Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

Moscow’s Message on Iran Has Been Cautious and Almost Neutral

The muted response to the protests may stem from Russia's reliance on Iranian assistance in Syria and its dearth of other regional partners.

Jan 3, 2018

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Articles & Testimony

Iranians Are Mad as Hell About Their Foreign Policy

The more the regime believes that its foreign adventures threaten its internal foundations, the more likely it will be to temper its behavior.

Jan 2, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

The Protesters in Iran Need Real Help from Washington

The sign of a successful policy response will be its ability to remain relevant whether the demonstrations gather steam or subside.

Jan 2, 2018

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Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

Iran after Sanctions: Military Procurement and Force-Structure Decisions

Washington and its Gulf Arab partners should collectively hinder Tehran's efforts to close capability gaps, modernize its military, and develop its Shia foreign legion into a more effective expeditionary force.

Dec 21, 2017

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Michael Eisenstadt

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

The Growing Risk of an Israel-Iran Confrontation in Syria

The push by Iran to fill the void created by the defeat of the Islamic State looms large in Israel’s strategic landscape. If the current trajectory persists, these two determined regional actors could increasingly face each other in Syria and eventually slide into confrontation. Tehran seeks to create an enduring

Dec 20, 2017

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Michael Herzog

Brief Analysis

Stabilizing Lebanon Is Iran's Way of Helping Hezbollah Take Over

Despite issuing threats through its proxies, Iran shares the international community's interest in Lebanon's near-term stability, but its motivations are hardly benevolent.

Dec 20, 2017

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Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

Making the Case against Iranian Sanctions Busting in Yemen

Clear evidence exists of Iranian arms smuggling to the Houthis, but the United States and its allies must get better and faster at sharing intelligence with the UN if they expect to garner more international support for border controls and sanctions.

Dec 15, 2017

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

U.S. Policy and Strategy in the Middle East

It's not too late to discourage Iranian adventurism and lead a return to relative calm, but mistakes by successive U.S. administrations and the region's own weaknesses have contributed to a dangerous situation.

Dec 14, 2017

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James Jeffrey

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, casts his vote for president

Articles & Testimony

America Can't Turn Back the Clock on Iran

When it comes to U.S. policy on the Gulf and Iran, Washington should abandon any wrong-headed notions about resurrecting the pre-1979 security architecture.

Dec 13, 2017

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Haisam Hassanein
Wesam Hassanein

Brief Analysis

December 13 Is an Iranian Nuclear Trifecta

As more congressional deadlines and international meetings pass with no robust efforts to address the JCPOA's flaws, the chances of the Trump administration terminating the deal grow.

Dec 12, 2017

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Patrick Clawson

Brief Analysis

Iran May Double Down on Foreign Militias After Its 'Victory' Against the Islamic State

The Islamic Republic's self-declared triumphs in Syria and Iraq could embolden it to expand the role of its "International Basij" and build more-formidable proxies in Afghanistan, Yemen, and other locales.

Dec 6, 2017

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Farzin Nadimi

Brief Analysis

Possible Iranian Links to the Claimed Houthi Missile Launch Against the UAE

Early signs indicate that the rebels may have attempted to strike an Emirati nuclear site with an Iranian cruise missile -- a claim that could heighten international pressure on Tehran and raise the stakes of the regional conflict if confirmed.

Dec 4, 2017

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Farzin Nadimi

Articles & Testimony

How Trump Is Going After Hezbollah in America's Backyard

U.S. officials are taking action against the pro-Iranian militant group using new clues from old investigations in Latin America.

Nov 30, 2017

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

The Regional Dimensions of Hariri's Resignation: Will Iran and Hizballah Compromise?

The prime minister's move was only a temporary setback for Tehran and its chief proxy, whose foothold in Lebanon and the wider Middle East is strong enough to withstand Saudi pressure for the foreseeable future.

Nov 28, 2017

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Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

High-Level Contacts Between North Korea and Iran Hint at Deeper Military Cooperation

Pyongyang has emerged as a critical partner in Tehran's 'Axis of Resistance,' and officials warn that their joint efforts may extend to weapons of mass destruction.

Nov 27, 2017

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Jay Solomon

Brief Analysis

Beyond Deconfliction in Syria

A joint U.S.-Russia statement and peace talks must be fleshed out quickly to ensure a growing Iranian presence in the country does not fuel a jihadist comeback.

Nov 16, 2017

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Andrew J. Tabler

Brief Analysis

Bahrain Pipeline Explosion Seen as a Warning from Iran

The incident, a few miles from the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, could portend escalating regional tensions.

Nov 14, 2017

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

How the War in Yemen Explains the Future of Saudi Arabia

Instead of viewing Yemen as a poor peripheral country of little strategic importance, the Saudis seem to see it as a dagger aimed at their heart, with Iran holding the hilt.

Nov 8, 2017

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Countering Iran's Missile Proliferation in Yemen

Tehran is using the Houthis to test President Trump's resolve, as mounting evidence shows that it is helping the rebels build long-range missiles capable of hitting Gulf capitals.

Nov 8, 2017

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

The Price of Selling Out the Kurds

For many of those watching in the Middle East, the administration's decision to stand by as the Kurds were forced to retreat has sent a message far more powerful than its tough words on Iran.

Nov 8, 2017

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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

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