Behrouz Esbati said he partially blamed Russia for the fall of Assad's government, in a rare break from Iran's official line on Syria.

Iran is reeling from a cratering economy and stinging military setbacks across its sphere of influence in the Middle East. Its bad times are likely to get worse once President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House with his policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran.

For weeks, Iranian officials have downplayed the fall of their ally in Syria. But an important general has offered a remarkably candid view of the blow to Iran, and its military’s prospects.

Iran’s top military official in Syria, Brig. Gen. Behrouz Esbati, recently admitted that Iran had suffered a significant defeat with the fall of

Like any newly elected American President, Donald Trump must all too soon address international affairs that have been much ignored in the election.

Vladimir Putin’s Russia is embroiled in war and plagued by systemic decay — and Donald Trump can exploit its weakness to end its campaign of global instability.

Is the end near? Our planet is the closest it has ever been to a global nuclear holocaust, members of the scientific community have warned over the past two years. Sometime this month, they will announce whether we have moved steps closer to annihilation.

Under the proposed “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Moscow and Tehran, we are likely to see the Iran-Russia relationship strengthen over time, not just on a conventional level but in terms of Moscow’s support for Iran’s proxy forces.

Russia has introduced a new long-range kamikaze drone, the Kub-10E, which has made its combat debut in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This latest military innovation is designed to enhance Russia's strike capabilities and is being hailed as a potential game-changer in aerial warfare.

Further raising the nuclear risk levels are advancing technologies. AI can dangerously automate the command and control of nuclear weapons. The increased role of nuclear energy to address climate change could increase the spread of nuclear weapons capability, unless diligently addressed.

Mouaz Moustafa says Gabbard’s response to Assad’s atrocities is a worrisome sign of how she’d serve as director of national intelligence.