Iran is pursuing a risky dual strategy in its conflict with Israel. However, the air strikes against the Revolutionary Guard raise questions about the Islamic Republic's state of preparation for military conflict.
Geopolitics
While Russian-Syrian relations seem to be closer than ever, the war in Ukraine can change the strategic balance in and around Syria for good.
For a long time, the Mediterranean was a battleground exclusively for European and other Western powers. These days it is becoming crowded.
The announcement of a strategic partnership agreement with Iran highlights China’s ultimate will to take a more assertive geopolitical role, even if this poses a direct challenge to US policies.
Iran and China seek to deepen their ties. A move that flaunts the two countries’ willingness to back each other against the US pressure. Looking closer, a long-term overarching relation might be much harder to establish.
Branded as a compromise candidate, Iraq’s new Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has made a bold entrance, issuing a number of unorthodox policy proposals. But will his nomination trigger a sustained momentum before the euphory fades away?