Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Africa said about the latest developments of Libya: After the second Berlin meeting which was held during late June 2021, it seems that the procedure of state-building in Libya, especially by the United Nations has gained new momentum.
Having enjoyed the extensive reserves of gas and oil, Iraq has always been an interesting country for foreign investors and well-known and major companies in the energy field. But political-security incidents and unrests of the country within the past few decades have made it hard and even sometimes impossible for activities in the energy field. Unlike other Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, not enough investment was made in Iraq especially in the energy sector.
Strategic Council Online- Signing of the 25-year agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and China within the past few months, has fanned a lot of debates. Efforts have been made to assess it from different points of view in this short article and to elaborate its consequences for Iran’s national interest.
Arash Raeissinia, Professor of International Relations, Tehran University
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: Some 30 countries of the world with more than one and a half billion people are presently under the sanctions of the United States in various forms. Iran, China and Russia are the most significant of these countries. In addition to governments, some economic giants and cartels such as companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as well as Turkey, as a US ally in NATO, have been also exposed to lesser extents to the US sanctions. Even though there are news recently about the formation of a global coalition among the countries affected by the US sanctions, it is expected that a politico-economic club of sanctioned countries is set up.
Seyyed Qassem Zakeri—expert of international relations
Strategic Council Online – An expert on Russia affairs said that the United States and Russia are now in the worst possible relationship in recent years, adding: However, the approach of the two countries is interactive and their efforts are focused on the management of relations, and this level of tension would not go beyond a certain level and will subside in the near future.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in his visit to Saudi Arabia signed two agreements on military cooperation between the two countries. According to the signed document, Greece is supposed to deliver one of the Patriot missiles received from the United States to Saudi Arabia, a move that could be the result of Saudi Arabia’s failure against Yemeni missiles and drones. The US-made Patriot anti-aircraft systems will be used to protect Saudi Arabia’s most important oil facilities, and the Greek systems will be used to protect other important military bases in that country. In recent months, Saudi Arabia has been under the burden of missile and drone strikes by the Yemeni armed forces and has never been able to thwart those attacks with its own defense systems.
Mahmoud Fazeli – analyst of international affairs
Strategic Council Online – Head of Iran-Armenia Friendship Association, stating that Russia and the United States have not shown opposition to the continuation of Pashinyan’s stay in power, said: In the early elections, Pashinyan will regain the majority and will continue his rule, of course, if there is no coup by the military.
Strategic Council Online—Opinion: The Turkey’s role in the Karabakh conflict should be investigated on the basis of the political and historical ties and objectives of Turkey in the Azerbaijan Republic.
Dr. Qadir Golkarian—Member of the academic staff of the Near East University, Cyprus
Strategic Council Online – An expert on political economy, noting that we are entering a multipolar world with different blocs, said: Even in viewpoint of the Japanese, the current economic and dollar-based order is coming to an end and, therefore, they are preparing themselves for a multilateral economic system.
Strategic Council Online: Riyadh, being concerned about the weakening of its strategic relations with the United States under Biden’s presidency, is attempting to continue to portray Iran as an unstabilazer element and a threat to the security in the region by offering free concessions to the West, especially the US, by selling oil and consequently, large-scale military purchase in order to ensure the preservation of Riyadh’s strategic relations with Washington.
Strategic Council Online: Ecology, in its simplest sense, is the study of the relationship of the living organisms and their environment. In an ecological environment, demographic phenomena, type of nutrition, shape, size and amount, habits and behavior of animals in that environment are influential in its survival or vulnerability. In addition to the complex internal relationship, the extra systemic relationship of any ecological environment is effective in its survival. If the external systemic relations of a specific ecological environment fluctuate with other environments, its vulnerability is certain.
Strategic Council Online – Following the signing of the controversial agreement between Egypt and Greece on the demarcation of water borders in the Eastern Mediterranean, the two countries agreed to complete the demarcation process. The agreement allows the two countries to use natural resources available in the intended economic zone and explore oil and natural gas. In the agreement in question, the maritime rights of the two parties have been specified to some extent and details of the maritime borders will be determined in the outcome of the future negotiations.
Mahmoud Fazeli – Expert on European Affairs
Strategic Council Online—Editorial: In recent weeks, more and more European countries and institutions have been attacking Turkish policies in the Mediterranean.
Mahmood Fazeli, International affairs analyst
Strategic Council Online – Regional players such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey are attempting to break up Libya and establish two different sovereignties in the country. Therefore, if the war continues, Libya like Sudan, may be divided into the two eastern and western parts.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Asian Affairs
Strategic Council Online: Interview– An expert of West Asia affairs says the Arab League has failed to resolve the crises and problems of the Arab world, adding that “it may collapse into several smaller and regional unions for thematic issues.”
Strategic Council Online – Interview: The two sides of the war in Libya have ceased the conflict under the present circumstances and are calling for political talks to end the deadlock, an expert of international relations said, adding that they face lengthy and difficult negotiations.
Online Strategic Council—interview: An expert of international relations says foreign players in the East Mediterranean region are seeking to prolong Turkey-Greece conflict in order to secure their own interests and obtain excessive concessions.
Strategic Council Online – Explaining the geopolitical complexities in the Eastern Mediterranean, a faculty member said: “One of the concerns about this region, especially in Europe, is the addition of this crisis to the Middle East security crisis which due to Europe’s geographical proximity to the region, it will have negative consequences for Europe.
Strategic Council Online – The US news site Al-Monitor reported on July 30, 2020, quoting informed sources, that the Kurdish-controlled Autonomous Region of Northern and Eastern Syria has signed an agreement with the American oil company Delta Crescent Energy LLC.
Abdullah Al-Samer – Syrian Analyst
Strategic Council Online – At present, the US goal of maintaining presence in the Kurdish regions of Syria is to extract oil and gas, but the question is whether it is possible to implement this agreement and if so, how long will it continue, because the situation in the region is very sensitive and it cannot be assumed that if the Kurds dominate an area, they can use the resources and reserves there as they wish.
Reza Mirabian – Middle East Affairs Expert
