Open Dialogue Research Journal
In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, the United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran on February 28, 2026, resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering widespread retaliation across the region. The crisis – the most serious confrontation between […]
The joint U.S.–Israeli assault on Iran – officially titled “Operation Epic Fury” – marks one of the most consequential geopolitical ruptures of the 21st century. Within hours, hundreds of strikes hit Iranian territory. The residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reduced to rubble. Senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard […]
The world is watching closely as U.S. and Iranian officials prepare to meet in Geneva this Thursday for what could be a decisive round of nuclear negotiations. Senior U.S. officials confirm that the Trump administration expects to receive a detailed Iranian proposal by Tuesday, which will form the basis of […]
Witkoff May Have Agreed to a Framework that falls outside the Trump-Rubio Parameters The US-Iran “indirect” talks in Geneva lasted between 3 and 4 hours. Omani diplomats acted as intermediaries. The US delegation did not meet directly with the Iranians. Thus suggestions were carried from one side to the other, […]
The United States is dramatically increasing its military presence in the Middle East, as President Donald Trump orders the deployment of a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region. The move is widely seen as an effort to intensify pressure on Iran amid fragile negotiations over its nuclear and […]
The sharp rise in tensions between the United States and Iran in early 2026 has once again pushed the Middle East to the edge of a major conflict. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned of a possible “regional war”, the United States has deployed a powerful aircraft carrier […]
The negotiations are a disaster from the start Special Ambassador Steve Witkoff no doubt talked to President Trump about the US-Iran meeting in Oman. We don’t have a special wiretap on his call to the President, but it is a sure bet Witkoff told the President things were going well […]
An Invasion is Unlikely The Trump administration has fundamentally changed direction on Iran. US NATO Ambassador Matt Whitaker says the US will not try and force regime change in Iran, suggesting that “we don’t want another Libya scenario.” Whitaker says “We’re not asking for much, just stop killing your people […]
He did it to Iran, which refused to have any nuclear weapons — and so he invaded in order that “Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.” He did it to Venezuela. He threatens it to Greenland and Denmark. He had promised to end all wars, but has instead continued […]
When Iran’s first vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref, travelled to Moscow for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) prime ministers’ meeting, it came at a moment of renewed pressure on Tehran. The snapback mechanism has been reactivated, Western sanctions discussions are re-intensifying, and the regional environment remains unsettled after the recent twelve-day […]
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