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By: Mukhlis Mukhlis June 14, 2026 As the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran edge toward a momentous diplomatic framework to conclude their recent conflict, a dangerous triumphalism has taken hold in Washington. The emerging architecture, anchored by a temporary truce, the reopening of the heavily blockaded Strait of Hormuz, and technical talks to freeze Tehran's battered nuclear facilities, is being framed by the administration as a historic victory. However, a so

By Mukhlis Mukhlis The declaration that U.S. military action against Iran “terminated” on May 1, 2026, is political craftsmanship—but it is also a strategic contradiction. The Executive Branch may tell Congress the War Powers clock has stopped, yet the situation on the water and ashore in the Arab Gulf is far more complicated. The conflict has not ended; it has shifted. What follows is a transition from open kinetic warfare to a period of sustained geo‑strategic constriction.

By: Mukhlis Mukhlis Background The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, were established in 2014 following a fatwa issued by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to combat the rise of ISIS. By 2016, the PMF had evolved into a formalized paramilitary force integrated within Iraq's security framework. The PMF encompasses approximately 67 factions, representing a diverse spectrum of ethnic and sectarian groups, though it is predominantly composed