Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

A USAF B-2 Spirit bomber refuels in flight - source: Department of Defense

U.S. Attacks Iranian Nuclear Sites: Implications for Israel, the Middle East, and U.S. Policy

Two veteran U.S. officials join a former Israeli ambassador to discuss the effects and future consequences of the Trump administration’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear program.

Jun 25, 2025

◆

Dana Stroul
Michael Herzog
Dennis Ross
Robert Satloff

An Iranian soldier wearing an IRGC uniform salutes in front of an Iranin flag - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Is the Islamic Republic Starting to Crack? The Signs to Watch

Although the crisis has not yet checked all the boxes that would signal fatal regime vulnerability, the situation could change quickly due to shifting conditions on the battlefield, on the streets, or within the halls of power in Tehran.

Jun 24, 2025

◆

Holly Dagres

Israeli firefighters work at the site of in Iranian missile strike on a residential building in Tel Aviv in June 2025 - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

How Iran Could Escalate

In the wake of retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets, a former Pentagon official assesses Tehran’s bad options and Washington’s best response.

Jun 23, 2025

◆

Dana Stroul

Brief Analysis

How the Iran-Israel Conflict Is Affecting Gulf Energy and Maritime Security

For regional countries seeking to transform their economies and partner with the United States in areas including AI, the current war poses risks that could reverberate in the global economy.

Jun 23, 2025

◆

Noam Raydan

A highway bridge in Tehran displays images of nuclear scientists killed during Israeli strikes against Iran in June 2025 - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

The Bigger Picture in the Iran-Israel Conflict: Russia, Missiles, Militias, and More

Four experts assess how outside players might respond to the showdown, and whether Tehran will switch up its calculus on procurement, attack tactics, and other military matters as the fight goes on.

Jun 23, 2025

◆

Anna Borshchevskaya
Michael Knights
Farzin Nadimi
Assaf Orion

Brief Analysis

What Nuclear Restrictions Would Be Required for a Viable Iran-Israel Ceasefire?

The most important restrictions include measures like permanently dismantling enrichment infrastructure and properly disposing of key materials and equipment, but policymakers need to be clear-eyed about the inherent limitations of even the strictest verification agreement.

Jun 20, 2025

◆

Richard Nephew
Patrick Clawson

Articles & Testimony

The United States May Destroy the Fordow Enrichment Plant. It Won’t Make the Iranian Nuclear Threat Go Away.

The risk of nuclear breakout is probably greater today than before Israel’s military campaign, and simply taking out Fordow would not stop the regime from using suspected secret sites to produce nuclear weapons.

Jun 17, 2025

◆

Richard Nephew

Brief Analysis

Key Outside Actors in the Iran-Israel Showdown:

A Compilation of Washington Institute Assessments

Experts assess the roles that various actors may seek to play during and after conflict, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi militias, Palestinian factions, and international powers such as China, Russia, and the EU.

Jun 18, 2025

◆

Hanin Ghaddar
Noam Raydan
Michael Knights
Ghaith al-Omari
Grant Rumley
Anna Borshchevskaya
Souhire Medini

Articles & Testimony

Why Israel’s Attack on Iran Has Been a Success

Just as with the Hezbollah missile threat in Lebanon, completely eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat is not the best yardstick for Israel’s current campaign.

Jun 17, 2025

◆

Matthew Levitt

Emergency crews work at the scene of an Israeli air strike in Tehran in June 2025 - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

From Diplomacy to Military Force: The Future of Iran’s Nuclear Program

U.S. and Israeli experts assess the quickly evolving situation as the IDF continues striking targets across the country, Tehran retaliates with missile salvos, and the international community mulls how best to contain the crisis.

Jun 17, 2025

◆

Michael Eisenstadt
Zohar Palti
Dennis Ross
Dana Stroul

A sign in Tehran displays images of officials in Iran's nuclear program killed in Israeli airstrikes in June 2025 - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Can Israel Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program?

A closer look at the technical indicators that experts and officials will be looking for to determine whether Israel’s campaign is setting the program back, and how much.

Jun 14, 2025

◆

Richard Nephew

Brief Analysis

Israel Strikes Iran: Initial Assessments from Washington Institute Experts

A compilation of analyses on the military and nuclear impact of Israel’s initial strikes, Tehran’s response options, the Trump administration’s next steps, public reactions inside Iran, and more.

Jun 13, 2025

◆

Matthew Levitt
Michael Eisenstadt
Patrick Clawson
Dana Stroul
Holly Dagres
David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

Badr Organization: Iran’s Oldest Proxy in Iraq

An in-depth look at why Congress should follow through on calls to sanction the group, which has been closely tied to Iran-backed terrorism for decades.

June 2025

◆

Michael Knights
Crispin Smith

Brief Analysis

An “Enrichment Consortium” Is No Panacea for the Iran Nuclear Dilemma

The United States should recognize consortia concepts for what they are: face-saving steps rather than cure-alls for the nonproliferation problems created by Iran’s nuclear activities.

Jun 5, 2025

◆

Richard Nephew
Patrick Clawson

Brief Analysis

Nuclear Talks and Iran’s Missile Program: Addressing the Overlooked Arsenal

Given Iran’s unchecked missile buildup since the last nuclear deal, any future agreement should include enforceable limits on the development and stockpiling of long-range missiles to ensure lasting regional security and nonproliferation.

Jun 3, 2025

◆

Farzin Nadimi

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in 2025 - source: Foreign Ministry of Iran

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Foreign Minister Knows How to Speak Trump’s Language—Literally

In a bid to appease—and manipulate—the pioneer of “Twitter diplomacy,” Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator has adopted President Trump’s social media style while seeking favorable terms for the next big deal.

May 30, 2025

◆

Holly Dagres

A man holds a newspaper featuring a photograph of U.S. President Trump and his Middle East advisor, Steve Witkoff, in Tehran - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Is a Good Iran Deal Possible?

If carefully negotiated and given enough time to demonstrate results, a new deal could prevent a crisis in the near term and create a foundation for regional stability down the road.

May 26, 2025

◆

Richard Nephew

A sign and mural in Tehran promote the Fatteh missile and threaten Israel with the slogan "400 Seconds to Tel Aviv" - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

A Potential "Interim" Iran Nuclear Deal Sounds Great, But It Isn’t

Now is the time to exert Washington's greatly expanded leverage, forcing Tehran to choose between a painful future with enrichment and other subversive tools in its arsenal or a hopeful future without them.

May 21, 2025

◆

Robert Satloff

President Trump meets with Gulf leaders at the GCC summit in Riyadh on May 14, 2026 - source: Reuters

Video

Articles & Testimony

President Trump's Gulf Trip: Meeting the GCC on Day Two

In this third of several daily videos from Washington Institute scholars, David Schenker examines the implications of discussions at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh on the second day of President Trump's May 2025 trip to the Gulf region.

May 14, 2025

◆

David Schenker

◆ President Trump's 2025 Gulf Trip

Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian poses in front of a poster of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei prior to Iran's 2024 presidential elections - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Pragmatists Open a Window in Tehran—But for How Long?

Regime officials and the Supreme Leader himself have signaled a willingness to make unprecedented concessions, but taking advantage of this opening will require careful U.S. messaging on counterterrorism, regional deterrence, and human rights.

May 7, 2025

◆

Hamdi Malik

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.

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.

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.

Regions & Countries

Issues

Policy Analysis on Iran

Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy

Featured experts

Regions & Countries

Issues

Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy

Sign Up for Email Updates from The Washington Institute

Featured experts