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From the shadows to supreme power: why Iran chose Ahmad Vahidi to lead its confrontation with the United States

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Who Is Ahmad Vahidi? The Secretive IRGC Commander now shaping Iran's confrontation with the United States From the founding of the Quds Force to commanding the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi's rise signals a new era in Iran's military-led decision-making. As Tehran braces for a prolonged confrontation with Washington, one of Iran's most secretive and hardline military figures has emerged at the center of power—signaling a dramatic shift in how the Islamic Republic intends to wage its geopolitical struggle. Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Explore the rise of Iran's IRGC commander and how his growing influence could reshape Tehran's strategy toward the United States and the Middle East. For decades, Ahmad Vahidi remained largely behind the scenes, shaping Iran's military doctrine and regional strategy away from the public spotlight. Today, however, he stands at the heart of Iran's national security apparatus, overs...
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Kurdistan at a strategic crossroads: reform, regional rivalry, and the battle for Iraq's future

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj /  Kurdish Policy Analysis As the Kurdistan Regional Government showcases unprecedented governance reforms and economic achievements, renewed security threats, political uncertainty, and Baghdad disputes reveal that Iraqi Kurdistan is entering one of its most consequential geopolitical transitions since the defeat of ISIS.  The Kurdistan Region enters a defining period as governance reforms, security threats, Baghdad disputes, and regional diplomacy reshape the KRG's future. Part I: A government at a crossroads For much of the past two decades, discussions surrounding the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have revolved around crises. Whether confronting the financial fallout of disputes with Baghdad, the existential threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS), the collapse of global oil prices, or persistent regional tensions, the Kurdistan Region has often been portrayed as a political entity reacting to external shocks rather than shaping its ow...
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Can digital fuel cards solve the Kurdistan Region's gasoline crisis?

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis   KRG Tests Electronic Fuel Card System as Gasoline Crisis Deepens Across Kurdistan Region Erbil launches a pilot electronic gasoline distribution program to ease fuel shortages, while broader supply disruptions expose deeper structural challenges facing the Kurdistan Region's energy sector. The Kurdistan Regional Government has launched a pilot electronic fuel card system in Erbil to address the ongoing gasoline crisis as fuel shortages and supply disruptions continue across the region. KRG Launches Electronic Fuel Card Pilot to Ease Gasoline Shortages The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has begun testing a new electronic fuel distribution system in Erbil as authorities seek to contain a worsening gasoline shortage that has disrupted daily life across much of the Kurdistan Region. The pilot initiative, launched on Monday at a single filling station in Erbil, allows motorists to purchase subsidized gasoline using electronic f...
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The Geography of the Kurdistan Region: The Strategic Heartland of the Middle East

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis   How the mountains, rivers, natural resources, and crossroads of the Kurdistan Region have shaped its history, security, economy, and geopolitical importance from antiquity to the twenty-first century. Introduction Geography has often been described as the most enduring force in international politics. Governments change, borders are redrawn, alliances evolve, and ideologies rise and fall, yet the physical landscape remains remarkably constant. Mountains continue to channel armies through narrow passes, rivers sustain civilizations and determine agricultural prosperity, while strategic crossroads repeatedly become arenas of competition among regional and global powers. Few places illustrate this relationship between geography and politics more vividly than the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Situated at the intersection of the Arab world, Anatolia, Persia, and the Levant, the Kurdistan Region occupies one of the most strategical...
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Lindsey Graham Passing Reshapes Republican Foreign Policy—and Raises Questions for the Kurds

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The sudden death of one of Washington's most influential Republican hawks removes a powerful congressional advocate for Ukraine, Israel, a hardline Iran policy, and Kurdish aspirations in the Middle East. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurds, Ukraine, Israel, and a tougher US policy toward Iran. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death Leaves a Strategic Void in Washington WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham , one of the Republican Party's most influential foreign policy voices and one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness, according to a statement released by his office. His unexpected death comes at a particularly volatile moment in American and Middle Eastern politics. Graham had recently traveled to Ukraine, remained deeply involved in congressional debates over Iran and Israel, and was p...
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Lindsey Graham's Death Leaves a Void in US-Kurdish Relations

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of the most influential American advocates for the Kurdish people, raising questions about the future of bipartisan support for Kurdistan amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurdish people, creating uncertainty for future US-Kurdish relations. The Loss of a Longstanding Friend of Kurdistan The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has prompted an outpouring of tributes not only across Washington but throughout the Kurdistan Region, reflecting the rare position he occupied as one of the most consistent and influential American advocates for Kurdish interests. The Washington Kurdish Institute described Graham as a steadfast supporter whose commitment to the Kurdish people extended beyond political rhetoric, offering condolences to his family while highlighting...
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Can the stateless Nation of Kurdistan help save the Global Order?

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj A new geopolitical analysis argues that Kurdistan's experience of survival, mediation, and pragmatic diplomacy offers unexpected lessons as the international order faces its deepest crisis since World War II. A new geopolitical analysis argues Kurdistan's experience offers vital lessons for rebuilding international order amid the Iran war and global instability. As the World Fragments, Kurdistan Offers an Unexpected Lesson The international system is under unprecedented strain.  Russia's war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between Iran and the West, the paralysis of the United Nations, and growing competition among major powers have raised a fundamental question: Who still defines the rules of international order? According to a new geopolitical analysis by Greg Mills and Basil Gavalas , the answer may not come from Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Brussels—but from an unlikely place: Iraq's Kurdistan Region . While lacking international r...
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