“Iran’s Perilous Path Back to Power:  Tehran Has Few Options, but the Best One Depends on China,” Foreign Affairs, 9-17-25.  While accurately describing Iran’s reliance on China to rebuild defenses in the short term, particularly regarding air, and Iran’s desire to rebuild proxy networks, this article makes no mention of what Iran should really try to do if it wants to become great and powerful in its region—to act as a normal country, not a revolutionary.  In the process, this article displays why Iran will continue to miss the mark for what it could be become, instead of remaining a pariah.

“U.S. Designates 4 ‘Iran-Aligned’ Militias in Iraq as Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” FDD, 9-17-25.  “The State Department designated four Iraq-based, “Iran-aligned” armed militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on September 17. The groups are Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN), Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA), and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA), all of which were previously assigned the status of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.“ As the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran continues to provide support that enables these militias to plan, facilitate, or directly carry out attacks across Iraq,” the announcement stated, adding that the “groups have conducted attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and bases hosting U.S. and Coalition forces, typically using front names or proxy groups to obfuscate their involvement.” … All four designated groups are part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a coalition of Iran-aligned Shia Islamist armed militias that have launched attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, atrocities in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.”

Never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.  “‘Ball still in Iran’s court,’ European powers say after nuclear issues call,” Al Jazeera, 9-17-25.

“Iran executes man it says spied for Israel, activists say false confession,” Al Jazeera, 9-17-25.