Trump’s Iran Strategy: Control First, Then Build an Institution-Based Middle East

 A Strategic Analysis of the Trump Doctrine on Iran and the Middle East

Introduction: The Precarious Future of Iran

This article provides an overview of a talk given by Mohsin Modir Shanechi in a Clubhouse room on October 25th, 2025. In his analysis, Shanechi presents a stark warning about the future of Iran, arguing that a United States-instigated regime collapse could precipitate a crisis more chaotic and devastating than those seen in Syria or Venezuela.

His comparative risk assessment highlights the unique vulnerability of the Iranian state. Both Syria and Venezuela, despite their profound crises, possessed recognised opposition structures that could prevent a total power vacuum. Venezuela has a coherent and internationally recognised opposition leader in Maria Corina Machado—a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who provides a viable alternative to the Maduro regime and is already in dialogue with American officials. Syria, likewise, has an opposition that, while fragmented, has garnered international and regional support, providing a framework for a post-regime future.

World Energy Outlook 2024, More renewable and less fossil fuels in vision

Curtesy of IEA

The World Energy Outlook 2024 (WEO-2024), published by IEA, confirms that global clean energy momentum remains strong enough to bring about a peak in demand for oil, natural gas, and coal globally before 2030 in all major scenarios. While low-emissions sources, primarily renewables, are set to generate more than half of the world's electricity before 2030, the report heavily emphasises that geopolitical risks remain highly elevated, particularly stemming from escalating conflicts in the Middle East.

Focus on the Middle East (2030 Outlook)

The Middle East is scrutinised as its energy architecture remains dominated by fossil fuels, accounting for roughly 98% of its energy demand in 2023. This high dependence is shifting slowly: in the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), the region's energy demand is expected to rise by nearly 25% by 2035.

The Crescent Conundrum: How Internal Politics Scuttled a Strategic Gas Deal and Cost Iran Billions

1.0 Introduction: The Davari Revelations

On October 12, 2025, in an online TV session mysteriously cut off from its planned live broadcast,
Abdolreza Davari, a former media aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, methodically dismantled two decades of state-sponsored narrative surrounding the Crescent Gas contract. For years, the official story of the deal with the UAE-based Crescent Petroleum was a simple tale of rampant corruption and the treasonous "cheap selling" of national resources. A few hours later, Davari attended a Clubhouse room where several audience members were eagerly waiting for him to attend and brief them on the event. Davari’s testimony, however, shatters that narrative, exposing a starkly different reality: a strategically vital agreement deliberately sabotaged by internal political factions for domestic power, at a staggering cost to Iran's national security and treasury. This analysis will dissect Davari's explosive claims to uncover the intricate web of political manoeuvring, strategic miscalculations, and security implications behind one of Iran's most damaging energy disputes.

These revelations force a re-examination of the contract's origins and the true nature of the opposition that ultimately led to its demise.

Neoliberalism – the ideology at the root of all our problem

MK: I couldn’t resist republishing this article here — one of the most insightful and concise descriptions of liberal democracy, or the “no-name” ideology, as the author suggests.
Written by George Monbiot , I highly recommend it to anyone grappling with the question of how we ended up where we are today.

Before sharing the link to the full article below, I’ve selected a few key passages to offer a quick glimpse:

...

Neoliberalism sees competition as the defining characteristic of human relations. It redefines citizens as consumers, whose democratic choices are best exercised by buying and selling, a process that rewards merit and punishes inefficiency. It maintains that “the market” delivers benefits that could never be achieved by planning.

COVID-19: an invisible enemy ... or a hysteria for pharmaceutical companies' profits?

I found Dr Pascal Sacre's long and profound article on Coronavirus pandemic and the Lock-down policies around the world, very informative and educational.

The background on how pharmaceutical companies penetrate international health organisstions such as WHO, is very enlightening.

However, readers might disagree with him on the financial intentions behind most of the advocated policies during pandemics including Covid-19.

Main article on Global Research.

$295 billion defense budget of Saudi Arabia failed to protect attack on oil installations!

Abqaiq refinery is burning

RI
No matter who was behind the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil installations, what is quite clear is that billions of dollars of military purchases from the US and the UK by the Saudis were unable to prevent such an attack.

I found Abdus-Sattar Ghazali's comments on this issue interesting.


The Journal of America

With $295 billion 2019 defence budget, Saudi Arabia failed to stop a drone attack on its oil installations from the Yemeni rebel ragtag militia.

EXPOSED: Another fake story of Mike Pompeo's Claim That Iran Is Collaborating With Al Qaeda

The US hawkish warmongers are now trying to advocate the fake stories of Iran's collaboration with Al Qaeda elements.

The idea is to circulate the US parliament in any potential war against Iran, or to sell more weapons to dictatorships such as Saudi Arabia and UAE without the need to seek congressional approval.

This article on Time reveals some facts behind such fake stories.

Original article by JOHN WALCOTT 

MAY 22, 2019

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim that Iran and Al Qaeda are collaborating is at best an exaggeration that is not supported by any available information, U.S. intelligence officers and officials with the State and Defense Department tell TIME.

The Wrong Way to Punish Iran

Is this the sign of an end to Dollar hegemony?

This is not an article written by a journalist or anti-US activist but two high profile figures one a former government body and the other a university professor.

I suggested recently that what Trump is doing is speeding up the process of an end to US and especially Dollar hegemony in the world. Here it is, I never thought the supporting arguments would come so fast and so profound like this one.

Henry J. Farrell is a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University. Abraham L. Newman is a professor in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University.

New York Times:
By threatening to penalize Swift, the financial messaging service, the U.S. is alienating European allies and could undercut the dollar’s dominance.

Link to the full article here

Saudi funded Persian TV (Iran International) exposed by British media

Main story by Saeed Kamali Dehghan 
Originally published on The Guardian

Wednesday 31 October 2018

RI  
One year after its launch, finally, voices of concerns are heard about the Saudi operatives in London who spend millions of Pounds on a TV network employing Iranians for advocating Saudi propaganda policies against Iran. Following the brutal killing of Khashuggi, it seems now there is little chance for British media to keep silence on what Saudi agents are doing in the country. But one should ask them, where were you in the past two years?

Nevertheless,  the article by Saeed Kamali Dehghan is very well researched and presented.

The Guardian: Exclusive: Iran International funded by firm with ties to Prince Mohammed bin Salman

A UK-based Iranian TV station is being funded through a secretive offshore entity and a company whose director is a Saudi Arabian businessman with close links to the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Guardian can reveal.

Fake news story in mainstream AND alt-media slanders Russia and Iran

By Adam Garrie
Originally published on The Duran

The story says that Russia and Iran threatened to attack US forces if a 'red line' was crossed. This is an outright lie. A fake news story has been circulating on both mainstream media and alt-media, saying that Russia and Iran have issued a joint threat to ‘use force’ in the event of the US targeting Syrian forces again. It was also reported that the issue was quoted as being a ‘red line’, a term generally used by the United States.

World's Biggest Pilgrimage in Karbala, Iraq; And Why You've Never Heard of it!

by: Sayed Mahdi al-Modarresi

It's not the Muslim Hajj, or the Hindu Kumbh Mela.. Known as Arbaeen, it is the world's most populous gathering, and you've probably never heard of it! Not only does the congregation exceed the number of visitors to Mecca (by a factor of five, in fact), but it is more significant than the Kumbh Mela, since the latter is held only every three years. In short, Arbaeen dwarfs every other rally on the planet, reaching twenty million last year. That is a staggering %60 of Iraq's entire population, and it is growing year after year.

Above all, Arbaeen is unique because it takes place against the backdrop of chaotic and dangerous geopolitical scenes. Daesh (aka 'Islamic State') sees the Shia as their mortal enemy, so nothing infuriates the terror group more than the sight of Shia pilgrims gathering for their greatest show of faith.

“Iranian Leaders Have Been Educated In The US” - So What?

RI

19 October 2014
Suddenly, the educational background of Iranian officials and their children has become a matter of interest to Business Insider, covering two stories in forty-five days. The first piece was published on 5 September 2014 by Emanuele Ottolenghi, while the second one was published on 15 October 2014 by Armin Rosen.

Iranian Cyber Power Reaching Israel and United States of America

The main article was published on The Guardian under a different title
31 August 2014


by: Tom Brewster   
When Israel stepped up Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in July, a crew of hackers going under the name of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters readied their attack tools to show support for their Palestinian brothers.

They attempted to flood a core piece of Israel’s internet infrastructure, the Domain Name System that acts as the web’s phone book for the country. They also tried to take down websites for the national stock exchange and Mossad, the intelligence and special operations body.