Jon B. Alterman

Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy
Jon Alterman

Jon B. Alterman holds the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Before assuming his current role, he led the CSIS Middle East program for more than 20 years and was a senior vice president at CSIS for more than a decade. Prior to joining CSIS in 2002, he served on the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State and as special assistant to the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. From 2009 to 2019, he served as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. In addition to his policy work, he is also a non-resident fellow at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology and has frequently taught at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, the George Washington University, and other local universities. Earlier in his career, he was a scholar at the U.S. Institute of Peace and at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, as well as a legislative aide to Senator Daniel P. Moynihan (D-NY), responsible for foreign policy and defense. From 1993 to 1997, he was an award-winning teacher at Harvard University, where he received his PhD in history. Alterman has lectured in more than 35 countries on five continents on subjects related to the Middle East and global strategy. He is the author or coauthor of four books and editor of five more. In addition to academic work, he consults for business and government and is a frequent commentator in print, on radio, and on television. His opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and other major publications. He is a former international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he is now a life member. He received his AB from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

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Trump's Smart Iran Exit

Jon Alterman argues in the Times of India that Trump was right to end the Iran war, not because the U.S. won, but because the conflict exposed the limits of military power, reshaped U.S.-Israel ties, and showed the value of diplomacy and partners like India.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — June 26, 2026

America Needs the Trust of Its Friends, Not Its Adversaries

In The Hill, Jon B. Alterman argues the U.S. doesn't need to trust Iran to negotiate with it, but it urgently needs the trust of allies in the Gulf, Europe, and Asia to make pressure stick. Without that coalition, Iran's bet on American unilateralism may pay off.  

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — June 10, 2026

What the Iran War Means for China and the Global Order | The High Top

China watches the U.S.–Iran war with unease. Jon Alterman and Edgard Kagan explore Beijing’s fears over Hormuz, its read on U.S. power, and how the conflict reshapes China’s view of a global order it relies on but can’t control. Tune in for the full conversation.

Event — May 8, 2026

How the Iran War Is Reshaping Israeli Strategy | The High Top

How is the Iran war reshaping Israeli strategy and the U.S.-Israel relationship? Daniel Byman joins Jon Alterman to unpack Israel’s evolving doctrine, Netanyahu’s calculations, and the regional stakes in a moment of shifting power and uneasy alliances.

Event — May 4, 2026

How China and Russia Can Exploit the Iran War

In Foreign Affairs, Jon B. Alterman and Ali Vaez argue China and Russia can exploit an Iran war by letting the U.S. bear the costs. They gain influence and advance strategic aims while avoiding direct conflict.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman and Ali Vaez — April 23, 2026