>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS "HORIZONS MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA." OUR TOP STORIES THIS MORNING. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AGREED TO A 20-POINT PROPOSAL FOR A CEASE-FIRE.THE DEAL STILL HAS TO BERIA PROVED BY HAMAS. HE SAID ISRAEL WOULD NOT BE CONDUCT SIMILAR ATTACKS IN THE FUTURE. A SHUTDOWN LOOMS.VICE PRESIDENT J. D. VANCE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS HEADING FOR A SHUTDOWN.IT IS 5:00 A. M. HERE IN THE U.K. I’M HERE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.I’M JOUMANNA BERCETC ...

Oil Market Dynamics - The market had priced in a $15-20 per barrel premium due to Israel-Iran tensions, which is now being eliminated as the worst of the turmoil appears to be over [2] - Prior to the conflict, debates centered on tariffs potentially driving recession and leading to $50 oil price predictions [3] - Better-than-expected oil demand data and underperforming OPEC production quotas were observed [4] - Shale oil drilling had decreased, leading to questions about potential rollover [4] - Demand is hanging in at around 1 million barrels per day of growth [6] Factors Influencing Oil Prices - Transportation costs, particularly shipping, have surged due to Middle East risk premiums [5] - The potential for shale oil growth resumption if oil prices remain above $70 is a key variable [6] - Underlying oil fundamentals should be the primary focus, considering past disruptions' varied impacts [6][7] Geopolitical Considerations - The Israel-Iran conflict has not demonstrated Iran's strong military capabilities [8] - Most of Iran's oil sales go to China, making the closure of the Strait of Hormuz unlikely [8][9] - China's role is significant in preventing actions like closing the Strait of Hormuz [9]

Regime Vulnerability & Potential Collapse - The Islamic Republic is potentially at its weakest point after 46 years of rule [1] - Recent Israeli attacks have significantly weakened the regime operationally, strategically, and psychologically [1] - The regime lacks domestic support, with leaked internal polls suggesting 70% of the country doesn't support it [6] - The regime's traditional religious and lower economic class base no longer supports it due to economic pressures [6] - The regime is more vulnerable than ever and could very easily collapse [15] Political Alternatives & Transition - There's significant sympathy and support for the pre-revolutionary system [10] - Reza Pahlavi, the Shah's eldest son, is seen as a potential alternative, willing to be a transitional leader [11][12] - Pahlavi aims to secure a peaceful transition and lead the country to democratic elections [12] Geopolitical Implications & Investment Considerations - If the regime survives, it's likely to pursue nuclear weapons, potentially expediting the process [13][15] - Western policymakers and investors should consider what a different Iran might look like [16] - The current regime's aim is to buy time and get sanctions relief due to the crushed economy [16]

Cold War Strategy & Geopolitics - The book is a biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski, offering insights into American foreign policy during the Cold War, particularly through the lens of Brzezinski's rivalry with Kissinger [1][3][9] - Brzezinski viewed the Soviet Union as a non-permanent entity due to its internal nationalities and reverse natural selection, contrasting with Kissinger's view of the Soviet Union as a permanent feature of the landscape [15][16][13] - Brzezinski predicted the Soviet Union's demise and the rise of an "alliance of the aggrieved," comprising countries like Russia, China, and Iran, due to America's hubristic triumphalism after the Cold War [33][36] - Brzezinski advocated for the normalization of relations with China, believing that China, unlike the Soviet Union, was not inherently fragile and would remain a significant geopolitical unit [37][40] Brzezinski's Influence & Legacy - Brzezinski's family provided access to his diaries, offering a first-hand account of historical events and his thinking [5] - Brzezinski's approach to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan involved stoking Soviet paranoia and providing covert support to the Mujahideen, contributing to the Soviets' "Vietnam" [60][63] - Brzezinski's biggest mistake was his advice to Carter on Iran, including supporting the Shah and urging a rescue mission, reflecting a lack of understanding of Iranian dynamics [44][47] Modern Geopolitical Implications - The author suggests that Brzezinski would likely advise against a US-Russia alliance to counter China, instead favoring leveraging Russian paranoia about China to create distance between the two powers [65][68] - The author contrasts the strategic thinking of figures like Brzezinski and Kissinger with the perceived lack of expertise and strategic depth in contemporary politics [28][29] - The author highlights the shift from a bipartisan consensus on foreign policy during the Cold War to a more fragmented landscape with differing views on the nature and source of threats [30][31]