The escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran is increasingly affecting not only the Middle East but also the global economy. Strikes on military and coastal facilities, attacks in the Persian Gulf, the threat of disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and growing domestic opposition to the conflict in the United States have raised the risk of a prolonged crisis with far-reaching and unpredictable consequences.

With Donald Trump back in the Oval Office, the United States seems poised for a new yet familiar chapter in its political narrative. Echoing the tone of his campaign, President Trump’s rhetoric and policies suggest a continuation of his prior administration’s hallmark themes rather than a dramatic shift.

By Samir Muradov

News.Az presents an interview with Alan Cafruny, the Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Affairs at Hamilton College.

By Kerim Sultanov

American political scientist Alan Cafruny, the Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Affairs at Hamilton College, noted in an exclusive interview with News.Az that the intensification of US-Armenian relations is not surprising, given Armenia's loss of Russia as a guarantor and Armenia's de facto withdrawal from the CSTO. Both countries obviously have an interest in closer relations, and Washington will certainly seek to enhance its role in the region.