Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

The Palestinian Arena in the Shadow of the Iran-Israel Crisis

The crisis has given the United States, Israel, and their partners a unique opportunity to build an international coalition against Iran and show the Palestinians that the “resistance” camp is not their only viable path.

Apr 25, 2024

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Neomi Neumann
Devorah Margolin

◆ Risks and Opportunities in the Post-April 13 Middle East

Articles & Testimony

Will Israel Temper Its War on Iran’s Regional Proxies?

Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and other militias in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq have yielded visible benefits at times, but future operations may elicit a direct Iranian response.

Apr 24, 2024

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David Schenker

Iran Air passenger plane undergoing maintenance

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

A Better Plan for Sanctioning Iranian Airlines

Targeting Iran Air’s flights to Europe would help, but the regime’s illicit activities on the continent may simply be taken over by the IRGC-linked carrier Mahan Air unless further designations are issued.

Apr 23, 2024

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Babak Taghvaee

The container ship Jin Shun He (IMO 9144316) docked at the port of NEOM in Oxagon. Photo credit: Photo credit: @NEOMOxagon, posted on X (formerly Twitter), April 15, 2024, https://x.com/NEOMOxagon/status/1779799779230302424. .

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Amid Red Sea Crisis, Saudi Company Launches North Shipping Service

Riyadh’s aim to become a global logistics hub connecting three continents will face challenges if risks to southern Red Sea shipping persist at their current levels.

Apr 20, 2024

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Noam Raydan
Farzin Nadimi

◆ Maritime Spotlight

President Joe Biden walks past flags of the member states at a G20 meeting - source: The White House

Brief Analysis

Coordinated Iran Sanctions Require Coordinated Enforcement

Following the attack on Israel, world leaders seek to build a coalition of the willing to hold Tehran accountable for its malign activities—though sanctions won’t have their intended effect unless partners cooperate on robust enforcement as well.

Apr 19, 2024

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Matthew Levitt

An Iranian man holds a newspaper depicting the April 14 attack on Israel.

Video

Brief Analysis

The Middle East's Perilous Moment: Policy Implications and Escalation Risks

Two former U.S. and Israeli officials join a security expert to examine Iran’s unprecedented attack, Israel’s potential response, and U.S. options to prevent the outbreak of full-scale regional war.

Apr 18, 2024

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Dana Stroul
Zohar Palti
Farzin Nadimi

Articles & Testimony

Russian-Iranian Cooperation and Threats to U.S. Interests

A former senior Pentagon official assesses how the growing alliance between the two regimes could create problems on multiple fronts, from exchanging know-how on U.S. defense technology to facilitating nuclear proliferation, sanctions evasion, and domestic oppression.

Apr 17, 2024

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Dana Stroul

The national flags of China and Iran fly in Tiananmen Square during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Beijing, China, February 14, 2023 - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

China’s Response to Iran’s Attack Is an Opportunity for Washington

U.S. officials should remind their partners abroad that Beijing’s support for Tehran is jeopardizing regional stability.

Apr 16, 2024

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Grant Rumley
Rebecca Redlich

Lions of the Ougaidat Brigade leaders, Syria, 2023 cropped

Maps & Graphics

Articles & Testimony

Profile: Lions of the Ougaidat Brigade

A Syrian Arab tribal militia directly operated by Iran's IRGC and tasked with fighting the Kurdish-led SDF east of the Euphrates.

Apr 15, 2024

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Abdullah Hayek
Kyle Robertson

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Arab Tribal and Clan Forces

A newer unit of Arab militiamen in Syria, raised by pro-Assad figure Ibrahim al-Hifl to form an unbroken corridor of Iran-backed tribal fighters between Deir al-Zour and Aleppo.

Apr 15, 2024

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Abdullah Hayek
Kyle Robertson

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Iraqi PMF Chief of Staff Commits to Fulfill Iranian Supreme Leader's Plans

Abu Fadak laid bare the limited extent to which his organization is under Prime Minister Sudani's sovereign control, instead identifying Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei as his commander-in-chief.

Apr 8, 2024

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Amir al-Kaabi
Hamdi Malik
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight

A Sudanese protester against military rule

Brief Analysis

Curbing Outside Intervention in the Sudan War

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict are being challenged by U.S. partners and adversaries alike, including key Middle East players.

Apr 4, 2024

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Jonathan Campbell-James

Fikra Forum

Navigating Cybersecurity and Surveillance: Iran's Dual Strategy for National Security

While Iranian officials acknowledge the significance of cyber tools and AI for foreign policy, they are acutely aware of the country’s financial and scientific limitations.

Mar 29, 2024

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Nima Khorrami

Brief Analysis

Washington and Europe Need to Get on the Same Page Regarding Iran’s Nuclear Progress

The latest IAEA report shows why the West must refocus on Tehran’s nuclear program, which continues to expand even as international will to address it seemingly declines.

Mar 21, 2024

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Michael Singh

An Azeri woman with an Azerbaijan flag in the Nogorno-Karaback region of Armenia - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Are Azerbaijan and Armenia Heading to Peace?

New regional and international factors are creating conditions conducive to ending their decades-long conflict, with potentially important consequences for Iran, the Ukraine war, and Turkey.

Mar 19, 2024

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Articles & Testimony

How the Middle East Became an Arena for Putin’s Power Struggle with the US

Russia’s arms sales, military relationships, and paramilitary activity across the region remain central to expanding its local influence and boosting its anti-Western strategic interests.

Mar 9, 2024

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Anna Borshchevskaya

A woman casts her ballot in the 2009 Iranian election - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Five Questions for Iran’s Elections

The vote is more interesting for its long-term implications than its immediate results.

Feb 29, 2024

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Omer Carmi

Brief Analysis

Elections Expose Iran’s Fading Democratic Pretensions

The latest election cycle offers further proof that the regime is counting on centralization and open repression as its main tools of control, with elected bodies becoming increasingly irrelevant.

Feb 28, 2024

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Saeid Golkar

Israelis protest demanding the release of hostages held by Hamas - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

From War to Peace in the Middle East? Observations from a Regional Tour

The Washington Institute’s executive director reflects on the feasibility of the Biden administration’s current diplomatic plans in the region, based in part on what local officials said during his recent group trip to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and the PA.

Feb 23, 2024

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

Mideast Failure Leads Biden Back to Trump Policies

The administration has reversed its reversals on certain issues, signaling a more comprehensive approach toward the Houthis, Iraqi militias, Iran sanctions, and more.

Feb 14, 2024

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David Schenker

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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