Iran

Policy Analysis on Iran

Responding to the Saudi Oil Attack: A Challenge for U.S. Policy

Three experts discuss Washington’s potential reaction, which will have powerful implications not only in the Gulf states, but everywhere that America and its allies face off against Iran and its proxies, from Iraq to Lebanon to Gaza.

Oct 1, 2019

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Suzanne Maloney
Norman Roule
Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

Helping Iraq Take Charge of Its Command-and-Control Structure

Recent organizational shifts offer a glimmer of hope that Baghdad will stand up to Iranian influence, but implementation will be the test of their actual merit.

Sep 30, 2019

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Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

How to Present Evidence of Iranian Involvement in the Saudi Attack

By working effectively with the UN, Washington and Riyadh can help foster global consensus on Iran’s culpability, creating a firm basis for multilateral censure that could induce caution in Tehran.

Sep 26, 2019

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Michael Knights
Tim Michetti

Brief Analysis

Plugging the Gaps in Saudi Arabia’s Air Defenses

The kingdom already has much of the equipment needed to intercept Iranian air attacks, but it needs Washington’s help on reacting more quickly, deterring Tehran, and establishing joint defense networks with other Gulf states.

Sep 25, 2019

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Michael Knights
Conor Hiney

Articles & Testimony

Iran Is Surviving, in Spite of Trump's 'Maximum Pressure'

Regardless of the Hormuz initiative's supposedly peaceful intent, foreign officials should be careful not to give Tehran any rights in the strategic waterway that don’t have to be given.

Sep 25, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Iran Is Testing the Trump Administration

Tehran seems to believe that anything goes, and the wrong U.S. response may just reinforce that conviction.

Sep 24, 2019

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Dennis Ross

In-Depth Reports

Syria Study Group 2019:

Final Report and Recommendations

A comprehensive, bipartisan look at how the U.S. government can still achieve important objectives on various fronts, from countering terrorist groups and Iran to addressing refugee and humanitarian issues.

Sep 24, 2019

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Michael Singh
Dana Stroul

Articles & Testimony

Seven Black Swans in the Middle East

Events considered impossible tend to happen in the region with unusual frequency, so when will the next one appear?

Sep 24, 2019

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Martin Kramer

Brief Analysis

Don’t Write Off Iraq

Even as Baghdad works to rein in militias that invite outside attacks, Washington needs to be patient with the country’s contradictions in the near term and give space for it to exert sovereignty in the long term.

Sep 24, 2019

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Bilal Wahab
Barbara A. Leaf

Brief Analysis

Bringing Diplomacy Back to the Pressure Campaign Against Iran

U.S. leadership must be buttressed not by unrealistic threats, but by deterrent actions and collective diplomacy that constrain Tehran’s room for attacks while defining the path to negotiations.

Sep 23, 2019

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Barbara A. Leaf

Articles & Testimony

The U.S. Needs International Partners to Control Iran’s Aggression

President Trump should use his UN speech and side meetings to seek cooperation with European partners and lay the foundation for a ‘better deal’ with Iran down the road.

Sep 23, 2019

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Ben Fishman

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Push for ‘Regime Change’ in Saudi Arabia and Washington

Emboldened by their success in attacking Gulf and U.S. interests with relative impunity, Iranian leaders are now aiming to disgrace the Saudi royal family and foster Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.

Sep 20, 2019

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Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Moving the Goal Posts: Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Program

Although technical obstacles may prevent Tehran from fully deploying its advanced centrifuges, it could still augment its enrichment program in ways that should concern the international community.

Sep 19, 2019

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Elana DeLozier

Brief Analysis

Operating in the ‘Gray Zone’ to Counter Iran

The best way to counter Iran’s asymmetric strategy in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere is a U.S. gray zone strategy, which can help manage escalation and buy time for the administration’s pressure policy to work.

Sep 18, 2019

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Michael Eisenstadt

Brief Analysis

The ‘Rebuild Syria’ Exhibition: Iranian Influence and U.S. Sanctions

This year’s show provides a window into Tehran’s strategy for cementing its soft power, and may point to potential sanctions violations by companies from U.S. partner countries.

Sep 17, 2019

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Oula A. Alrifai

Articles & Testimony

Trump Must React to the Attacks on Saudi Arabia. But a Quick Fix Won’t Be Enough.

U.S. pressure has put Iran in a corner economically but not politically or militarily, so the Supreme Leader seems to believe there is little to lose unless Washington shows it will ease sanctions or launch strikes.

Sep 16, 2019

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

A Credibility Test for U.S.-Saudi Defense Relations and Iran Deterrence

The suspected missile attack is the most significant strike on Gulf energy targets in decades, and consequences need to be levied on Iran, whether in the military or diplomatic spheres.

Sep 16, 2019

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

Iran’s Strength and Strategy Show with Saudi Oilfield Attacks

So far, Tehran appears to have judged quite well what it can get away with, a track record that will likely give Riyadh pause as it considers its response.

Sep 16, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

The South Caucasus Factor of the United States-Russia-Iran Triangle

Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan still have pro-Western democratic aspirations, so U.S. policymakers should continue engaging them on ways to reduce interference from Moscow and Tehran.

Sep 16, 2019

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Brief Analysis

Iraq’s Air Defense Conundrum: Options for U.S. Policy

Baghdad is under pressure to show it can protect its airspace, but procuring Russian or Iranian equipment might complicate U.S.-Iraq relations without addressing the triggers for Israeli strikes.

Sep 12, 2019

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Michael Knights
Farzin Nadimi

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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