Much is made of links between Beijing and Tehran, but the true extent of their relations is more limited. Where there are alternatives, China takes them, with one eye on the US.
Against the backdrop of geopolitical realignments, the burgeoning partnership between Iran and Pakistan can potentially recalibrate the balance of power in South Asia and beyond.
It remains to be seen if, going forward, Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Syria or Lebanon—or against the PMF in Iraq—will elicit a direct Iranian response. Time will tell.
The US and French withdrawal from the Sahel lets the Russians, Chinese, and Iranians in. Tehran, in particular, will be keen to buy Niger's uranium, despite this being a red line for Washington.
The Iraqi PM and Joe Biden stuck to the script, emphasising economic opportunities. No one mentioned US troop withdrawal, but Baghdad's tense relations with Iraqi Kurds did come up.
The two new countries were forged after the Balkans War in the 1990s. While tensions remain, they are evidence of what can be achieved with international support.
In an interview with Al Majalla, Charles Michel explains how Trump didn't consult with allies before attacking Iran in a war that benefits Russia at Europe's expense
Millions working in the Gulf are worried about their livelihoods and the impact on their families, while their employers are worried that they will leave
Tehran says any negotiated settlement to the US-Iran war must include its Hezbollah allies, but this could take a long time—a luxury Lebanon may not have.
In Part 2 of a two-part interview, the newly appointed deputy defence minister outlines the mistakes made by the SDF and gives his outlook on Syria's future.