Latest Articles about Iran
Iran and Pakistan Cooperate on Counter-Terrorism Amid Jaish al-Adl and Baloch Separatist Attacks
Executive Summary: In April, Pakistan and Iran agreed to station liaison officers at their mutual border to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts. Border cooperation will likely reduce local militancy and improve ties between the two states. In January, Pakistan and Iran launched surprise strikes on one another,... MORE
Russia Considers Supplying Anti-Ship Missiles to Ansarallah
Executive Summary: Since the United States authorized Kyiv to use Western-provided weapons on Russian territory, Moscow has considered striking back on a new front by providing modern anti-ship missiles to Yemen’s Houthis (Ansarallah), who have been striking shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf... MORE
Military Supplies to Armenia Escalate Tensions in South Caucasus
Executive Summary: Armenia is making moves to distance itself from Russia and reduce economic and military dependence on Moscow through deals with other states, including France, India, and, allegedly, Iran. The expanding military supplies to Armenia are stirring up tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan and threatening... MORE
Khamenei-Enabled Election of ‘Reformist’ Pezeshkian in Iran Trades Expediency for Succession Security
Executive Summary: Western media outlets have incorrectly portrayed Massoud Pezeshkian, who was elected as Iran’s new president on July 5, as a "moderate" and a "Reformist." Though Pezeshkian’s background as an ethnic Azeri may strengthen efforts to try to calm rising ethnic tensions in Iran,... MORE
Turkmenistan at New Crossroads of North-South and East-West Corridors
Executive Summary: Turkmenistan, a constitutionally mandated neutral and closed off country, has attracted far less attention and played a smaller role than its neighbors in regional trade and transit. Ashgabat has not only become more active abroad but has also reached agreements that will make... MORE
Iran’s Paradoxical Expectations for Political Developments in Armenia
Executive Summary: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is moving Armenian foreign policy away from traditional alliances with Russia and Iran, favoring closer ties with the West which could be an important paradigm shift in its foreign policy after dependence on Moscow and Tehran. Yerevan’s new... MORE
Azerbaijan Expands Ties With China and Iran, Benefiting Moscow and Hurting West
Executive Summary: In the last two weeks, Azerbaijan’s ties to China and Iran have warmed significantly, with Baku and Beijing declaring a strategic partnership and Baku and Tehran announcing the reopening of an Azerbaijani embassy in Iran. In the South Caucasus, these accords will affect... MORE
Brief: Hamas Downplays Political Bureau Head’s Meeting with the Taliban and Iran
Executive Summary: On May 23, an Afghan Taliban delegation traveled to Tehran to meet with the emir of Qatar and the head of Hamas’s Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh. In an effort to downplay bad press as it continues to seek diplomatic recognition, Hamas appears to... MORE
‘Shadow Guards’ and Reformists: Factional Matrix Underlying Iranian Succession
Executive Summary: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19, renewing discussions over who will eventually succeed 85-year-old Supreme Leader Khamenei. While ostensibly benefitting Khameni’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, Raisi’s “hard landing” opens the door for Reformists and disaffected elements of the... MORE
Uncertainty Abounds in Talks on the Possible Export of Turkmen Gas to Europe
Executive Summary: Azerbaijan and Türkiye signed an agreement for cooperation with natural gas, which includes increased export of Central Asian and Azerbaijani gas to Türkiye with Turkmenistan being a primary exporter. Debate over including Iran in these agreements adds uncertainty to the project due to... MORE