The Unseen

10/01/2024

01/11/2023

China's has surpassed the euro to become the world's second-most used currency in the global trade finance market in Sep, 2023.

The internationalization of is gaining momentum.

24/10/2023

French President Macron, in a telephone conversation with Iranian President Raisi, declared the inadmissibility of escalating the conflict in the Middle East.

"Macron warned Raisi against any escalation or spread of the conflict, especially to Lebanon," Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Elysee Palace.

The French President also stressed that Iran, “given its relations with Hamas and Hezbollah,” bears a certain responsibility and must do everything possible to avoid a “regional outbreak.”

24/10/2023

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in 1948-occupied Palestine to show his support for Israel in its ongoing genocide campaign on Gaza.

24/10/2023

Pakistan has successfully tested the ground-launched medium-range ballistic missile Ghauri/Hatf-V with a range of 1,500 km

23/10/2023

Iran may be the next target in Israel-Hamas war, but China is ready to help----

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has escalated into a regional crisis, with rockets flying across borders and airstrikes causing massive casualties. While the international community is calling for a ceasefire, some analysts believe that Iran may be the next target of Israel's aggression, as it is a major supporter of Hamas. However, Iran may not be alone in facing the Israeli threat, as China has deployed six warships in the Middle East, including a guided-missile destroyer, to protect its interests and allies.



Iran has a long history of hostility with Israel, dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew the pro-Western Shah and established an Islamic Republic. Since then, Iran has been accused of developing nuclear weapons, while Israel has been conducting covert operations and assassinations to sabotage Iran's ambitions. Iran has also been supporting various armed factions in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza, to counter Israel's influence and advance its own agenda.

The recent outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas has exposed Iran's role in arming and training the Palestinian resistance force who have fired thousands of rockets at Israeli cities and towns. Israel has responded with devastating air strikes on Gaza, targeting Hamas' leaders, tunnels, and rocket launchers. However, some experts believe that Israel's real objective is not to destroy Hamas, but to weaken Iran's presence and deterrence in the region.

According to Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's foreign minister, Israel's "heinous crimes" against Gaza are part of a "pre-planned scenario" to create a "security vacuum" in the region and pave the way for a "big war". He also warned that Iran and Hamas will respond to Israel's aggression with "firmness and strength".

China has been expanding its economic and diplomatic ties with the Middle East in recent years, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that aims to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa through trade and infrastructure projects. China is also a major importer of oil and gas from the region, and a key partner of Iran in circumventing the US sanctions that have crippled its economy.

China has also been increasing its military presence and cooperation in the region, as it seeks to protect its interests and assert its role as a global power. In March this year, China signed a 25-year strategic partnership agreement with Iran, which covers various fields such as energy, trade, security, and culture. The deal also includes joint military exercises and intelligence sharing.

As the Israel-Hamas war intensifies, China has deployed six warships in the Middle East, including a guided-missile destroyer named Xining, which is capable of launching anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles. The deployment reflects China's growing complexity of the geopolitical landscape in the region¹, as well as its intention to safeguard its allies and assets from potential threats.

China has also been vocal in criticizing Israel's actions and calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. China's foreign minister Wang Yi said that "Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense"¹ and urged the UN Security Council to take action to stop the violence. China has also offered to mediate between Israel and Palestine, as it claims to be a friend of both sides.

However, some observers doubt China's sincerity and effectiveness in resolving the conflict, as it faces several challenges and limitations. For one thing, China's relationship with Israel is not as hostile as it seems, as they have maintained trade and technology exchanges for decades. For another thing, China's influence in the region is not as strong as it hopes, as it has to compete with other powers such as the US, Russia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, China's close relations with Iran, an open rival to Israel and known to be an ally of Hamas, is another cause of concern. Israel has called on Beijing to stop Iran from further escalation of the ongoing situation.

The Israel-Hamas war is not only a humanitarian tragedy but also a geopolitical challenge for the Middle East and beyond. Iran may be the next target of Israel's wrath, but it may not be helpless if China comes to its aid. However, China's role in the conflict is not clear-cut or easy, as it has to balance its interests and relationships with various actors in the region. Whether China can play a key role in ending the war or not remains to be seen.

19/10/2023

Pakistan and China on Wednesday signed the long-awaited multi-billion-dollar Mainline One (ML-I) railway project which would cost around US$ 6.7 billion and would transform and replace the centuries-old existing railway track from Peshawar to Karachi.

The agreement, among many others, was signed at a befitting signing ceremony held in Beijing and was attended by Chinese premier Li Qiang and caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar.

On the occasion, both the countries also agreed to further strengthen high-level dialogue and engagement besides deepening the political, economic, education, science & technology, cultural, and people-to-people relations.

The bilateral ties were discussed in a bilateral meeting between Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Kakar and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of Third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) China’s capital.

19/10/2023

Biden tells Netanyahu US ‘fully in support’ of Israeli ground invasion of Gaza: Report

Read more: https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/19/713007/US-fully-support%E2%80%99-of-ground-invasion-of-Gaza

19/10/2023

US vetoes Security Council resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza

Favor: 12 (Albania, Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland,UAE)
Against: 1 (US)
Abstain: 2 Russia, UK

18/10/2023

The conflict between Hamas and Israel has brought complications for Saudi Arabia and has a wider geopolitical scope. Saudi Arabia has become closer to the USA and its ally Israel in recent years and its crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has given a statement about Jews. Saudi Arabia has joined IMEC in the G20 summit, in which it connects India with Israel through its ports and railway. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is totally dependent on the USA, hence Saudi Arabia has to make closer ties with Israel.

Saudi Arabia is a **bunker regime**, which means a group of influential people who are entrenched in the institutions of the state and resist any change or reform. Saudi Arabia has its legitimacy due to the custodianship of the holy city of Mecca, hence Saudi Arabia is considered the center of Islam. But MBS's controversial projects like Mukaab, which is considered to subjugate the authority of Kaaba, are often being discussed. However, Iran's threat to its hegemony and the legitimacy of the House of Saud to rule Arabs has not been ignored by Saudi Arabia. Iran's system of **waliyat fiqh** (guardianship of the Islamic jurist) and potential to become the leader of the Islamic world is a challenge for Saudi Arabia. Waliyat fiqh is a concept in Twelver Shia Islamic law which holds that a righteous jurist should assume the leadership of the Muslim community in the absence of an infallible Imam.

Saudi Arabia has no option other than to temporarily postpone normalization with Israel to maintain its legitimacy and have to eliminate the threat that is posed by Iran to its authority. Saudi Arabia neither has the option to go against Israel. Saudi Arabia may pursue its external policy to raise Salafist jihadists to prevent Iran from uniting the Islamic world under the governance of waliyat fiqh. Saudi Arabia has been trying to make closer ties with the Taliban government that is dubious.

The Palestinian cause, which seeks to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and oppression, has been a source of solidarity and unity among Muslims and Arabs for decades. However, in recent years, some Arab countries have normalized their relations with Israel without addressing the Palestinian issue, which has weakened the support for the Palestinian struggle. Moreover, Iran has tried to present itself as a champion of the Palestinian cause and a leader of the Muslim world, which has created tensions with Saudi Arabia.

The conflict between Hamas and Israel also has theological implications for the Muslim world, as it relates to the prophecies of the end times. According to some Islamic traditions, a tyrannical ruler named Sufyani will emerge obefore the
appearance of Dajjal, the Antichrist. Some believe that Saudi Arabia, with the help of the USA, will support Sufyani and his oppression of Muslims, especially the Shia Muslims who follow the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt, the family of the Prophet Muhammad. The followers of Ahl al-Bayt are also the main supporters of Iran's system of waliyat fiqh, which claims that a righteous jurist should lead the Muslim community in the absence of an infallible Imam. This could lead to a bloody war between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as they compete for religious and political influence in the region.

16/10/2023

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman: Iran ready to host emergency meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation

16/10/2023

Wang Yi to Lavrov:

There is urgent need for a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza

16/10/2023

Hebrew Media:

Blinken landed in Israel for the second time since the war began

He will inform the leadership of the Israeli regime about what he has been told by Arab leaders

16/10/2023

Putin: Only sane Americans can talk about the simultaneous war of the USA against Russia and China

RESPONDED TO THE POSITION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE US CONGRESS THAT THE PENTAGON SHOULD PREPARE FOR SUCH A CONFLICT

Warned Washington and the Pentagon: "If the United States wants to fight with Russia - it will be a completely different war, and not any special military operation." A war between major nuclear powers would be a completely different story than what is happening in Ukraine."

15/10/2023

Instagram and Facebook are cracking down on all posts and pages exposing the genocide in Gaza. Meta is heavily censoring pro-Palestine users. We are witnessing the ethnic cleansing of native people with the complicity of media giants. Be the voice of the Palestinian people.

15/10/2023

Israel's actions went beyond self-defense, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

He added that the Israeli government must "stop the collective punishment of Gazans."

15/10/2023

Beyond roads and bridges: BRI is about the people
There are those in the West who define the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) solely as an "infrastructure project" and believe it is not sustainable in the long term. Zlatko Lagumdžija, a former chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said infrastructure is indeed a major component of the BRI, but the initiative is also about improving people's living standards and putting people together. Infrastructure serves the purpose of connecting people and facilitating people-to-people exchange. The world that many Westerners are preaching for – a world of segregated societies walled off from each other, divided by economic status and identity – is not sustainable. A world not understanding that the future is shared is not a world that's going to truly serve the people.

13/10/2023

In six days of Israeli airstrikes against Gaza, at least 1,537 Palestinians, including 500 children and 276 women, were killed, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry.

12/10/2023

Ibrahim Raisi: The blow that Israel received was unprecedented

🔹The President of Iran in a telephone conversation with Bashar al-Assad:

🔹During Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the Zionist regime suffered an unprecedented blow in its 75-year history.

🔹One of the benefits of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was proof that no order in the region can be achieved without taking into account the rights of Palestinians.

🔹The entire Islamic Ummah and free people of the world must achieve unity towards ending the Zionist crimes against Palestine.

🔹Based on this, Iran will try to establish this coordination as soon as possible by contacting the heads of Islamic countries.

President of Syria:
▪️The victories of the resistance have shown that the Israeli regime is much weaker than it claims.

▪️We must make every effort to accelerate the establishment of a unified position in support of the oppressed people of Palestine.

11/10/2023

Recent reports have highlighted Saudi Arabia's reluctance to publicly address its stance on normalizing relations with Israel, despite the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, which had a significant global impact. This reluctance seems to stem from Saudi Arabia's primary concern, which is the rising influence of Iran in the region. Saudi leaders perceive Iran as a major threat to their authority over Arab nations.

The ongoing geopolitical rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia holds profound implications for international relations, particularly involving the United States. Historically, the U.S. has been a staunch ally of Saudi Arabia while maintaining a contentious relationship with Iran. This situation has put Saudi Arabia in a complex position.

Saudi Arabia, long considered a central state in the Islamic world, has faced criticism for certain strategic decisions in recent years. Actions such as dissolving the Muslim World League, an organization aimed at promoting Muslim unity, and pursuing the Saudi Vision 2030, an economic reform plan with Western influences, have raised concerns about the kingdom's commitment to preserving the unity and identity of the Muslim world. The United States, which has supported Saudi Arabia through military assistance and economic partnerships, has closely watched these developments.

In contrast, Iran has positioned itself as a proponent of Muslim unity and the preservation of Muslim identity, using its system of Walyat al-Faqih, where religious leaders hold ultimate authority in governance. This approach has garnered suspicion and opposition from the U.S., which views Iran as a regional competitor and a threat to its interests in the Middle East.

It's important to note that Saudi Arabia's legitimacy largely hinges on its role as the custodian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. However, recent years have seen challenges to this claim.

If a united Muslim ummah, or community, were to emerge under the leadership of Iran's Supreme Leader, it could potentially lead to Saudi Arabia being ostracized by many Muslims. This could, in turn, erode the legitimacy of the Saudi government and potentially lead to the downfall of the ruling Al Saud dynasty.

The dynamics in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and Iran as central players, are intertwined with the interests of the United States, making the situation in the region highly complex and politically charged.

11/10/2023

The United States provides $3.3 billion in military aid to Israel each year under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that runs from FY2019 to FY2028. This aid is used to purchase a variety of military equipment, including F-35 fighter jets, missiles, and helicopters.

At the same time, Pakistan's military spending has decreased in recent years, including during the tenure of Prime Minister Imran Khan. In 2018, Pakistan's military spending was $10.3 billion. In 2019, it fell to $9.8 billion. And in 2020, it fell to $9.2 billion.

**Possible correlation between the increase in US military aid to Israel and the decrease in Pakistan's military spending:**

* The United States may be providing more military aid to Israel in order to deter it from attacking Iran, which the United States views as a threat. Pakistan's military establishment has historically had close ties with Iran, and the United States may be concerned about the potential for Pakistan to support Iran in a conflict.
* The United States may also be providing more military aid to Israel in order to maintain its qualitative military edge over its neighbors. This could be seen as a way to deter Arab states from attacking Israel
* Imran Khan's government was generally more pro-American than previous Pakistani governments.

10/10/2023

The United States' readiness for a potential conflict with Iran is a complex issue driven by a variety of factors, including its advocacy of Christian Zionism and the promotion of Western values. The US government officially espouses principles of secularism and democracy, but the influence of religious lobbies, including the Christian Zionist movement, has played a role in shaping its foreign policy decisions.

One of the main causes of conflict between the US and Iran is the US's steadfast support for Israel, which is deeply rooted in religious convictions. Christian Zionists view this support as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. This, in turn, influences American foreign policy. While the US maintains a separation of church and state in theory, the practical impact of influential religious lobbies raises questions about the extent to which secularism is upheld in its diplomacy.

Furthermore, the US's consistent promotion of Western values like democracy, individualism, and human rights worldwide has generated backlash in regions like Iran. Iran, seeking to maintain its distinct political identity in the face of globalization and Westernization, resists these values, viewing them as a challenge to its sovereignty. This clash of values contributes to the tensions between the two nations.

In addition to these factors, the US is also in the midst of an effort to promote Christian Zionism as a universal religion and a part of Western culture. This effort is likely to further exacerbate tensions with Iran and increase the risk of conflict.

It is important to note that Christian Zionism is a minority view among Christians worldwide. The vast majority of Christians do not support the establishment of a Greater Israel or the belief that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is dependent on the gathering of the Jews in Israel.