Latest Analysis: War with Iran

Amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli operations in Iran, CSIS experts examine the military, regional, and geopolitical implications of the conflict and its potential impacts across the Middle East and beyond.

Featured Analysis

Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Why “Mowing the Grass” Won’t Work in Iran

If the United States decides to pursue the strategy of "mowing the grass" in Iran, it could lay the foundation for prolonged regional instability and global disruption.

Commentary by Mona Yacoubian — April 17, 2026

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Photo: Punit PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images

Geopolitical Implications of the War with Iran

Experts from the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department analyze how the war with Iran is reshaping geopolitics across Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East

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Featured Videos

Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire | Asked & Answered

U.S. Blockades Strait of Hormuz

How is China Thinking about the War in Iran

U.S.-Iran Ceasefire | Asked & Answered

Iran War Fueling a New Wave of Repression | Asked & Answered

Recent Events

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Podcast Episodes

Experts

Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

President, Defense and Security Department; Harold Brown Chair
Daniel Byman

Daniel Byman

Director, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program
Emily Harding

Emily Harding

Vice President, Defense and Security Department; Director, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
Benjamin Jensen

Benjamin Jensen

Director, Futures Lab and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Jon Alterman

Jon B. Alterman

Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy
Will Todman

Will Todman

Chief of Staff, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department; and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Clayton Seigle

Clayton Seigle

Senior Fellow and James R. Schlesinger Chair in Energy and Geopolitics, Energy Security and Climate Change Program
Williams

Heather Williams

Director, Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Joseph Rodgers

Joseph Rodgers

Deputy Director and Fellow, Project on Nuclear Issues

All Latest Analysis: War with Iran Content

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Why “Mowing the Grass” Won’t Work in Iran

If the United States decides to pursue the strategy of "mowing the grass" in Iran, it could lay the foundation for prolonged regional instability and global disruption.

Commentary by Mona Yacoubian — April 17, 2026

Resilience Through Linkage: Russia, Iran, and Aspirations for North–South Trade

The study identifies a clear Russian and Iranian commitment to creating a north–south trade route that could bypass Western sanctions. The report evaluates the route’s potential to reshape the U.S.-dominated global trade system in the coming decades.

Report by Maria Snegovaya, Tina Dolbaia, and Nicholas Fenton — April 16, 2026

The Last Line of Defense

Beyond the Rubble: Is China the Real Winner of the U.S.-Iran War?

Host Seth Jones sat down with Dr. Bonny Lin, CSIS Senior Adviser and Director of the China Power Project, to explore Beijing’s view of the U.S.-Iran war, including its own role, the China-Pakistan peace plan, and potential takeaways.

Podcast Episode by Seth G. Jones — April 15, 2026

The Last Line of Defence

Why Didn’t Iran Use Terrorism?

Why didn’t Iran turn to terrorism in a war that threatened its survival? Explanations may include disrupted networks, fears of retaliation, and strategic restraint—some factors suggest this is not a break from Iran's terrorism past, but a pause.

Commentary by Daniel Byman — April 13, 2026

Shocks and Aftershocks | Energy Shots

This biweekly video series, hosted by Joseph Majkut and Kevin Book, delivers clear insights, visuals, and straight talk on the latest energy trends.

Event — April 10, 2026