Iran

Repeated surveys affirm that Americans hold negative views of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, ranking them as the top threats to the U.S.

At heart, what binds China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia is a set of transactional relationships.

Changing U.S. policies present both risks and opportunities for countries like Uzbekistan, which have looked to Iran to connect them to global markets via the sea. 

Abandoning this port project is not a preferred option for India as its Central Asia ambitions depend on trade via this Iranian port.

According to Turkish officials, the gas flow is planned to start on March 1, with Turkmen gas reaching Turkiye via a swap deal involving Iran. 

Tehran’s growing engagement with Kabul underscores a calculated effort to navigate its own economic and geopolitical challenges.

The Trump administration’s decision to revoke India's sanctions waiver for Chabahar Port represents a significant geopolitical challenge.

The shipment of Chinese sodium perchlorate indicates a rapid rebuilding of Iran’s missile industry since Israeli strikes in October – with Beijing’s help.

The treaties with Iran and Belarus are different from the one Russia reached with North Korea, and there has been no attempt to link any of them.

Due to global turmoil, the importance of the Middle Corridor has grown exponentially. However, the Caspian Sea continues to pose a significant obstacle to the realization of the corridor’s economic potential.

On Chinese social media, some want Iran to go nuclear – but others think it should learn from China’s “reform and opening.”

Gwadar and Chabahar emerge as more than ports – they are strategic battlegrounds where economic ambitions, regional and global power collide.

After October 7, conspiracy theories have gained traction within Central Asian Salafi circles accusing Shias of acting as agents of the Jews in a coordinated effort to undermine Sunni Islam. 

Pakistan and Turkey have also ramped up the deportation of Afghans in recent years, with devastating humanitarian implications.

The viability of the projects depends on the region's ability to navigate geopolitical tensions, security challenges, and economic uncertainties.

The United States has treated the Indian Ocean as an afterthought in its Indo-Pacific vision.

There’s an obvious anti-U.S. bent to China’s ties with Russia, Iran, and North Korea, but Beijing must tread carefully lest it be pulled deeper into conflict than it is willing to go.

Looking for a culprit, there is a real possibility that Pakistan may view counterterrorism cooperation with Iran with increasing suspicion.

Despite tension, the underlying mutual dependencies between Iran and the Taliban, and the evolving geopolitics in the region, have forced the two sides to avoid crossing red lines.   

By promising continuity, Iran's new president both sets the stage for future tensions and reveals the limits of presidential power in the Islamic Republic. 

In Iran, the countries of Central Asia – particularly Uzbekistan – see an opportunity to diversity trade routes.

The SCO Summit will add Belarus to the roster. Xi and Putin are attending, but Modi is skipping. 

Connecting with Iran may be tempting for Central Asian countries like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, but increased relations with Tehran may ultimately be counterproductive.