How the US Became the Middle East’s Decisive Power

April 22, 2026 at 10:50 AM8 min read0 views

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In September, world leaders will gather in New York for the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, one of the most important platforms for practicing multilateralism. The session is being held at a time when the world is embroiled in trade wars, active military conflicts and rising geopolitical tensions among the major powers, i.e. China and the United States, which are building their respective spheres of influence while the United Nations remains as silent as an indifferent bystander. Amidst this state of affairs, there is an urgent need to reimagine the multilateral system and put humanity on a new course to meet existing commitments and solve long-term challenges, especially because our multilateral tools and institutions are unable to respond effectively to today's political, economic, environmental and technological challenges.

On 28 February 2026, the long, shadowed rivalry between Washington and Tehran exploded into open conflict. Within hours of coordinated American-Israeli air strikes over Iran, reports confirmed that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in a "decapitation" strike on his compound in Tehran. For decades, the United States had insisted it sought containment, not conquest. It was...

How the US Became the Middle East’s Decisive Power

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