From bluster to railways: Iran tones down talk of attacking Israel
The regime has appeared to shift gears, at least in rhetoric, since the US election on November 5.
Caucasus
Spy surge: Tehran’s espionage strategy against Israel
The Islamic Republic has accelerated its intelligence operations in Israel, with at least five spy rings uncovered by Israel in October alone. Between October 14 and 31, authorities arrested some 20 individuals...
Op-eds
FDD Identifies 19 Websites as Part of an Iranian Global Influence Operation
FDD researchers have uncovered the Iranian role in creating a network of at least 19 websites that present themselves as independent sources of opinion and analysis for audiences across the globe. Other...
Policy Briefs
Iran’s acting FM is building an alliance against Israel – this is how
The report is part of a larger series of moves by the foreign minister and also the Iranian foreign ministry against Israel.
Op-eds
U.S. Should Revoke Chabahar’s Sanctions Waiver
India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran signed a 10-year deal on May 13 that allows New Delhi to develop and operate the Iranian port of Chabahar. Washington issued...
Policy Briefs
Don’t Forget the Air Highways
While U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is focusing his remaining months in office on attaining compensation fees for U.S. air travelers, a much bigger threat to air travel and transport...
Op-eds
Iranian Proxies Wreak Havoc Beyond the Middle East
Azerbaijan and Pakistan are two lesser known victims of Iranian proxy attacks.
Op-eds
A New Spring for Caspian Transit and Trade
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Memos
Israel Opens First Permanent Embassy in Turkmenistan
Latest Developments Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen inaugurated Israel’s first embassy in Turkmenistan during a visit to the Central Asian state on April 20. Cohen is the first Israeli foreign...
Flash Briefs
The Republic of Fatwas
Last week, a Shiite American of Lebanese origin, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, attempted to murder the Indian-born British-American author Salman Rushdie. Matar’s social media posts display staunch support...
Op-eds
Iran’s policy toward the Caucasus and Central Asia
Excerpt Much of the analysis on Iranian foreign policy focuses on both Iran’s positonality in relation to the Middle East, and its claim to the mantle of Shia Islamic leadership. However, a more detailed...
Op-eds
What Happened at the Biden-Putin Summit? Not Much.
The two discussed Afghanistan, cyberattacks, and more.
Op-eds
US International Religious Freedom Efforts Should Not Promote Islamic Extremism
The Trump Administration has elevated the promotion of international religious freedom to a major component of U.S. foreign policy. President Donald Trump issued an executive order devoting additional...
Op-eds
Post Covid-19: Challenges and Opportunities for the CAMCA Region
Epidemics are not new to the CAMCA region and historical accounts document many of them. In Genghis Khan’s main code of laws, Yasa, public health infractions, such as polluting or urinating in rivers,...
Op-eds
Analysis: The Islamic State’s ideological campaign against al-Qaeda
On April 29, the Islamic State’s “province” (wilayah) in Yemen released a lengthy video that is intended to undermine al-Qaeda’s ideological legitimacy within the jihadists’ ranks. The 50-plus...
Op-eds
Six Reasons Why NATO’s London Declaration Matters
Vladimir Putin wishes he had an alliance like NATO. The alliance provides a remarkably resilient framework in which nations and leaders who share common values can pursue collective security interests yet...
Op-eds
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed himself during raid, U.S. says
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, is dead, according to the White House. President Donald Trump announced Baghdadi’s death earlier today, saying “U.S. Special Operations forces...
Op-eds
Jihadists in the Caucasus, Philippines renew allegiance to Baghdadi
The Islamic State has continued to produce videos depicting small bands of jihadists renewing their allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The latest such video was released yesterday (June 26), and featured...
Op-eds
Caliphate, interrupted
After being bombarded by four years of U.S. airstrikes, a relentless ground campaign by Kurdish-led U.S. allies, and attacks from Russian, Syri...
Op-eds
ODNI releases annual overview of Islamic State and al Qaeda networks
The ODNI’s map highlights the Islamic State’s and al Qaeda’s global footprint, though the jihadists are not a major force in some of the countries depicted. The ODNI’s map recognizes the presence...