(By Khalid Masood) In the high-stakes arena of international diplomacy, silence is often louder than a press conference. This week, the world witnessed a striking contradiction: while Washington hinted at “significant progress” in de-escalating tensions with Tehran, Iranian officials categorically dismissed the claims as “psychological warfare” and a “bluff.” To the casual observer, it looks…
(By Khalid Masood) In the volatile landscape of the Middle East, few issues spark as much debate as the presence of United States military bases across Arab nations. From the airfields of Qatar to the naval hubs of Bahrain, the American footprint is unmistakable. To supporters, these installations are a vital shield—a deterrent against aggression…
(By Khalid Masood) Introduction: The Quiet Coup In the world of geopolitics, there are two ways to make headlines.Method A: Shout loudly, move troops, and break things.Method B: Invite everyone over for tea, close the door, and whisper until everyone agrees to stop shouting. Recently, Pakistan chose Method B. While the world was busy watching…
(By Khalid Masood) Updated: 24 March 2026 The Announcement: A Tactical Pause US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has ordered the Pentagon to postpone all military strikes targeting Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period. The delay, posted via Truth Social, was framed as contingent on the “success of…
(By Khalid Masood) 1. Introduction The Middle East security architecture has undergone significant transformation since the early 2020s. The normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, the evolving nuclear threshold status of Iran, and the shifting priorities of the United States toward great power competition have created a volatile equilibrium. In early 2026, following…
(By Ayesha Mahnoor) The Chinese yuan has strengthened to 6.8982 against the US dollar in March 2026, marking a three-year high and reflecting a significant shift in global currency dynamics. This appreciation coincides with an accelerating trend of countries paying for oil in yuan rather than dollars—a development that challenges the seven-decade dominance of the…
(By Khalid Masood) Following the assassination of Ali Larijani by Israel, Iran has appointed Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), one of the most powerful positions in the Islamic Republic. Dehghan, a 69-year-old veteran of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), brings decades of military experience, including command…
(By Khalid Masood) On 19 March 2026, a historic milestone was reached in modern aerial warfare: for the first time since its maiden flight in 2006, a US F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter was damaged by enemy fire during combat operations over Iran. The aircraft made an emergency landing at an undisclosed US air base…
(By Khalid Masood) Introduction: The Puzzle of Timing in a Volatile Region On February 26, 2026, mediators in Geneva reported “significant progress” in negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Omani diplomats, who have long served as the quiet custodians of this backchannel, described an “unprecedented openness to creative solutions.” Forty-eight hours later, the region was illuminated…
(By Khalid Masood) In the shadowed corridors of power in Tehran, a transition is underway that could redefine the Islamic Republic’s trajectory for a generation. Following the death of Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), in Israeli airstrikes on March 18, 2026, the vacuum at the helm of Iran’s security apparatus…
