The Middle East crisis • Israel-Iran

Over 100 countries support Guterres after excommunication

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is supported by over 100 member states, including Sweden, as well as the African Union, writes TT. This after they signed a letter in support of him after Israel declared him "persona non grata".

Among the countries that did not sign the letter were the United States, Great Britain and Australia.

Israel declared Guterres "persona non grata" after it was deemed that the UN chief did not specifically condemn Iran's attack on the country.

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Analysis: The Middle East will never be the same

Even if it does not lead to a major regional war, the conflict between Israel and Iran has had consequences that mean that the Middle East will never be the same again. That's what Arash Reisinezhad writes in an analysis for Foreign Policy where he describes how Iran's strategy towards the arch-enemy has changed during the year.

Reisinezhad lists eight examples, including Tehran's patience wearing thin due to pressure from allies. He also points out that Iran has crossed its own "red line" by carrying out attacks against two countries with nuclear weapons: Israel and Pakistan.

He believes that there are no longer any established red lines for the conflict and that both seem to want to "move the borders" through attacks.

Ali Vaez writes in Foreign Affairs that Iran's government has invested in three major projects in recent decades, including the nuclear program. He writes about the "irony" of Iran's possible willingness and ability to produce nuclear weapons and use them as a deterrent. Nuclear weapons have not deterred Iran.

But the fact that Iran currently appears weak may make the regime want to take higher risks, writes Vaez.

"Yet a change in nuclear doctrine is unlikely to solve Iran's strategic dilemmas."