shaykhatiri.com

Site Overview

The World Islands is an independent geopolitical commentary blog hosted on the Substack platform, run by Iran-born strategic studies scholar Shay Khatiri. It centers primarily on developments in Russia and Iran, and how their dynamics impact U.S. global strategy, targeting English-speaking readers interested in international geopolitics. The author holds a master's degree in strategic studies from Johns Hopkins University and is a native Persian speaker, giving him inherent informational and professional advantages when covering Russia and Iran issues.

Core Content & Pricing

The site's core offering is original geopolitical analysis: it tracks the latest developments in Russia and Iran, while also unpacking deep structural issues behind current events. All content is currently free to access. The author has stated that if the project receives positive traction, paid subscription-only content will be added later, but no concrete paid plan has been finalized as of yet.

Pros & Cons Summary

Pros

• Niche, highly focused content that fills the gap for in-depth analysis of Russia-Iran relations that mainstream Chinese and English media lack
• The author's professional background provides a unique, first-hand perspective on the region
• No access barriers right now — all content is free

Cons

• No fixed update schedule; the author has explicitly stated that future updates depend on audience feedback, so content sustainability is uncertain
• Only available in English, which is not user-friendly for casual Chinese readers

Access & Compatibility

The site is hosted on the Substack platform, and cannot be accessed directly within mainland China. A proxy service is required to read its content normally. This site is recommended for researchers and enthusiasts interested in the geopolitics of Russia and Iran.