a new strategy due to concerns about the regime’s expansionist policies. The developments following the 2023 Gaza war revealed that Tel Aviv, with the unconditional support of the United States, seeks to alter the balance of power in West Asia —a matter that has compelled Cairo to expand its relations with Iran and Turkey, two significant regional powers. By holding joint military exercises with Turkey, mediating in Iran’s nuclear dossier, and seeking military and technological cooperation, Egypt is trying to prevent the Zionists’ hegemony in the region. Although the formation of a trilateral military alliance seems unlikely for now, Cairo’s rapprochement with Tehran and Ankara is considered a potential threat to the Israeli regime. In fact, in the face of regional pressures and border crises, Egypt is seeking to create a strategic balance to curb Tel Aviv’s influence and enhance its own position in the West Asian equations.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.
Online Strategic Council – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the recent United Nations meeting, which centered on recognizing the state of Palestine and the two-state solution, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Supporters of this plan see it as a step towards peace. Still, critics view it with skepticism and believe that this move is more of a tool to deceive public opinion and solidify the existence of the Zionist regime than to resolve the crisis. The initiative by France and some European countries is being proposed while the genocide in Gaza continues, and the West has so far taken no effective action to stop it. Some analysts say the primary goal of this plan is not the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, but rather the disarmament of resistance groups and the isolation of Hamas—an action that, through superficial negotiations and apparent peace, paves the way for realizing the interests of the Israeli regime. Iran, by rejecting the two-state solution, presents a different narrative for the future of Palestine, based on a referendum involving all indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that in recent months, a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and scientific sanctions have been imposed against the Israeli regime, which, in the interpretation of many analysts, constitutes an “unprecedented set” of multi-layered global pressures. This wave, from the European Union to academic circles, from music festivals to world cinema, has targeted Tel Aviv’s international legitimacy and placed it in an increasingly tight spot. The message of these sanctions is also clear; the Israeli regime can no longer rely on its traditional immunity in the West to escape the moral and political consequences of its crimes in Gaza. Diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, civil pressures, and damage to cultural prestige are all shaping an environment that can not only limit the Israeli regime’s freedom of action on the international stage but also challenges the credibility and legitimacy of this regime in global public opinion; a challenge that, in principle, should lead to a change in behavior or even internal political equations of the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: American technology companies have played a significant role in facilitating and justifying the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Contrary to the Trump administration’s claim that it was unaware of and had no role in the Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, the reality is that the Zionist regime, with the U.S. green light, targeted a country that was a pioneer in normalizing relations with this regime. It is a given that the Zionist regime, especially regarding military and security actions against a U.S. ally, takes no action without coordination with the U.S. government.
Strategic Council Online: Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement, met with Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), this afternoon. They discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and the prospects of elections in Iraq.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the war between Iran and the United States, the main battlefield was not defined solely in the military domain; rather, the battle of narratives in cyberspace—particularly through memes—reached a decisive level.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Only one month after the beginning of the Ramadan War, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased dramatically, with Bloomberg announcing a reduction of 103 vessels; Brent oil prices rose by more than 50 percent, and gasoline prices in the United States increased by 31.4 percent. Additionally, benchmark gas prices in Europe showed a 73.4 percent increase.
SCFR Online – Note: After approximately five months of political deadlock and institutional confusion, Ali al-Zaydi has finally been selected as Iraq’s Prime Minister. Al-Zaydi’s selection as Prime Minister represents a positive sign of the completion of the government formation process and the beginning of a new phase in Iraqi politics and governance. The emergence of a young, technocratic figure from the third generation of politicians—in a context where the country has been administered by traditional figures for decades—revives hope that Iraq may perhaps distance itself from the repetitive cycle of crises and experience a new path of stability, efficiency, and regional convergence.
SCFR Online – Note: Europe’s refusal to align with the United States in the war against Iran is not a temporary tactic, but rather a sign of strategic divergence and a move toward forced autonomy.
SCFR Online – Note: The militarization of artificial intelligence has eroded the boundaries of ethics and responsibility in warfare, transforming contemporary conflicts into arenas where human decision-making has become increasingly marginalized.
SCFR Online – Note: Over recent decades, support for the Zionist regime has been one of the few issues commanding bipartisan consensus in US foreign policy. Since the Cold War era, Republicans and Democrats have generally agreed on the necessity of preserving the security and survival of the Zionist regime as Washington’s most strategic ally in West Asia—and indeed, globally. However, developments in recent years—particularly the Gaza war, escalating regional conflicts, the expansion of tensions into Lebanon, and this regime’s recent warmongering against Iran—have caused this traditional consensus, especially within the Democratic Party, to face significant fractures.
SCFR Online – Note: Following the resumption of the US and Israeli regime’s war against Iran on February 28, certain divisions have emerged within the United States regarding this issue, both among the public and among political factions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The internal situation of the Israeli regime during the 40-day war can be analyzed from several perspectives. The popularity levels of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Party, and the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu until February 28, 2026, remained approximately the same as during the preceding year. The most recent factor that had somewhat increased Netanyahu’s popularity was the advancement of the 2024 war with Hezbollah Lebanon. Subsequently, his popularity temporarily increased during the 12-day war with Iran, but after the war, it returned to its previous state.