Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Ahd Allah Islamic Movement

Ahd Allah Islamic Movement is a social and cultural movement built around Kataib Hezbollah ideologue Hashem al-Haidari.

May 5, 2021

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Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada

A U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization that emerged from Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah, works directly with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and has a transnational focus on the shared regional agenda of Iran's "axis of resistance."

May 3, 2021

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Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Articles & Testimony

Is Stalemate the Least Bad Option in Syria?

If only to avoid far worse outcomes, Washington should reject Assad’s bogus “reelection” and keep supporting Israeli strikes, the SDF’s viability, and refugee aid.

May 3, 2021

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David Pollock

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

How Iran Employed Iraq's Muqawama in Its Post-Natanz Response

Militias falsely claimed attacks against Israeli and U.S. targets in retaliation for the nuclear incident, underlining how Tehran directs and coordinates each proxy's kinetic and information operations in a centralized manner.

May 3, 2021

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Hamdi Malik
Crispin Smith

◆ Militia Spotlight

The artist Jacques-Louis David's painting "Napoleon Crossing the Alps"

Brief Analysis

The Rise of “Bonapartism” in Iran

Interest in a strong military president is growing in unexpected sectors, but such an outcome is more likely to strengthen Khamenei’s power than drastically reform the system.

Apr 30, 2021

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Mehdi Khalaji

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Sharia Youth Gathering

The Sharia Youth Gathering is an umbrella movement of social service, cultural, sports, and scouting organizations that is effectively controlled by Kataib Hezbollah through a cadre of linked commanders.

Apr 29, 2021

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Hamdi Malik
Crispin Smith
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Imam Hussein Scout Association

The Imam Hussein Scout Association is Kataib Hezbollah’s youth organization and an affiliate of Lebanese Hezbollah's Kishaf al-Imam al-Mahdi youth movement.

Apr 29, 2021

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Hamdi Malik
Crispin Smith
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Brief Analysis

The Zarif Tape: Revelations on Russia, the Qods Force, and Iran’s Election

The foreign minister had much to say about the IRGC branch’s political interference at home and close relations with Moscow, and the regime has done nothing to dispute his account so far.

Apr 29, 2021

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Mehdi Khalaji

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba proved its "axis of resistance" credentials in Syria, but its role in terrorism and repression in Iraq is more enigmatic.

Apr 27, 2021

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Michael Knights
Hamdi Malik
Ameer al-Kaabi
Crispin Smith

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Asaib Ahl al-Haq

Asaib Ahl al-Haq is a major Iraqi armed group that identifies as part of Iran's axis of resistance but stubbornly maintains a degree of independence, forming numerous cells to conduct kinetic, media, and social operations, some bankrolled by the Iraqi state.

Apr 27, 2021

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Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Articles & Testimony

For Diplomacy to Work, Iran Must Understand That It Cannot Overplay Its Hand

Although the Biden administration strongly favors a diplomatic path to ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, it needs to show that it will exercise other options if Tehran makes a viable deal impossible.

Apr 26, 2021

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Dennis Ross

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Fatemiyoun Electronic Squad

Fatemiyoun Electronic Squad is a facade group that undertakes cyberattacks on behalf of Kataib Hezbollah, in close collaboration with other affiliates.

Apr 26, 2021

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Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Unit 10,000

Unit 10,000 is Kataib Hezbollah's premier online facade group, specializing in the publication of resistance propaganda and the development of "electronic armies" capable of hacking, information operations, and open-source intelligence gathering.

Apr 25, 2021

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Crispin Smith
Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Rijal Allah Claims the Baghdad Airport Attack

A new online facade group has undermined Kataib Hezbollah's conspiracy-laden narrative blaming the April 22 rocket strike on Iraqi Kurds.

Apr 24, 2021

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Crispin Smith
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight

Articles & Testimony

Iran Moves Closer to a Diplomatic Breakthrough That May Upset Israel

A bevy of Israeli security officials will soon visit Washington against a backdrop of Vienna talks, Saudi engagement with Tehran, and continued nuclear moves.

Apr 22, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Russia in the Middle East: A Source of Stability or a Pot-Stirrer?

If Washington continues to deprioritize the Middle East, Russia will accelerate its convergence with Iran and essentially determine Syria’s future, which could result in a more explicit and dangerous nexus between these actors.

Apr 21, 2021

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Qods Force deputy commander Mohammad Reza Fallahzadeh

Brief Analysis

Who Is Mohammad Reza Fallahzadeh, the New Deputy Commander of Iran’s Qods Force?

A closer look at the general’s service in Syria, his political and military connections, and his potential influence on how the Qods Force carries out future operations abroad.

Apr 20, 2021

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Ali Alfoneh

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Usbat al-Thaireen

Usbat al-Thaireen is the earliest known facade group employed to veil Kataib Hezbollah's culpability in anti-coalition operations, and its eventual shutdown may provide an important case study of such a group's complete life cycle.

Apr 20, 2021

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Crispin Smith
Michael Knights
Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Articles & Testimony

Iran’s Game Plan for Iraq’s Militias

Tehran still regards the full withdrawal of U.S. forces as its ultimate goal, and its Iraqi proxies are more than happy to use escalation for that purpose whenever they can.

Apr 19, 2021

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Hamdi Malik

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Underground Las Vegas

From pop stars to porn stars to bitcoins, the rise of online gambling sites in Iran is raising eyebrows—as well as questions about whether the IRGC and other regime organs are benefitting from the scandalous new industry.

Apr 16, 2021

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Arash Aalaei

Supported by the

Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy

Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran poses the most serious and urgent set of security challenges to the United States and its allies in the greater Middle East. Since the Khomeini revolution in 1979, Iran has sought to export its radical ideology through the use of terrorism, subversion, and support to ideological fellow-travelers throughout the Muslim world.

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Featured experts

Farzin Nadimi

Farzin Nadimi, a Senior Fellow with The Washington Institute, is a Washington-based analyst specializing in the security and defense affairs of Iran and the Persian Gulf region.

Patrick Clawson

Patrick Clawson is the Morningstar Senior Fellow and Research Counselor at The Washington Institute.

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Policy Analysis on Iran

Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy

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Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy

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