Seeing that the president wants out of “endless Middle East wars,” Tehran seems to think that raising the pressure might get him to back off.
Recent Iranian rhetoric and actions point to further retaliation, but taking that route may lead to the same strategic miscalculations and international intervention that cost the country so dearly in the 1980s.
How have relations between NATO allies Turkey and the United States come to the brink of historic crisis?
Simin Kargar, Azadeh Pourzand, and Hamid Gharagozloo
What are the consequences of the Iranian government's massive, systematic campaign to spread disinformation about religious minorities through social and traditional media? Watch an in-depth conversation with leading scholars.
After months of delay, the new cabinet must get up to speed quickly in order to put KRG-federal relations on solid legal ground, curtail Iranian influence, and unify the Peshmerga.
The coming weeks will show whether real changes have occurred, or whether the Iraqi government is instead trying to save face by claiming success.
PolicyWatch
Michael Eisenstadt and Farzin Nadimi
Washington should reduce tensions, open lines of communication, and restore deterrence, though managing the contradictions between these objectives will be challenging.
PolicyWatch 3124
By holding fast to his defiant approach while stopping just short of war, Khamenei may be hoping to stall until the next U.S. and Iranian election cycles.
Articles & Op-Eds
Despite the challenges that usually accompany these high-level talks, Gulf countries seem keener than ever to counter the threat across the Persian Gulf.
PolicyWatch 3125
Tehran has reportedly told its militia proxies to be ready for escalation, so Washington must prepare to maintain a full presence in Iraq even under potentially increased fire.
