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.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert of Middle East affairs commented on the new initiatives of some Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE to improve their relations with Syria and said:” what is obvious is that all such initiatives and statements represent that Syrian government is now in a strong position different from the past; in the other words such actions and reactions show that today Syria is, from the stability and security points of view, in the state of in-vulnerability.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Joe Biden’s administration, in coordination with France, has been pushing for structural reform in Lebanon since taking office. The Biden’s administration supports Emmanuel Macron’s policy in Lebanon, while maintaining economic pressures and sanctions on Hezbollah.
Fatemeh Nekoo Lal Azad – Tehran International Studies and Research Institute (Abrar)
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of Russian studies, while referring to the outcomes of the consultations conducted by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Moscow, said if players influential in resolving the crisis and controlling the domestic situation in Syria enhance once again their cooperation and interaction, this message will be sent to the United States and the Joe Biden administration that disrupting the order in the region would not be without costs for the United States.
Strategic Council Online – Foreign players are making attempts for the formation of Saad Hariri’s government before US President Donald Trump leaves the White House so that the new Lebanese cabinet would be in their favor, said a university professor, adding: But it seems that if the interests of Hezbollah and its allies are ignored in the formation of the government, the Lebanese cabinet will not be formed within the next two to three months.
Strategic Council Online-Editorial: The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to challenge imperialistic and hegemonic policies through establishing regional links in order to put an end to the hegemony of the US and other imperial powers in the West Asia region.
Jafar Qannadbashi-expert of Middle East issues
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – A university professor, saying that Macron is trying to revive again France’s sphere of influence and historical role in West Asia, noted that if French policies are pursued in this region independent of the US, it could have an achievement for the foreign policy of this country. But, France does not have the power to act indepedntly of the US.
Strategic Council Online – A university professor stressed that creating a political vacuum in Lebanon is the desire of the Western-Arab-Hebrew axis, saying that the instability of Lebanon is the main goal of foreign actors; because the instability of this country is directly related to the security of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: The UN Security Council statement on the need for Hizbollah disarmament has been released concurrently with Lebanon’s talks with the International Monetary Fund. It seems that the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States and the West, wants to enter a phase of blackmailing to make economic and financial support subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
Hassan Hanizadeh- Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: “The United States is trying to undermine the authority of the central governments in Lebanon and Iraq by open interference in the internal affairs of these countries and creating guided anarchy in the Axis of Resistance,” said a former ambassador and analyst on Middle East affairs, referring to US actions in Iraq and Lebanon as the two states were wrestling with the coronavirus crisis.
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.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert of Middle East affairs commented on the new initiatives of some Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE to improve their relations with Syria and said:” what is obvious is that all such initiatives and statements represent that Syrian government is now in a strong position different from the past; in the other words such actions and reactions show that today Syria is, from the stability and security points of view, in the state of in-vulnerability.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Joe Biden’s administration, in coordination with France, has been pushing for structural reform in Lebanon since taking office. The Biden’s administration supports Emmanuel Macron’s policy in Lebanon, while maintaining economic pressures and sanctions on Hezbollah.
Fatemeh Nekoo Lal Azad – Tehran International Studies and Research Institute (Abrar)
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of Russian studies, while referring to the outcomes of the consultations conducted by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Moscow, said if players influential in resolving the crisis and controlling the domestic situation in Syria enhance once again their cooperation and interaction, this message will be sent to the United States and the Joe Biden administration that disrupting the order in the region would not be without costs for the United States.
Strategic Council Online – Foreign players are making attempts for the formation of Saad Hariri’s government before US President Donald Trump leaves the White House so that the new Lebanese cabinet would be in their favor, said a university professor, adding: But it seems that if the interests of Hezbollah and its allies are ignored in the formation of the government, the Lebanese cabinet will not be formed within the next two to three months.
Strategic Council Online-Editorial: The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to challenge imperialistic and hegemonic policies through establishing regional links in order to put an end to the hegemony of the US and other imperial powers in the West Asia region.
Jafar Qannadbashi-expert of Middle East issues
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – A university professor, saying that Macron is trying to revive again France’s sphere of influence and historical role in West Asia, noted that if French policies are pursued in this region independent of the US, it could have an achievement for the foreign policy of this country. But, France does not have the power to act indepedntly of the US.
Strategic Council Online – A university professor stressed that creating a political vacuum in Lebanon is the desire of the Western-Arab-Hebrew axis, saying that the instability of Lebanon is the main goal of foreign actors; because the instability of this country is directly related to the security of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: The UN Security Council statement on the need for Hizbollah disarmament has been released concurrently with Lebanon’s talks with the International Monetary Fund. It seems that the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States and the West, wants to enter a phase of blackmailing to make economic and financial support subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
Hassan Hanizadeh- Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: “The United States is trying to undermine the authority of the central governments in Lebanon and Iraq by open interference in the internal affairs of these countries and creating guided anarchy in the Axis of Resistance,” said a former ambassador and analyst on Middle East affairs, referring to US actions in Iraq and Lebanon as the two states were wrestling with the coronavirus crisis.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert of Middle East affairs commented on the new initiatives of some Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE to improve their relations with Syria and said:” what is obvious is that all such initiatives and statements represent that Syrian government is now in a strong position different from the past; in the other words such actions and reactions show that today Syria is, from the stability and security points of view, in the state of in-vulnerability.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Joe Biden’s administration, in coordination with France, has been pushing for structural reform in Lebanon since taking office. The Biden’s administration supports Emmanuel Macron’s policy in Lebanon, while maintaining economic pressures and sanctions on Hezbollah.
Fatemeh Nekoo Lal Azad – Tehran International Studies and Research Institute (Abrar)
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of Russian studies, while referring to the outcomes of the consultations conducted by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Moscow, said if players influential in resolving the crisis and controlling the domestic situation in Syria enhance once again their cooperation and interaction, this message will be sent to the United States and the Joe Biden administration that disrupting the order in the region would not be without costs for the United States.
Strategic Council Online – Foreign players are making attempts for the formation of Saad Hariri’s government before US President Donald Trump leaves the White House so that the new Lebanese cabinet would be in their favor, said a university professor, adding: But it seems that if the interests of Hezbollah and its allies are ignored in the formation of the government, the Lebanese cabinet will not be formed within the next two to three months.
Strategic Council Online-Editorial: The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to challenge imperialistic and hegemonic policies through establishing regional links in order to put an end to the hegemony of the US and other imperial powers in the West Asia region.
Jafar Qannadbashi-expert of Middle East issues
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – A university professor, saying that Macron is trying to revive again France’s sphere of influence and historical role in West Asia, noted that if French policies are pursued in this region independent of the US, it could have an achievement for the foreign policy of this country. But, France does not have the power to act indepedntly of the US.
Strategic Council Online – A university professor stressed that creating a political vacuum in Lebanon is the desire of the Western-Arab-Hebrew axis, saying that the instability of Lebanon is the main goal of foreign actors; because the instability of this country is directly related to the security of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: The UN Security Council statement on the need for Hizbollah disarmament has been released concurrently with Lebanon’s talks with the International Monetary Fund. It seems that the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States and the West, wants to enter a phase of blackmailing to make economic and financial support subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
Hassan Hanizadeh- Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: “The United States is trying to undermine the authority of the central governments in Lebanon and Iraq by open interference in the internal affairs of these countries and creating guided anarchy in the Axis of Resistance,” said a former ambassador and analyst on Middle East affairs, referring to US actions in Iraq and Lebanon as the two states were wrestling with the coronavirus crisis.
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.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert of Middle East affairs commented on the new initiatives of some Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE to improve their relations with Syria and said:” what is obvious is that all such initiatives and statements represent that Syrian government is now in a strong position different from the past; in the other words such actions and reactions show that today Syria is, from the stability and security points of view, in the state of in-vulnerability.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Joe Biden’s administration, in coordination with France, has been pushing for structural reform in Lebanon since taking office. The Biden’s administration supports Emmanuel Macron’s policy in Lebanon, while maintaining economic pressures and sanctions on Hezbollah.
Fatemeh Nekoo Lal Azad – Tehran International Studies and Research Institute (Abrar)
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of Russian studies, while referring to the outcomes of the consultations conducted by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Moscow, said if players influential in resolving the crisis and controlling the domestic situation in Syria enhance once again their cooperation and interaction, this message will be sent to the United States and the Joe Biden administration that disrupting the order in the region would not be without costs for the United States.
Strategic Council Online – Foreign players are making attempts for the formation of Saad Hariri’s government before US President Donald Trump leaves the White House so that the new Lebanese cabinet would be in their favor, said a university professor, adding: But it seems that if the interests of Hezbollah and its allies are ignored in the formation of the government, the Lebanese cabinet will not be formed within the next two to three months.
Strategic Council Online-Editorial: The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to challenge imperialistic and hegemonic policies through establishing regional links in order to put an end to the hegemony of the US and other imperial powers in the West Asia region.
Jafar Qannadbashi-expert of Middle East issues
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – A university professor, saying that Macron is trying to revive again France’s sphere of influence and historical role in West Asia, noted that if French policies are pursued in this region independent of the US, it could have an achievement for the foreign policy of this country. But, France does not have the power to act indepedntly of the US.
Strategic Council Online – A university professor stressed that creating a political vacuum in Lebanon is the desire of the Western-Arab-Hebrew axis, saying that the instability of Lebanon is the main goal of foreign actors; because the instability of this country is directly related to the security of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: The UN Security Council statement on the need for Hizbollah disarmament has been released concurrently with Lebanon’s talks with the International Monetary Fund. It seems that the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States and the West, wants to enter a phase of blackmailing to make economic and financial support subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
Hassan Hanizadeh- Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: “The United States is trying to undermine the authority of the central governments in Lebanon and Iraq by open interference in the internal affairs of these countries and creating guided anarchy in the Axis of Resistance,” said a former ambassador and analyst on Middle East affairs, referring to US actions in Iraq and Lebanon as the two states were wrestling with the coronavirus crisis.
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.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert of Middle East affairs commented on the new initiatives of some Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE to improve their relations with Syria and said:” what is obvious is that all such initiatives and statements represent that Syrian government is now in a strong position different from the past; in the other words such actions and reactions show that today Syria is, from the stability and security points of view, in the state of in-vulnerability.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Joe Biden’s administration, in coordination with France, has been pushing for structural reform in Lebanon since taking office. The Biden’s administration supports Emmanuel Macron’s policy in Lebanon, while maintaining economic pressures and sanctions on Hezbollah.
Fatemeh Nekoo Lal Azad – Tehran International Studies and Research Institute (Abrar)
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of Russian studies, while referring to the outcomes of the consultations conducted by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Moscow, said if players influential in resolving the crisis and controlling the domestic situation in Syria enhance once again their cooperation and interaction, this message will be sent to the United States and the Joe Biden administration that disrupting the order in the region would not be without costs for the United States.
Strategic Council Online – Foreign players are making attempts for the formation of Saad Hariri’s government before US President Donald Trump leaves the White House so that the new Lebanese cabinet would be in their favor, said a university professor, adding: But it seems that if the interests of Hezbollah and its allies are ignored in the formation of the government, the Lebanese cabinet will not be formed within the next two to three months.
Strategic Council Online-Editorial: The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to challenge imperialistic and hegemonic policies through establishing regional links in order to put an end to the hegemony of the US and other imperial powers in the West Asia region.
Jafar Qannadbashi-expert of Middle East issues
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – A university professor, saying that Macron is trying to revive again France’s sphere of influence and historical role in West Asia, noted that if French policies are pursued in this region independent of the US, it could have an achievement for the foreign policy of this country. But, France does not have the power to act indepedntly of the US.
Strategic Council Online – A university professor stressed that creating a political vacuum in Lebanon is the desire of the Western-Arab-Hebrew axis, saying that the instability of Lebanon is the main goal of foreign actors; because the instability of this country is directly related to the security of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: The UN Security Council statement on the need for Hizbollah disarmament has been released concurrently with Lebanon’s talks with the International Monetary Fund. It seems that the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States and the West, wants to enter a phase of blackmailing to make economic and financial support subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
Hassan Hanizadeh- Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: “The United States is trying to undermine the authority of the central governments in Lebanon and Iraq by open interference in the internal affairs of these countries and creating guided anarchy in the Axis of Resistance,” said a former ambassador and analyst on Middle East affairs, referring to US actions in Iraq and Lebanon as the two states were wrestling with the coronavirus crisis.
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.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert of Middle East affairs commented on the new initiatives of some Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE to improve their relations with Syria and said:” what is obvious is that all such initiatives and statements represent that Syrian government is now in a strong position different from the past; in the other words such actions and reactions show that today Syria is, from the stability and security points of view, in the state of in-vulnerability.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Joe Biden’s administration, in coordination with France, has been pushing for structural reform in Lebanon since taking office. The Biden’s administration supports Emmanuel Macron’s policy in Lebanon, while maintaining economic pressures and sanctions on Hezbollah.
Fatemeh Nekoo Lal Azad – Tehran International Studies and Research Institute (Abrar)
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of Russian studies, while referring to the outcomes of the consultations conducted by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Moscow, said if players influential in resolving the crisis and controlling the domestic situation in Syria enhance once again their cooperation and interaction, this message will be sent to the United States and the Joe Biden administration that disrupting the order in the region would not be without costs for the United States.
Strategic Council Online – Foreign players are making attempts for the formation of Saad Hariri’s government before US President Donald Trump leaves the White House so that the new Lebanese cabinet would be in their favor, said a university professor, adding: But it seems that if the interests of Hezbollah and its allies are ignored in the formation of the government, the Lebanese cabinet will not be formed within the next two to three months.
Strategic Council Online-Editorial: The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to challenge imperialistic and hegemonic policies through establishing regional links in order to put an end to the hegemony of the US and other imperial powers in the West Asia region.
Jafar Qannadbashi-expert of Middle East issues
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – A university professor, saying that Macron is trying to revive again France’s sphere of influence and historical role in West Asia, noted that if French policies are pursued in this region independent of the US, it could have an achievement for the foreign policy of this country. But, France does not have the power to act indepedntly of the US.
Strategic Council Online – A university professor stressed that creating a political vacuum in Lebanon is the desire of the Western-Arab-Hebrew axis, saying that the instability of Lebanon is the main goal of foreign actors; because the instability of this country is directly related to the security of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: The UN Security Council statement on the need for Hizbollah disarmament has been released concurrently with Lebanon’s talks with the International Monetary Fund. It seems that the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States and the West, wants to enter a phase of blackmailing to make economic and financial support subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
Hassan Hanizadeh- Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: “The United States is trying to undermine the authority of the central governments in Lebanon and Iraq by open interference in the internal affairs of these countries and creating guided anarchy in the Axis of Resistance,” said a former ambassador and analyst on Middle East affairs, referring to US actions in Iraq and Lebanon as the two states were wrestling with the coronavirus crisis.
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.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert of Middle East affairs commented on the new initiatives of some Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE to improve their relations with Syria and said:” what is obvious is that all such initiatives and statements represent that Syrian government is now in a strong position different from the past; in the other words such actions and reactions show that today Syria is, from the stability and security points of view, in the state of in-vulnerability.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Joe Biden’s administration, in coordination with France, has been pushing for structural reform in Lebanon since taking office. The Biden’s administration supports Emmanuel Macron’s policy in Lebanon, while maintaining economic pressures and sanctions on Hezbollah.
Fatemeh Nekoo Lal Azad – Tehran International Studies and Research Institute (Abrar)
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of Russian studies, while referring to the outcomes of the consultations conducted by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Moscow, said if players influential in resolving the crisis and controlling the domestic situation in Syria enhance once again their cooperation and interaction, this message will be sent to the United States and the Joe Biden administration that disrupting the order in the region would not be without costs for the United States.
Strategic Council Online – Foreign players are making attempts for the formation of Saad Hariri’s government before US President Donald Trump leaves the White House so that the new Lebanese cabinet would be in their favor, said a university professor, adding: But it seems that if the interests of Hezbollah and its allies are ignored in the formation of the government, the Lebanese cabinet will not be formed within the next two to three months.
Strategic Council Online-Editorial: The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to challenge imperialistic and hegemonic policies through establishing regional links in order to put an end to the hegemony of the US and other imperial powers in the West Asia region.
Jafar Qannadbashi-expert of Middle East issues
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – A university professor, saying that Macron is trying to revive again France’s sphere of influence and historical role in West Asia, noted that if French policies are pursued in this region independent of the US, it could have an achievement for the foreign policy of this country. But, France does not have the power to act indepedntly of the US.
Strategic Council Online – A university professor stressed that creating a political vacuum in Lebanon is the desire of the Western-Arab-Hebrew axis, saying that the instability of Lebanon is the main goal of foreign actors; because the instability of this country is directly related to the security of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: The UN Security Council statement on the need for Hizbollah disarmament has been released concurrently with Lebanon’s talks with the International Monetary Fund. It seems that the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States and the West, wants to enter a phase of blackmailing to make economic and financial support subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah.
Hassan Hanizadeh- Middle East Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: “The United States is trying to undermine the authority of the central governments in Lebanon and Iraq by open interference in the internal affairs of these countries and creating guided anarchy in the Axis of Resistance,” said a former ambassador and analyst on Middle East affairs, referring to US actions in Iraq and Lebanon as the two states were wrestling with the coronavirus crisis.
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.