... expensive. Given the relative stability of Iraqi Kurdistan in comparison to the rest of Iraq and its historical ties to Washington, Erbil seems to be the
preferred U.S. choice
in the present scenario. Whether in the fight against ISIS or in balancing Iran's expanding influence in Iraq, the Kurdish region has continuously proven to be a dependable friend at pivotal moments.
Kurdish Leadership Welcomes U.S. Consulate Amid Regional Challenges
During the inaugural ceremony, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State ...
... the entire region.
Debate over the causes of the new military phase of the YC spans a broad spectrum of interpretations: from assertions that Houthi actions pose threats to maritime security in the Red Sea and that the “Axis of Resistance” led by Iran endangers Israel’s security, to the opposite accusations directed at the United States and Israel, of aggressive policies and the obstruction of a lawful settlement in Gaza. For the purposes of studying the anatomy of the Yemeni crisis, it is important ...
... and ideological conflict converge. The Persian Gulf has become a focal point of international interest and attention since the
Arab Spring
uprisings broke out in 2011.
Recent events suggest that tides are changing. Attacks against Qatar, first by
Iran
in June and then by
Israel
this month, indicate a significant change in the region's security landscape. The attacks have called into question the fundamental strategic presumptions that have served as the foundation for Gulf Arab state security ...
If Tehran persists in its accusations and Baku clings to its alliances, the tension between the two will likely remain within the bounds of a "cold war" dynamic
The tension between Iran and Azerbaijan has gone beyond a mere diplomatic spat—it has become a reflection of deeper shifts in the geopolitical balance across the South Caucasus. Tehran has accused its northern neighbor of allowing Israel to use Azerbaijani territory to ...
The Islamic Republic appears to be deliberately seeking to strengthen Iranian-Islamic identity by combining Islamic revolutionary values with elements of nationalism
For the first time in three weeks, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made a public
appearance
, attending a significant Shiite Muslim religious ...
...
Upon earth there is not his like,
Who is made without fear.
He beholdeth all high things:
He is a king over all the children of pride.
Job 41:24-34 King James Version (KJV)
Timeline of Events
On June 13, 2025, Israel struck a number of targets in Iran (fuel enrichment facilities, military sites and plants, air defense systems, missile installations, as well as oil and gas infrastructure), and eliminated several high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists (Operation Rising Lion)....
... escalation that could lead to a widening of the conflict.” Additionally, the security council of the German government convened. Iran was
urged
by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to engage in peace talks with the United States and Israel. Asserting that “Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security.” Kaja Kallas, the head of European Union foreign policy,
repeated
this position on the X media platform, calling on all parties to take a step back, get back to the negotiating table, and stop the situation from getting worse....
What Iran’s 12-Day Conflict Reveals About Modern Deterrence and Regional Power Shifts
The following paper explores the military and strategic dimensions of Iran’s 12-Day War—a brief yet consequential conflict that has left a lasting imprint on regional ...
Strategically, Russia has little to gain and a lot to lose in case the crisis goes deeper
In the early morning of June 24 US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after twelve days of intense airstrikes. The United States itself actively participated in this escalation cycle by hitting three major Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on June 22. Though the American leader claimed that the ...
A moment of “mutual deterrence” within a fragile balance
Following President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel, many questions remain about the durability of such an arrangement after years of proxy conflict—culminating recently in a direct 12-day aerial exchange of fire.
The nature of the agreement itself remains shrouded in ambiguity. Trump ...
