On This morning, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the Master’s thesis defense of student Saba Khairi Abdullah Ahmed was held in the Conference and Discussion Hall of our College. Her thesis was entitled “The Role of National Interest in Building Alliances: A Study of Iran’s Alliances and Their Impact on Changing the Security Environment in the Middle East.”

The study examined the role of national interest in shaping Iran’s domestic and foreign policy toward building alliances and how it influenced the determination of its strategic priorities to strengthen its regional position and reduce international isolation. The diversity of Iran’s alliance patterns has enabled it to adapt to regional transformations, with national interest representing the geopolitical considerations that explain Iran’s choice of allies in the Middle East, thereby providing flexibility in managing regional power balances.

The defense committee was composed of the following members:

1. Professor Dr. Adnan Khalaf Hamid – Chair.

2. Assistant Professor Dr. Damir Abdul-Razzaq Mahmoud – Member.

3. Assistant Professor Dr. Mohammed Salah Mahmoud – Member.

4. Professor Dr. Salem Mater Abdullah – Member and Supervisor.