Jalal Khosh-Chehre

Should we brace for the worst-case scenarios as a key determinant in politics? Or can one afford to take solace in the current frozen calm that defines Tehran’s standoff with the West — and by extension, with Israel?

Benjamin Netanyahu knows exactly how to handle Donald Trump. He understands Trump’s insatiable thirst for flattery and spectacle — the craving of a man desperate to be the center of attention. For now, Netanyahu rides high, extracting every concession from a U.S. president eager to declare himself the architect of a “new Middle East.” But can such personal vanity sustain Trump’s extravagant optimism about what he calls his “roadmap for peace”? Or will the path ahead prove as perilous and uneven as history suggests to any sober observer of Middle Eastern politics?

The essence of the joint “Washington–Europe” approach toward Tehran is built upon ambiguity, pressure, and threat — a strategic model operating under the dual framework of “negotiation (agreement) or confrontation (war).”

One might imagine that this is the moment for leaders of Islamic and Arab states to demonstrate their resolve. They gathered in Doha, the Qatari capital, for an emergency summit to deliver the swiftest and strongest protest against Israel’s terrorist assault on Qatar’s sovereignty. But will they? Or will the gap between a mere “show of power” and the actual “exercise of power” remain?

Editor-in-Chief of Borna News Agency and international affairs analyst, stated that Donald Trump’s transactional and authoritarian diplomacy, without consideration for the complexities of a multipolar world, is doomed to fail. He stressed that lasting peace in Ukraine will only be possible through Europe’s cooperation and respect for international law.

The record of Tehran–Europe relations over the past four decades has followed a cyclical path, oscillating between confrontation and engagement.

Tehran has recently shown fresh signs of flexibility in its stance toward the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its willingness to continue talks with Washington and the European troika. This flexibility, however, comes with two key considerations: first, the pressing nature of time and the need to seize opportunities to reach a “balance point” in the disputes; and second, doubts over the true nature of the negotiation framework proposed by Europe, the United States, and, by extension, the IAEA. Is the West’s hidden aim to persuade Iranian decision-makers to suspend the nuclear program — with ongoing disputes over the method and timetable — or to push Tehran toward making a final choice?

Yaser Sadeghi, CEO of Borna News Agency, announced the launch of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) unit along with new Arabic and English-language sections, marking a new chapter in the agency’s smart media development and its expanding international engagement.

While the two main players on today’s geopolitical chessboard have allowed sidelined actors to express their opinions and ideas, all parties—including the primary players themselves—are fully aware that any potential agreement will ultimately bear the signatures of Tehran and Washington. Therefore, it is imperative that these two principal actors retain initiative and take creative steps to move from the current station of “confrontation” to one of “equilibrium.”

One year has passed since Masoud Pezeshkian's victory in Iran’s presidential election. While his administration has not yet completed its first full year in office, it is possible to evaluate its early performance — however relatively — against the urgent demands of the people and the country’s key priorities. The core question remains: Have the actions, decisions, and policies of the 14th government in this short period reflected the very expectations that brought it to power? And more importantly: Is President Pezeshkian an architect of a strong state?

The announcement of a ceasefire in the 12-day war between Iran and the "Israeli-American" does not provide a clear and secure outlook; rather, it has increased Tehran's suspicions more than ever. In fact, we are now witnessing a rare competition of wills in pursuit of mutually contradictory and conflicting strategic goals. These goals have not only not reduced the conflict of interests after the 12-day war, but may actually increase its intensity.