Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

U.S. statements about Iran have become more consistent and tough since early March, but the impact of this shift remains unclear.

Aug 16, 2012

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Patrick Clawson

Brief Analysis

Sharp Contrast between U.S. and Iranian Earthquake Responses

Shortly after Saturday's earthquake in Iran's East Azerbaijan province, the U.S. government issued a condolence statement that was notable for arriving a few hours before any comment on the matter by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. For his part, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has yet to issue a statement on the tragedy

Aug 13, 2012

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Mehdi Khalaji

Articles & Testimony

Iran and the Human Rights Opening

Action on Iran's domestic brutality can prevent the Islamic Republic from labeling sanctions as something they are not intended to be: an attack on the Iranian public.

Aug 8, 2012

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Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Looming U.S.-Iraqi Row over Decision to Release Hizballah Commander

An Iraqi court's decision to release an indicted senior Hizballah figure could lead to more terrorist attacks on Americans.

Aug 7, 2012

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

The Twilight War: The Secret History of America's Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran

On July 31, David Crist and Ambassador James Jeffrey addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Dr. Crist, a senior historian for the U.S. government and a special advisor to the head of U.S. Central Command, is author of the new book The Twilight War: The Secret History of

Aug 2, 2012

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James Jeffrey

Video

Brief Analysis

Israel and Egypt: Reports from a Changing Region

On July 25, Washington Institute Ziegler distinguished fellow David Makovsky, who recently returned from a trip to Israel and Ramallah, was joined in a Policy Forum by Institute Next Generation fellow Eric Trager, who spent much of June and July conducting extensive research in Egypt. The following is a rapporteur's

Jul 30, 2012

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David Makovsky
Eric Trager

Articles & Testimony

Iran’s Support for Terrorism in the Middle East

As Iran continues its efforts to become a nuclear power, it has employed an aggressive foreign policy that relies heavily on clandestine assets abroad to collect intelligence and support foreign operations. The world's most active state sponsor of terrorism, Tehran relies on such activity to further its perceived interests. At

Jul 25, 2012

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Did Hezbollah Do It?

This article originally appeared at the Daily Beast 's Open Zion blog as " Did Hezbollah Do It?" Read all Daily Beast articles by Matthew Levitt. Earlier today, on the 18th anniversary of the Hezbollah bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, a busload of Israeli tourists

Jul 18, 2012

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

The Other Threat to Oil Supplies:

Shiite Tensions in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

Violence in eastern Saudi Arabia and continuing tension in Bahrain are reminders that Gulf oil exports face other threats besides potential Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Jul 16, 2012

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Should Iran Have a Role in Syrian Peace Talks?

As the crisis in Syria heats up, so too has talk of a possible Iranian role in resolving it. Visiting Tehran last week, U.N. envoy Kofi Annan asserted that "Iran could play a positive role" in Syria. Two weeks earlier, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov lobbied for Iran to be

Jul 16, 2012

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Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

Oil Sanctions against Iran Will Not Be Enough

Predictably, last week's "expert level" talks between Iran and world powers were no more fruitful than previous rounds, leaving little optimism for a negotiated resolution to the nuclear crisis anytime soon. Western policymakers, buoyed by their success in reducing Iran's oil exports, appear content to give sanctions more time to

Jul 8, 2012

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Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

The Clerics vs. Modernity:

Failure of the Islamic Republic's Soft Power

The Islamic Republic's greatest fear is neither a military attack on its shadowy nuclear program nor a forced suspension of uranium enrichment, but a cultural invasion in the form of Western modernity.

Jun 30, 2012

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Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Not by Sanctions Alone: Using Intelligence and Military Means to Bolster Diplomacy with Iran

To bolster diplomacy with Iran, the United States must intensify intelligence operations and more actively use the military instrument to alter Tehran's threat calculus.

Jun 28, 2012

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Michael Eisenstadt

Articles & Testimony

The Taboo Buried in Beheshti’s Coffin

A profile of Mohammad Beheshti, a founder of the Islamic Republic.

Jun 27, 2012

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Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Iran Confident As Sanctions Tighten

Iran sees itself in a strong position relative to the West and therefore believes it has little reason to be forthcoming in nuclear negotiations.

Jun 26, 2012

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Patrick Clawson
Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Putin's Trip to Israel Could Challenge Washington

The Russian leader's visit is expected to provide competition for U.S. diplomatic leadership on issues such as natural gas, Iran, and Syria.

Jun 22, 2012

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Simon Henderson

In-Depth Reports

From Crisis to Cooperation:

Turkey's Relations with Washington and NATO

As recently as 2011, most discussions of the U.S-Turkey relationship necessarily focused on discord, disappointment, and growing concern. With memories of the Gaza flotilla incident and Turkish dissent on Iran sanctions still fresh, the horizon was clouded and turbulent. The intervening months have brought a dramatic turnaround, however. In this

Jun 19, 2012

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Rich Outzen

Articles & Testimony

Calling Iran's Bluff: It's Time to Offer Tehran a Civilian Nuclear Program

The ultimate goal of the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran, the next round of which commences in Moscow on June 18, has always been the same: Determining whether Iran is willing to accept that its nuclear program must be credibly limited in a way that precludes it from being able

Jun 15, 2012

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Russia's Modest Hopes for the Moscow Summit with Iran

Despite widespread skepticism, Russian authorities still hope that the upcoming P5+1 summit will be another small step toward settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

Jun 14, 2012

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Nikolay Kozhanov

Interview: Dennis Ross on Iran, Peace Process, Egypt

On Tuesday 12 June, Ambassador Dennis Ross was interviewed by BICOM senior research fellow Professor Alan Johnson. The interview covered key policy issues facing Britain, Israel and the United States. The following is a transcript of their discussion.

Jun 13, 2012

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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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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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