Strait of Hormuz

June 28, 2021 | Bradley Bowman, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Getting Out of Iran’s Way

The election of Ebrahim Raisi shows Iran's lack of interest in peace with the West—and the perils of pulling out of the Middle East altogether.

October 29, 2020 | Behnam Ben Taleblu, Maj. Shane “Axl” Praiswater

Iran puts air defense assets on display

The Islamic Republic has concluded a massive air defense drill showcasing select surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), launchers, radars, and command-and-control equipment. While analysts and policymakers have...

May 23, 2020 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

COVID-19 And Iranian Foreign And Security Policy: Stasis, Not Change

Leading up to and throughout the coronavirus crisis, the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued its policy of graduated escalation against its adversaries. Tehran’s underwriting of such activities...

January 24, 2020 | Richard Goldberg |

Trump Has an Iran Strategy. This Is It.

A campaign of maximum pressure could bring Tehran to the table.

January 9, 2020 | Jacob Nagel, Jonathan Schanzer

Israel and US face Iran on parallel planes

Iran has crossed the threshold on low-enriched uranium, shortening significantly the time to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear device.

January 9, 2020 | Jonathan Schanzer, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Where the US-Iran shadow war goes from here

The man once celebrated in Tehran as “the living martyr,” Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, is now just a martyr in the traditional sense. Felled by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, his life ended in the conflict...

November 25, 2019 | Behnam Ben Taleblu, Bradley Bowman

New DIA Report Underscores Iranian Cruise Missile Threat

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) last week released a landmark report analyzing the capabilities of Iran’s military. In light of Iran’s September attacks on the Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities...

November 21, 2019 | Bradley Bowman, Andrew Gabel, Mikhael Smits 

U.S. Carrier Strike Group Transits Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. Navy’s Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) transited through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, entering the Persian Gulf following months of Iranian attacks in the area. The high-profile...

November 16, 2019 | Benjamin Weinthal |

Qatar had prior knowledge of Iran attack on vessels, failed to tell allies: report

Qatar had advance knowledge on an Iranian attack on four commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman in May and may have failed to warn its U.S., French and British allies, a western intelligence report alleges. The...

October 30, 2019 | John Hannah |

U.S. Deterrence in the Middle East Is Collapsing

The withdrawal from Syria is part of a broader pattern of weakness, especially in response to Iran.

October 15, 2019 | Bradley Bowman, Mikhael Smits 

In Effort to Deter Iran, DOD Deploys Additional Forces to Saudi Arabia

In response to continued threats from Iran and a request from Riyadh, the Pentagon announced Friday the deployment of additional U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia. Washington is seeking to strengthen U.S. combat...

August 26, 2019 | Benjamin Weinthal |

Germany must re-embrace America, Europe

President Trump has been pointedly criticized for putting pressure on America’s European allies. Critics have even insinuated that he is endangering the alliance. Yet it is Chancellor Angela Merkel’s...

August 20, 2019 | Benjamin Weinthal, Seth J. Frantzman

New Iranian tanker headed to Syria in violation of U.S. sanctions

“The vessel is now headed to Dubai, where it will refuel before beginning a months-long journey around the horn of Africa, through the Mediterranean and to the shores of Syria.”

June 20, 2019 | Bill Roggio |

Iran shoots down U.S. drone

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps shot down a MQ-4 Global Hawk as it was gathering intelligence over the Strait of Hormuz. It is the second US drone downed by Iran and its allies since the b...

May 9, 2019 | Jonathan Schanzer, Nicole Salter

Oman’s Growing Ties with Iran Threatens its Neutrality: FDD Report

 Weapons smuggling to Houthis via Oman rank among recent concerns

December 12, 2018 | Clifford D. May |

Punishing the Saudi prince

Ceding Yemen to Iran’s ruling ayatollahs is not the way to do it.

October 26, 2018 | John Hannah |

Here’s How Trump Should Prepare for Iranian Escalation

Once sanctions are back in full force, the United States needs to be ready for the worst.

August 10, 2018 | John Hannah |

Energy Security Is the Real Way to Put America First

Since withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal in May, the Trump administration has faced a serious dilemma. On one hand, with the upcoming ...

July 11, 2018 | Clifford D. May |

The Islamic Republic’s demands

Britain, France and Germany are three of America’s closest allies but they don’t always act like it. Last week in Vienna, their foreign ministers met with the foreign ministers of Chi...

June 10, 2018 | Jonathan Schanzer, Nicole Salter

Oman’s Dangerous Double Game

The Obama administration sought to help Iran cash in on the 2015 nuclear deal, a Republican-led Senate investigation revealed last week. The report also raises questions about the role played by...