Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

Khamenei’s Domestic and Foreign Response Options to the Protests

The Supreme Leader faces tough choices about who to blame for the protests, and what impact they should have on policy toward the United States.

Nov 21, 2019

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Patrick Clawson

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Gasoline Protests: Regime Unpopular but Resilient

The demonstrations indicate widespread popular rejection of the political system, but this same system remains well organized to deflect and counter unrest.

Nov 18, 2019

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Patrick Clawson
Mehdi Khalaji
Farzin Nadimi

Articles & Testimony

A Better Iran Deal Is Within Reach

With Tehran testing the limits of European patience, Washington has an opening to forge a united front, offer conditional leeway on some sanctions, and push the Iranians back to the negotiating table.

Nov 15, 2019

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Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

Rouhani’s Shifting Argument for Preserving the JCPOA

Facing grim prospects in Iran’s upcoming elections, the president’s camp is trying to convince hardliners that they need to keep the nuclear deal alive in order to continue expanding their military arsenal and intervening abroad.

Nov 14, 2019

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Mehdi Khalaji

Articles & Testimony

Iraqi Freedom Confronts Iranian Domination

The United States has turned toward realpolitik, but it has a strategic interest in backing demonstrators.

Nov 11, 2019

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Bilal Wahab

Articles & Testimony

Recalling the Hostage Crisis That Made Iran Forever Hostile to the U.S.

A former correspondent in Tehran reflects on how the crisis set the stage for many of Washington’s current difficulties with the regime, and whether anything has really changed.

Nov 5, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Nuclear Steps and the New IAEA Chief

The steady weakening by Tehran of its international nuclear commitments will be the most immediate challenge for the next head of the world’s nuclear watchdog.

Oct 30, 2019

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Simon Henderson
Elana DeLozier

Articles & Testimony

The U.S.: Between Being the World’s Policeman and Trusting Regional Partners

Despite long-documented public weariness with Middle East conflicts, Trump’s successor could well recognize the value of reestablishing American credibility in the region.

Oct 28, 2019

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Exposing and Sanctioning Human Rights Violations by Iraqi Militias

As new protests and further government crackdowns loom, Washington should call out abuses by Iran-backed entities and sanction the key offenders.

Oct 22, 2019

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

Iran Is Losing the Middle East, Protests in Lebanon and Iraq Show

Recent upsurges in dissent cross sectarian lines and reveal the governing incompetence at the core of Iranian proxy leadership.

Oct 22, 2019

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Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

The Sochi Summit: Potential Outcomes and Implications

As Washington pushes Erdogan to act responsibly in northeast Syria, the Turkish leader may face contrary pressures from Russia and Iran, who are keeping forces on the ground to back up whatever demands are made at this week’s summit and beyond.

Oct 21, 2019

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Anna Borshchevskaya
Soner Cagaptay

A Panamanian-flagged oil tanker in the Persian Gulf - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Bahrain Hosts Regional Maritime Security Meeting

The first such gathering since the recent spate of Iranian attacks, the multinational meeting could help Washington build a coalition capable of preventing future flare-ups.

Oct 21, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Attack on Iranian Tanker Could Be Tensions Flowing to Red Sea

The Persian Gulf is more crucial in oil terms, but if hostilities expand to the Red Sea, Iran could gain extra leverage against its adversaries on energy and trade matters.

Oct 15, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

What Is Iran Up To in Deir al-Zour?

Tehran and its proxies have been exerting hard and soft power in northeast Syria, combining military consolidation with economic, social, and religious outreach in order to cement their long-term influence.

Oct 10, 2019

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Oula A. Alrifai

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivers public remarks.

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Supreme Leader Putting ‘Heroic Flexibility’ Aside

Khamenei’s latest high-profile speech may indicate his growing confidence that Iran can cope with U.S. pressure and set a high bar for resuming talks.

Oct 4, 2019

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Omer Carmi

Video

Brief Analysis

Responding to the Saudi Oil Attack: A Challenge for U.S. Policy

Three experts discuss Washington’s potential reaction, which will have powerful implications not only in the Gulf states, but everywhere that America and its allies face off against Iran and its proxies, from Iraq to Lebanon to Gaza.

Oct 1, 2019

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Suzanne Maloney
Norman Roule
Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

Helping Iraq Take Charge of Its Command-and-Control Structure

Recent organizational shifts offer a glimmer of hope that Baghdad will stand up to Iranian influence, but implementation will be the test of their actual merit.

Sep 30, 2019

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Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

How to Present Evidence of Iranian Involvement in the Saudi Attack

By working effectively with the UN, Washington and Riyadh can help foster global consensus on Iran’s culpability, creating a firm basis for multilateral censure that could induce caution in Tehran.

Sep 26, 2019

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Michael Knights
Tim Michetti

Brief Analysis

Plugging the Gaps in Saudi Arabia’s Air Defenses

The kingdom already has much of the equipment needed to intercept Iranian air attacks, but it needs Washington’s help on reacting more quickly, deterring Tehran, and establishing joint defense networks with other Gulf states.

Sep 25, 2019

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Michael Knights
Conor Hiney

Articles & Testimony

Iran Is Surviving, in Spite of Trump's 'Maximum Pressure'

Regardless of the Hormuz initiative's supposedly peaceful intent, foreign officials should be careful not to give Tehran any rights in the strategic waterway that don’t have to be given.

Sep 25, 2019

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Simon Henderson

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

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