The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal

August 4, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iraq pressured by regional countries to rein in Iran-backed militias as new data on extent of attacks released

Iraq finds itself under growing pressure from regional countries and the US to rein in Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. The latest pressure from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan comes as Ahmad...

July 30, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Iran Strikes Jordan To Probe Washington’s Escalation Limits

Despite a lull in fighting between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran broke with its established pattern of portraying direct missile attacks against U.S. forces as retaliation. On...

July 21, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Jordan Should Stop Hedging and Stand Firm Against Iran

Iranian attacks on neighboring countries, relaunched after the collapse of the Memorandum of Understanding between Tehran and Washington, have now claimed the lives of two U.S. troops in Jordan and possibly...

July 8, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz |

The time for talk is over — Trump needs to get tough with Iran

Just three weeks after it was signed, the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran is on life support. Tehran’s promise to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international...

June 17, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh |

Gifting Iran Early Concessions Surrenders Washington’s Upper Hand

The U.S. has reportedly granted Iran sanction waivers for selling oil, with one Iranian supertanker transporting crude oil having already crossed the U.S. naval blockade. This development came one day...

June 17, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi meets US envoy amid militia pressure

US Envoy to Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi on June 15 to discuss strengthening ties between Baghdad and Washington. The meeting comes as the US continues...

June 15, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh |

Do not forget the Iranian people who still suffer, President Trump

President Donald Trump has announced that Washington and Tehran have signed an agreement with two pillars: reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring the Islamic Republic cannot develop...

June 12, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Iran Wants To Punish Jordan for Hosting U.S. Forces

The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) announced on June 11 that they had intercepted 20 missiles launched from Iran toward Al-Azraq, a town about 50 miles east of Amman that is also home to a major air base...

June 11, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iraq’s prime minister prepares US visit amid Iran threats and militia focus

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi is preparing for an upcoming trip to Washington, DC, Iraqi media outlets recently reported. The prime minister has been working since his May appointment...

June 11, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz, Miad Maleki

Don’t buy Iran’s charade — this regime can’t afford peace at ANY price

For the last two months, President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on Iran has seesawed between expressing optimism on negotiations and making explicit threats to remove the mullahs from power. This week,...

March 27, 2026 | John Hardie, Dmitriy Shapiro

Russia reportedly sending Iran drones for use against the US and Israel

“There’s an axis of aggression between Russia and Iran,” British defense chief John Healey declared on Thursday, accusing Moscow of “sharing tactics, training, and tech” to help Tehran...

March 17, 2026 | Dmitriy Shapiro |

Russian Hypocrisy on Display at the UN on Iran’s Behalf

Ties to the Persian Gulf region are “among Russia’s foreign policy top priorities,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared during a ministerial meeting with Arab Gulf states in the resort...

March 12, 2026 | Dmitriy Shapiro, John Hardie

Russia Helps Iran Attack U.S. and Its Allies. Ukraine Helps Defend Them.

Despite U.S. courtship, Russia is showing its true colors. Moscow has assisted Tehran with drone tactics informed by Russia’s own use of Iranian-designed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Ukraine,...

October 1, 2025 | Mark Dubowitz, Clifford D. May

Iran and the Axis of Aggressors, Part II: Russia