Analysis

EXECUTIVE TAKEAWAYS The S&P 500 fell from record highs after a South Korean ship exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil held above $100 despite easing from Monday’s surge. RBA raised rates for the third straight meeting despite downgrading growth, while Japan burned $35 billion steadying the …

The fragile ceasefire across parts of the Middle East is under severe strain as the United States and Iran escalate military actions around the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, has effectively become a central battleground in a wider confrontation involving …

Iran has said it will only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement in ongoing negotiations with the United States, as talks continue alongside a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi made the remarks following discussions with Wang Yi in Beijing. At the same …

 Hosein Mortada The announcement was bold, almost theatrical: a presidential push branded as “Project Freedom,” aimed at securing maritime navigation in the Gulf and projecting American resolve at one of the world’s most sensitive chokepoints. But within hours, the narrative shifted. What was presented as an assertive effort …

 Eng. Saleem Al-Batayneh Wars in the Middle East rarely end when the guns fall silent. More often, that is when the real questions begin. If a war involving Iran reaches its conclusion—whatever form that conclusion takes—the region will not be left with clarity, but with a far more …

In moments of political upheaval, questions of identity often become tools of power. Communities are not only governed—they are redefined, recast, and, at times, quietly erased. Today, the Alawite community of Syria finds itself once again at the center of such an effort. For centuries, Alawites have lived …

Dr. Mustafa Al-Tal Beyond “Engineering Fear” In a previous analysis titled “Engineering Fear: The New Middle East Truce”, we argued that ceasefires in the Middle East are no longer mere temporary pauses in hostilities, but have evolved into sophisticated mechanisms for conflict management and deterrence – a concept …

Iran has delivered a 14-point proposal setting out its terms for ending the war, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency, as indirect exchanges with the United States continue through Pakistan, which continues to act as a mediator. The report, citing informed sources, said message exchanges between Tehran and …

Lama Al-Rakad In international politics, interests are rarely presented as such. They are dressed instead in the language of morality, civilization, or historical mission. Yet when crises hit and choices must be made, the true priorities of states become unmistakably clear. It is precisely in this gap between …