Be respectful in your interactions with fellow members. You can Go Here to read our Terms and Rules. Visit My Profile to create your avatar and see your posts. If you to report a bug or issue, email us at support.GI US.com

Title: November 11, 2025

GRAY ZONE BRIEF 11 NOVEMBER 2025 

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!!!

MIDDLE EAST SITREP

Key Takeaways:

            •          Syria-US Relations: Syrian President Ahmed al Shara met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on November 10. Shara’s visit marked the first visit of any Syrian president to the White House.

            •          US Efforts to Disarm Hezbollah: The United States is attempting to disrupt Iran’s financial support to Hezbollah as part of an effort to pressure the group to disarm. Israel’s recent military operations in Lebanon align with the United States’ effort to curb Iranian support for Hezbollah.

            •          Iranian-backed Iraqi Militia Posture: An unidentified Iraqi official told a Kurdish journalist on November 10 that all Iranian-backed Iraqi militias with political wings in the Shia Coordination Framework are “demanding” that US forces remain in Iraq. It is unclear why Iranian-backed Iraqi militias would support US forces retaining a presence in Iraq, given that the removal of US forces from the Middle East is a long-standing objective shared by Iran and Iranian-backed Iraqi militias.

IRAN’S GAS & WATER CRISIS 

Iran is facing water and gas shortages that could lead to internal instability. 

The Tehran area is facing an unprecedented water shortage crisis due to prolonged drought, overconsumption, and government mismanagement.

The Iranian Energy Ministry-owned Water Research Institute stated on November 7 that Tehran must prepare for a crisis after the city received no rainfall in both October and November, despite normally receiving 50–60 millimeters during these months.

This drought has caused Tehran’s reservoir volume to drop to about 250 million cubic meters, compared to around 490 million cubic meters in the last Persian calendar year. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on November 7 that Tehran may ration water in December if rain does not fall and that individuals may have to evacuate Tehran if the water shortage persists.

Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi announced on November 9 that water suppliers may cut water in some areas of Tehran if the water shortage continues and advised Iranians to install home water storage systems in preparation. 

An Iranian water industry official stated on November 9 that water pressure would be lowered during the night to allow cities to refill their reservoirs.

The water shortage crisis demonstrates the Iranian regime’s inability to address the needs of its citizens and could potentially trigger unrest.

Iran is also facing a gasoline crisis that could contribute to internal instability. Pezeshkian said on October 23 that gasoline prices may "have to” rise.

An Iranian parliamentarian claimed on November 8 that Iran has run out of money in its budget to import gasoline. Iranian parliamentarians sent a letter to Pezeshkian on November 10 urging him to address the worsening gasoline crisis. 

The letter highlighted that Iran’s domestic gasoline production falls short by 20 million liters daily, which forces the Iranian regime to buy costly imports. 

These imports subsequently strain the Iranian budget and worsen inflation. An increase in gas prices previously sparked protests in Iran in 2019.

SYRIA

**Syria carried out pre-emptive operations against Islamic State cells** - Syrian security forces launched nationwide raids targeting Islamic State cells, arresting 71 suspects and seizing weapons and explosives, according to the Interior Ministry. The operations preceded President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington, where he met with U.S. President Donald Trump and discussed joining the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition. The crackdown came as Washington is considering establishing a military presence at a Damascus airbase to support a regional security pact involving Syria and Israel. U.S. officials have not yet commented on the reported coordination efforts. 

ISRAEL & GAZA

Gaza update. Hamas fighters trapped in the Rafah area of Gaza will not surrender to “the enemy,” Hamas’ armed wing said in a statement. It also said Israel bears “full responsibility” for clashes that have erupted in Rafah since a ceasefire took effect last month. The deputy secretary-general of Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad likewise said any plan to disarm groups in Gaza like Hamas is “doomed to fail.” Meanwhile, an Israeli government spokesperson said at a briefing that Israel opposes the participation of Turkish troops in the international stabilization force being established in Gaza.

LEBANON 

Israel on Hezbollah. Israeli authorities have warned the Lebanese government, through U.S. mediaries, that its efforts to subdue Hezbollah are insufficient. Israel has attacked more than two dozen targets in southern Lebanon over the past month. Israel has also informed U.S. authorities that Hezbollah has smuggled hundreds of missiles from Syria to Lebanon in recent weeks, despite the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm the organization. The U.S. Treasury Department said Iran has funneled at least $1 billion to Hezbollah this year.

IRAN & PAKISTAN 

Regional mediation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone with his Pakistani counterpart about bilateral and regional cooperation. Araghchi expressed concern about recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and his country’s readiness to assist with his Afghan counterpart, who emphasized Kabul’s commitment to resolving its differences with Pakistan through dialogue. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was also willing to help mediate peace between the two countries. The Turkish foreign and defense ministers and the head of Turkish intelligence are expected to visit Pakistan next week.

IRAN & RUSSIA 

International shipping. Iran and Russia have agreed to establish a joint maritime shipping consortium, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow announced The decision was the result of talks in Makhachkala last week involving representatives of the governments and major companies from both countries. The goal of the consortium is to develop trade, transportation and transit.

EGYPT

Russia and Egypt. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu arrived in Egypt for talks with the country’s top political and military leaders. During his visit, Shoigu will meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, the national security adviser and the minister of defense and military industry to discuss trade, economics, energy and food security.

GLOBAL SITREP

U.S. & CHINA 

U.S. and China. The U.S. has suspended its investigation into the Chinese shipbuilding industry, China’s Ministry of Transport announced. The probe, initiated in April 2024, concerned China’s “unfair practices” that Washington said were aimed at dominating global shipbuilding. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that FBI chief Kash Patel visited China last Friday to discuss the fentanyl issue.

RUSSIAN NUCLEAR TESTING 

Nuclear matters. Work has begun to implement Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to study the possibility of resuming nuclear testing, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. He also noted that Moscow has not received any clarification from Washington on U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement about conducting new nuclear tests.

AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY & PAKISTAN

Trilateral meeting. The leaders of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan held in Baku over the weekend. They discussed cooperation on political, economic, military, cultural and humanitarian matters.

RUSSIA & INDIA

Russian labor gap. Moscow and New Delhi are working on an agreement aimed at increasing the number of Indian workers employed in Russia, the Economic Times reported. They’re expected to reach a final deal during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s December visit to New Delhi. The two countries’ labor ministers also discussed the matter during a meeting in Doha on Nov. 5. Russia’s 2025 quota for Indian workers is 71,800, most of whom are employed in the construction and textiles sectors.

AZERBAIJAN & CHINA

Beefing up defenses. Azerbaijan has reportedly acquired Chinese HQ-9BE air defense systems. Images taken ahead of the country’s military parade in Baku, marking the anniversary of its victory in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war with Armenia, showed the systems participating in the celebrations. Azerbaijan would be the first country in the South Caucasus to acquire them from China.

GZB INFOCUS: The Global Cost of Living 2025

Key Takeaways:

            •          Numbeo’s Global Cost of Living Index measures the price of goods, services, and rent relative to New York City (baseline of 100).

            •          Traditional wealth hubs like Switzerland and Singapore are the most expensive, while South Asian nations like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are the cheapest.

How does the cost of living differ around the world? 

To find out, we visualized the results of Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index, which measures the price of goods, services, and rent relative to New York City (baseline of 100). 

If a country has a value of 80, for example, it indicates that prices are 20% lower than they are in New York City.

The World’s Most Expensive Countries

At the top of the ranking sits the Cayman Islands (94.3). Its economy is driven by offshore finance, tourism, and real estate—all industries that attract wealthy residents and investors.

Switzerland (82.3) and Singapore (80.9) follow close behind, a reflection of their developed economies, high wages, and premium real estate markets.

European nations are also common in the top 20, with Iceland, Ireland, and Norwayall appearing among the most expensive. These countries tend to offer high standards of living but also face the trade-off of elevated consumer prices.

The World’s Most Affordable Nations

At the other end of the spectrum, Pakistan(11.3), Libya (11.3), and Afghanistan (11.6) have the world’s lowest cost of living scores. 

Much of South Asia, including India (12.8) and Bangladesh (13.0), also see prices that are roughly one-eighth of those in New York City. Both of these countries have massive young populations and relatively low wages, which keeps the cost of labor and services down.

Pray. 

Train. 

Stay informed.

Build resilient communities.

—END REPORT