Tel Quel goes to China: Sollers, Kristeva, Barthes, Pleynet, Wahl and the Cultural Revolution

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Rashid Faridi

Tel Quel famously went to China in 1974. Tel Quel was an important literary journal founded in 1960, to which many of the major names of ‘French …

Tel Quel goes to China: Sollers, Kristeva, Barthes, Pleynet, Wahl and the Cultural Revolution
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Strait of Hormuz: An Overview

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Rashid Faridi

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea route between Oman and the United Arab Emirates (south) and Iran (north). It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and eventually the Arabian Sea. As such, it is the principal maritime passageway out of the Persian Gulf, which is why it is considered one of the most strategically significant waterways in the world.

Geographic setting

The strait is narrow enough to require tight controls on shipping traffic within a defined corridor, creating a geographic bottleneck; therefore, this is important as it connects a large energy-exporting area to the world, and has a lot of traffic on it in spite of its small size.


Economic importance

The vast majority of crude oil sold by Gulf countries leaves through this body of water. Additionally, it plays a large role in exporting liquefied natural gas from Qatar. This means that Asian, European, and other countries rely on vessels being able to move safely through this strait. If vessels are delayed or prevented from moving through the strait due to disturbances, then energy costs often rise rapidly.

Strategic and political importance

Due to differing security interests among countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz, there has been longstanding tension in this region. Iran has often leveraged potential disruption of navigation in the strait to exert political influence while the U.S. and its allies view it as an essential route for protecting international maritime rights through navigation. Because of its significance to international commerce and military planning as well as diplomatic relations, the Strait is critical from multiple points of view.

Why disruptions matter

If shipping through the strait becomes unsafe, several effects can follow:

  • Tankers may avoid the route.
  • Insurance and freight costs may increase.
  • Oil and gas prices can jump.
  • Exporting countries may lose revenue.
  • Importing countries may face higher energy costs.

So, even a short disturbance can have wider effects than the local conflict itself. That is why the Strait of Hormuz is often described as a global energy chokepoint.

In the Nutshell , the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow international waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and serves as a major route for global oil and gas shipments.

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Regional Geography of Iran: An Overview

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Rashid Faridi

The geography of Iran is diverse but undeniable. It consists of high plateaus, rugged mountains, and expansive deserts and lies at the crossroads of West Asia geographically. Geographically the region has shaped settlement and agricultural patterns and provided strategic defenses through time.

Mostly located on the Iranian Plateau, which has an average elevation of 900 to 1200 meters above sea level, Iran is bordered by major mountain ranges all around it. The west of the country is home to the Zagros Mountains, which extends from northwest to southeast, with some peaks reaching elevations of 3000 to 4000 meters. The Alborz Mountain range is located north of the Caspian Sea with Mount Damavand at the extreme northwestern edge of the range at 5610 meters above sea level (the tallest mountain in Iran).

As a volcanic mountain and symbol of the Alborz, Mount Damavand has affected the local climate and appears in many myths surrounding the region.

Regions

Northern Caspian Lowlands: Fertile strip running along northern borders of Iran, subtropical climate, high levels of precipitation; major area for rice and tea crops.

Southwestern Khuzestan Plain: extends from Mesopotamia (modern Iraq); marshy area with large oil reserves; major agricultural area because of rivers like the Karun River.

Central Plateau: consists of several arid basins; salt flats include Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut; has a very sparse population except for oasis communities.

Eastern Deserts: large sandy areas with an elevation lower than 1500 m.

Water Bodies and Borders

Iran shares borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iraq. Also, it has three coastline borders—the Caspian Sea to the north; The Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman along the southern border, allowing them to control chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz that are critical to the flow of oil in and out of the country and around the world.

Provinces Overview

Iran’s administrative provinces cover an area of approximately 1.6 million square kilometers. The population density in Tehran Province is the highest; it has a population of more than 11,000 residents per square kilometer. Conversely, in the south-eastern part of the country, Sistan and Baluchestan are two of the largest and least populated provinces.

This map details all 31 provinces, highlighting their boundaries and coastal positions.

Physiographic Zones

The rugged Zagros (west) and Alborz (north) enclose the Central Plateau’s basins, covering 50% of land as arid/semi-arid. Dasht-e Lut reaches 70°C extremes, while Caspian areas stay milder. These zones drive 82% aridity, stressing water resources amid 80+ million population.

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Major Landforms of South West Asia

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Growth Of Antarctic Sea Ice

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Rashid Faridi

ftp://osisaf.met.no/prod_test/ice/index/v2p3/sh/osisaf_sh_sie_daily.txt

Growth Of Antarctic Sea Ice
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