The Axis of Upheaval Goes to War
The United States is currently at war with Iran, a conflict centered on controlling the flow of economic goods through the Strait of Hormuz. This struggle is the latest phase of a rivalry dating back to 1979. Russia and China are bolstering Iran's war effort as part of a deepening strategic rivalry with Washington. Former National Security Council members Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Richard Fontaine identify Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as the Axis of Upheaval, noting that these nations are increasing their cooperation while the U.S. faces friction within its own partnerships.
Listen to Live Briefing
Real-time synthesized voice briefing · Live Feeds Desk
- ✓ The United States is in a war with Iran over control of economic goods flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- ✓ Russia and China are providing support for Iran's war effort.
- ✓ The Axis of Upheaval consists of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
- ✓ The U.S.-Iranian conflict is a manifestation of strife lasting since 1979.
What changed
Analysis from the Foreign Policy Research Institute confirms the current state of war between the U.S. and Iran.
Live updates
-
United States Engaged in War with Iran as Axis of Upheaval Cooperates
The United States is currently at war with Iran, a conflict centered on controlling the flow of economic goods through the Strait of Hormuz. This struggle is the latest phase of a rivalry dating back to 1979. Russia and China are bolstering Iran's war effort as part of a deepening strategic rivalry with Washington. Former National Security Council members Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Richard Fontaine identify Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as the Axis of Upheaval, noting that these nations are increasing their cooperation while the U.S. faces friction within its own partnerships.
Why it matters
The conflict involves broader geopolitical factors beyond nuclear issues, specifically the influence of geography and demographics on foreign policy. Control of the Persian Gulf chokepoints provides significant economic benefits to the dominant power. This alignment of adversaries suggests a shift toward great power competition that could lead to unprecedented destruction.
What is confirmed
- The United States is in a war with Iran over control of economic goods flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Russia and China are providing support for Iran's war effort.
- The Axis of Upheaval consists of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
- The U.S.-Iranian conflict is a manifestation of strife lasting since 1979.
Still unconfirmed
- Washington is creating friction with many of its own partnerships.
- The U.S. is squandering the strength of its network while adversaries optimize theirs.
What to watch next
- Changes in U.S. Navy operations in the Arabian Sea regarding regional stability.
- Further evidence of coordinated military or economic actions between the Axis of Upheaval members.
- U.S. policy shifts regarding the use of force in the Russian-Iranian strategic partnership.
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (16)
- tinnitist.com — Upcoming Releases - Tinnitist
- www.yahoo.com — Yahoo
- Foreign Affairs — The Axis of Upheaval Goes to War
- The Jerusalem Post — Russia-Iran relationship demonstrates Kremlin's Middle East strategy
- Российский совет по международным делам — U.S. Policy of Force as a Factor of Enhancing the Russian-Iranian Strategic Partnership
- The Soufan Center — Great Power Competition Fuels Iran’s War Effort
- Sri Lanka Guardian — Russia and China Bolster Iran’s War Effort as Strategic Rivalry With US Deepens
- 80000hours.org — Great power conflict | 80,000 Hours
- www.cnas.org — The Axis of Upheaval Goes to War | CNAS
- www.eurasiareview.com — The Geopolitics Of The Persian Gulf And War With Iran – Analysis
- www.foreignaffairs.com — The Axis of Upheaval Goes to War | Foreign Affairs
- www.neperos.com — The World Before History • Neperos
Community Sentiment: How do you assess this situation?
Voice your perspective · Real-time aggregated sentiment from the Live Feeds community