Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

Trump's North Korea Talks Need to Address Syrian and Iranian Proliferation

When Pyongyang was able to cooperate freely with Middle Eastern regimes in the past, it built a clandestine nuclear reactor in Syria, so Washington cannot afford to turn a blind eye to such activity again.

Mar 22, 2018

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Jay Solomon

Articles & Testimony

In Search of Nuance in the Debate over Hezbollah's Criminal Enterprise and the U.S. Response

While a desire to protect the nuclear deal had some effect on the Obama administration's posture toward the group, interagency coordination problems were a much bigger factor.

Mar 20, 2018

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

MbS's Rebranding Exercise on Saudi Arabia and Hitler

The crown prince's recent remarks imply that the United States may not fully appreciate the threat posed by Iran, much like the international community's prewar attitude toward Nazi Germany.

Mar 20, 2018

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Expect Assad, Iran, and Russia to Exploit Trump's Cabinet Changes

The regime and its allies will probably try to peel away U.S. partners or take military action in vulnerable areas, so Washington should prepare to counter such efforts.

Mar 19, 2018

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Patrick Clawson

Articles & Testimony

The Aim for Saudi Arabia and the US Must Be to Find a Common Game Plan

On key policy and business issues, Mohammed bin Salman represents a path for modernization in the kingdom.

Mar 18, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Multimedia

Brief Analysis

A Survey of the Near East: Implications for U.S. National Security

The national intelligence manager for the Near East discusses the post-ISIS 'peace dividend,' the intelligence facets of Syria's humanitarian crisis, the sectarian hurdles to Iraq's reconstruction, and more.

Mar 13, 2018

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David Cattler

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

Brief Analysis

Moscow and the Middle East After Russia's Election

Washington and its partners can expect Putin to pursue an increasingly aggressive regional policy that depends on confrontation with the West as the basis for domestic legitimacy.

Mar 12, 2018

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Brief Analysis

Iraq's Energy Future Lies to the North

U.S. support for Iraqi oil export projects involving Turkey, the Gulf, and Europe can help keep undue Iranian influence at bay.

Mar 8, 2018

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James Jeffrey
Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

Iran's Reduced Naval Harassment in the Gulf Is Temporary and Tactical

The U.S. military should view the recent quiet as a short-term interlude in Tehran's longstanding doctrine of aggressive naval behavior.

Mar 7, 2018

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Farzin Nadimi

Articles & Testimony

The Source:

How Hacked Emails and a Yacht in Monaco Ended My Career at The Wall Street Journal

An inside look at the ways in which Iran and other governments use digital technologies to undermine the journalists reporting on them.

Mar 7, 2018

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Jay Solomon

Brief Analysis

How Europe Can Punish Iran's Missile Smuggling While Preserving the Nuclear Deal

The UN has publicly identified the Iranian companies involved in smuggling ballistic missiles into Yemen, so Europe should quit stalling and follow Washington's example by sanctioning these firms.

Feb 27, 2018

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Michael Knights
Katherine Bauer

Egyptian and Israeli flags along the Sinai border

Articles & Testimony

Easing the Minds of Egyptian Generals Is Key to Continued Cooperation with Israel

By keeping bilateral military operations a secret, the two governments risk perpetuating fundamental misconceptions among Egypt's military ranks.

Feb 24, 2018

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Haisam Hassanein

Brief Analysis

Pushing Iran to Take Steps Against Terrorist Financing

By focusing on Tehran's struggle to reach an acceptable legal definition of terrorism, Washington can avoid further politicizing the traditionally technocratic effort to bring Iranian banks in line with international norms.

Feb 20, 2018

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Katherine Bauer

Brief Analysis

Washington's Militia Problem in Syria Is an Iran Problem

While Assad may nominally hold reclaimed areas in the south, he will never truly control them so long as Tehran tells its militia proxies to secure that corridor for its own purposes.

Feb 19, 2018

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Jackson Doering

Articles & Testimony

The Case for a Tillerson to Israel Moment

Given the risks posed by Iran's expanding presence in Syria, Secretary Tillerson should add Israel to his travel itinerary as a signal of support and deterrence.

Feb 16, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

Strengthen the Nuclear Deal and Counter Iran's Destabilizing Activities

The gaps between Washington and Europe's positions on the JCPOA remain wide, but the potential price of failure will hopefully provide enough motivation to bridge them.

Feb 16, 2018

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Michael Eisenstadt

Brief Analysis

Crossing Redlines: Escalation Dynamics in Syria

Tehran and its allies will test U.S. and Israeli limits again, requiring deterrent responses that are tough, consistent, and paired with political reassurances to allies.

Feb 13, 2018

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Michael Eisenstadt
Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

Israel Signaling a Heavy Price for Iranian 'Entrenchment' in Syria

If Tehran keeps trying to increase its military foothold in Syria, Israel may ramp up its strikes, so Washington should consider a more active posture that reduces the risks of escalation.

Feb 12, 2018

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

After the Weekend's Iran-Israel Attacks, a Burden on Trump to Confront Russia and Engage Europe

Before the next shoe drops in Syria, the administration needs to get blunt with Putin and ask EU officials to warn Tehran about renewed sanctions.

Feb 12, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

Trump Is All Talk on Iran

The president has wooed Saudi Arabia and Israel with promises to roll back Iranian influence—but he has so far failed to match those words with action.

Feb 8, 2018

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Dennis Ross

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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Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy

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