Iran

As the US and Iran move toward a new ceasefire agreement, Gulf states remain skeptical. From the Strait of Hormuz to nuclear negotiations and regional proxies, history suggests Tehran's behavior—not its promises—will determine whether peace lasts. By Najwa AlSaeed AI generated image Why Gulf States Remain Skeptical of a New US-Iran Ceasefire Deal Gulf capitals are watching the US-Iran talks with cautious skepticism, not the kind of optimism you might expect from senior offici

Gulf security officials warn that Tehran is increasingly relying on covert intelligence networks, religious influence channels, and local operatives to support espionage and wartime targeting efforts across the Arabian Peninsula. By Moataz Khalil AI generated photo Since Iran unleashed its latest wave of aggression against the Gulf Arab states, a troubling reality has emerged from the region's security services: Tehran appears to be relying not only on missiles, drones, and p

What Stands Behind the Recent Israel-Iran Escalation and Where Is It Headed? A few notes on theater linkage, escalation dominance, deniability, and the U.S.-Israel good-cop/bad-cop dynamic. By Dan Feferman AI generated photo of Bibi Netanyahu and Mojtaba Khamenei On June 7, Iran launched an unprovoked missile strike on northern Israel, ostensibly in response to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions in Beirut. The attack prompted Israeli reprisals against Iranian targets, fol

The new U.S.-brokered Lebanon-Israel agreement aims to weaken Hezbollah's hold over southern Lebanon, strengthen Lebanese sovereignty, and create a path toward lasting security and stability along the Israeli-Lebanese border. By Hayvi Bouzo AI generated photo of the flags of Israel and Lebanon For the first time in four decades, Lebanese and Israeli diplomats sat across from each other at the U.S. State Department and negotiated directly. No proxy messengers, no back channels

By Ahmed Khuzaie AI-generated photo of flags of some of the nations in the Abraham Accords in Jerusalem A New Gulf Perspective on Israel After the War In light of the recent war, Israeli media has renewed its focus on the Gulf’s evolving stance toward normalization with Israel and the possibility of expanding the Abraham Accords. The conflict has shifted perceptions across parts of the region, with public opinion increasingly viewing Iran as a more immediate threat than Israe

Why Peace between the US and Iran looks impossible and might always be AI generated photo of Iran's and U.S. flags By: Ahmed Khuzaie Anyone following the long confrontation between Washington and Tehran knows that talk of real peace is closer to illusion than reality. After decades of hostility, threats and posturing still define the relationship, while public statements often aim more to shape perception than signal genuine progress. What we’re seeing today is not a serious

AI generated image of a map of the Gulf region shows several countries with their national flags Iran has emerged as a serious and immediate threat to the Arab Gulf states, yet their responses reveal a mix of anger, caution and strategic hedging. The UAE stands out both as a primary target of Iranian strikes and as the state most visibly shifting toward a more assertive posture against Tehran. Iran’s response to US Israeli strikes has been to widen the battlefield across the

Dr. Ahmed Khuzaie is a Bahraini political analyst specializing in Gulf Affairs and Iran, Expert and N7 Foundation. He is the author of multiple books and studies, including “Entanglement: A History of Iranian-Bahraini Relations”. He is a regular commentator on international news and a frequent contributor to numerous leading news outlets and think-tanks.

AI generated photo of the aerial view of a devastated seaport with smoke, fires, and rubble, as Iranian and Hezbollah flags appear in the foreground. The ongoing US–Iran war has rapidly expanded beyond Iran’s borders, placing Lebanon at the center of a dangerous regional escalation. Although Lebanon is not formally a direct participant in the conflict, the involvement of Hezbollah—one of Iran’s closest allies—has effectively opened a second front between Hezbollah and Israel.

A news-style illustration depicts a geopolitical map of North Africa and the Sahel, with symbols of the U.S., Iran, and armed groups, highlighting rising tensions, security concerns, and debates over potential terrorist designation. A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate could open the door to designating the Polisario as a terrorist organization, amid rising tensions with Iran and growing security concerns in North Africa and the Sahel. For decades, the Western Sahara conflict