Iraqi Kurds are questioning the selective use of American air defenses. Despite legislative promises to equip the Peshmerga, the failure to intercept missiles targeting civilian homes—while protecting distant targets—has fueled deep resentment and fears of being secondary strategic priorities.
Browsing: Khamenei
The regional drive to disarm non-state actors has sparked a fierce sovereignty debate in Iraq. As Lebanon’s military secures its borders, Iraqi officials struggle to balance state-building goals against powerful militias that view their arsenals as non-negotiable shields against foreign occupation.
Russia is arming Tehran with Spartak vehicles and Mi-28 helicopters to fight domestic insurgency. As Trump threatens military strikes, the Kremlin is studying Iran’s internet blackouts while positioning itself as a potential sanctuary for the fleeing clerical elite
Iran is trapped in a violent cycle as the rial’s value plummets and inflation soars. With over 500 dead, the Pezeshkian government faces a terminal legitimacy crisis, compounded by President Trump’s threats of military intervention against the regime.
Sadjadpour outlines five trajectories for Iran, ranging from a Russian-style nationalist strongman to a Chinese-style pragmatic autocracy. He argues that without an organized liberal opposition, the post-Khamenei era will likely be defined by military dominance or grievance-driven illiberal populism.
Tehran is grappling with a “geopolitical winter” as its regional hegemony is structurally erased. From the “Trump Route” in the Caucasus to the collapse of Levant proxies, coordinated external powers are systematically isolating the leadership and blocking its strategic maneuvers.
Tehran is trading its strategic independence for Russian protection, securing a $25 billion nuclear agreement and Su-35 fighters. As UN sanctions return, Russian-led infrastructure projects now serve as “safe zones” intended to physically discourage further bombing of Iranian territory.
Besieged by a leaderless uprising and the loss of regional proxies, Tehran’s theocratic rule is crumbling. While the regime utilizes mass detentions and blackouts to survive, its decimated air defenses and lack of a clear successor for Khamenei make long-term stability impossible.