Opinion

Iran's ambiguous political process, the Gulf's exposure to high-cost strikes, and Washington's continued offensive operations may prove to be the defining dynamics fueling both regional escalation and growing economic risk in the period ahead

Contrary to what much of the Western media has been asserting, there is no concrete basis for labeling Mojtaba Khamenei a "hardliner." Nor does the political and sociological reality Iran currently faces leave much room for such an approach

Bitter experience has taught the Kurds that trusting American promises without guarantees is a perilous adventure, especially given the fluctuations of US foreign policy, which does not hesitate to abandon its allies when priorities change

Ethiopia's foreign policy moves carry heightened risks. Political balances in the Horn of Africa will largely be shaped by whether it can reestablish internal stability and translate its relations with external actors into strategic gains

Khamenei's death has triggered elite consolidation and a shift toward security-centric decision-making rather than a regime collapse