Key Takeaways Heightening Threat Perception is the Main Driver of a Discourse Shift: Iran’s rhetoric shift toward nuclear armament is largely driven by external pressures, including Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, and the wider region, along with its nuclear capabilities, and the limits of Iran’s conventional deterrence capabilities. The Worst-Case Scenario: Iran may be preparing… Continue reading Iran’s Shifting Discourse on Nuclear Weaponization: Bargaining Tactic or Doctrine Change?

Iraq’s Development Road Project constitutes a bold and much-needed initiative for a country that has been plagued by decades of civil war, ethnic and religious conflict, and geopolitical tensions. The $17 billion Development Road Project (hereafter referred to as Development Road or the Project) aims to transform Iraq into a transport hub by connecting its southern hinterlands to the Turkish border in the north,1 and act as a major driver of economic prosperity in both Iraq and the wider region.

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and its international partners have been fighting against Al-Shabaab for the last 17 years. Despite Mogadishu sharply escalating its efforts since 2022, it has failed to defeat the group. Al-Shabaab, for its part, seeks a total military victory against Somali authorities, but this too has failed.