Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

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

Brief Analysis

Iran's Potential Military Reactions to New U.S. Sanctions

Tehran could back up its defiant rhetoric by deploying air defense assets to Syria, establishing an asymmetric naval presence in the Mediterranean, smuggling more arms to the Houthis, and stepping up its ballistic missile program.

Nov 7, 2017

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Farzin Nadimi

Maps & Graphics

Infographic: Iran Deal 'Decertification'

A quick guide to understanding the background, context, and potential impact of President Trump's decision not to certify the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in one concise infographic.

Nov 6, 2017

Brief Analysis

North Korea's Alliance with Syria Reveals a Wider Proliferation Threat

The longstanding cooperation between the two regimes seems to have intensified during Syria's war, with troubling implications for future missile, chemical, and even nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

Nov 2, 2017

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Jay Solomon

Articles & Testimony

The Electronic Republic

A bustling Iranian tech sector will likely continue to draw foreign interest despite the threat of renewed U.S. sanctions.

Oct 31, 2017

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Emily Burlinghaus

Brief Analysis

Trump Placing Heavy Focus on Yemen in the Campaign to Counter Iran

Given the maritime and missile threats posed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, senior U.S. officials have indicated that the White House will continue expanding its assistance to the Saudi-led coalition.

Oct 20, 2017

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Jay Solomon

In-Depth Reports

Deconstructing and Countering the Iran Threat Network

Omer Carmi, a lead researcher with the Israel Defense Forces, analyzes the components of the Iran Threat Network and builds a compelling case for neutralizing harmful Iranian activity in the region and beyond.

Oct 16, 2017

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Omer Carmi

Articles & Testimony

Here's How to Fix But Not Nix the Iran Deal

After decertifying the JCPOA, President Trump now has leverage to negotiate a better agreement.

Oct 13, 2017

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Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

Iran's Military Sites Continue to Haunt the Nuclear Accord

Given the IAEA's legal uncertainty about Parchin and the Security Council's discord about further inspections, the Trump administration needs to decide how hard to press for more answers on weaponization issues.

Oct 12, 2017

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Jay Solomon

Articles & Testimony

Confronting the Full Range of Iranian Threats

In practical terms, scrapping and replacing the JCPOA is a nonstarter, so the administration should instead focus on countering Iran as its top regional priority -- and decide how it will respond when Tehran pushes back.

Oct 11, 2017

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James Jeffrey

Brief Analysis

Iran Flexes Its Muscles After the Kurdish Referendum

Given its recent military movements and high-level contacts with Turkey and Baghdad, Iran may be looking to exact an intolerable cost on the KRG.

Oct 10, 2017

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Farzin Nadimi

Brief Analysis

JCPOA Under the Gun (Part 2): A Middle Course?

The threat of decertifying the nuclear deal gives the administration an opening with those who wish to preserve it, so the president should use this leverage wisely rather than taking an all-or-nothing approach.

Oct 6, 2017

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Katherine Bauer
Patrick Clawson

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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Policy Analysis on Iran

Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy

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