Part 5/10:
Economic data is sobering; from 2018-2023, Iran generated $253 billion in oil revenues, yet most of this capital has been funneled into high-risk geopolitical endeavors rather than domestic improvements. A significant portion – between $30 to $50 billion – was invested in supporting the Assad regime in Syria, while over $20 billion was allocated to various militia groups across the Middle East, like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Unfortunately, the evolving geopolitical landscape leaves Iran with little to show for this investment, crippling the regime's ability to maintain its proxy networks and further undermining an already fraying domestic infrastructure.