Sanctions, a lack of investment, and mismanagement have plagued the Iranian energy industry for years while Iran's neighbors have been able to increase their energy production capacity over the last two decades
If Israel and Iran were to engage in a conventional air war, Khamenei could be pressed to reverse his religious edict banning Iran from producing weapons of mass destruction
Significant segments of Omani society appear to be in growing solidarity with Tehran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel as anti-U.S. narratives gain popularity
Women face significant discrimination in Iran but have become increasingly prominent in the public sphere, most recently as advocates for their fathers running for president.
Criminal syndicates have taken advantage of weak law enforcement in the Persian Gulf and security gaps in Yemen and Syria to smuggle drugs and weapons, jeopardizing Middle Eastern security and its citizens' well-being.
Iran has consistently sought to improve relations with its Arab neighbors while supporting militant proxies that have created considerable anxiety among those same neighbors
