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Iran’s diplomacy strategy: negotiation as leverage, not concession

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     Tehran’s demands over the Strait of Hormuz raise a larger question: when Iran enters negotiations, is it seeking a settlement—or buying time to reshape the battlefield? Iran’s advocates of diplomacy often present negotiations with Tehran as the obvious alternative to escalation. Their argument is straightforward: pressure creates instability, while dialogue can produce compromise. Yet that argument becomes considerably more complicated when examined against the historical behavior of the Islamic Republic. Iran’s demands over the Strait of Hormuz reveal how Tehran may use diplomacy, coercive leverage and negotiations to divide opponents, extract concessions and buy time.  The central question is not whether Iran is willing to talk. It clearly is.  The more consequential question is what Tehran seeks to achieve by talking . A long record of Iranian engagement with the United States and regional powers suggests ...
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How Islamists weaponize funerals? Who Owns Religion in Kurdistan?

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Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj  , Sulaimani, Iraq, 02 May , 2026 ---When Islamists Claim a Monopoly Over Heaven, They Challenge the State on Earth The deaths of Khazal Mawlan and Farooq Rafiq triggered an argument that went far beyond mourning. It exposed a deeper struggle over sovereignty, legitimacy, and the ownership of religion itself. When Islamist voices questioned whether either man deserved Islamic funeral rites, they were not merely making a theological point. They were asserting political authority—claiming the right to determine who belongs to the community, who deserves dignity in death, and ultimately, who may enter heaven. That is not religion. That is power. In modern political systems, the monopoly over legitimate force belongs to the state. Less often acknowledged, but equally important, is the state's monopoly over public religious administration. Mosques, burial procedures, and religious ceremonies in public life are governed not by private sectarian groups, but by stat...
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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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Trump warns Iran: 'Pickaxe Mountain' nuclear site is next

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj The U.S. president says Iran's previously untouched Pickaxe Mountain facility could soon become Washington's next military target, raising fears of another round of conflict in the Middle East. Donald Trump signals a possible U.S. strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, escalating tensions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. A New Nuclear Flashpoint Emerges Just weeks after the latest confrontation between Washington and Tehran, President Donald Trump has hinted that the United States may launch another military strike—this time targeting Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility . Speaking during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt , Trump described the underground complex as a likely military objective. "Pickaxe is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door." He added that U.S. intelligence has been closely monitoring the site and suggested military action could come "r...
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