Iran

Iran’s evolving role in the region, external relations, and domestic dynamics

The ultimate impacts of former President Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1, and subsequent maximum pressure campaign, remain unclear. Questions and uncertainty surround the future of U.S. engagement with Iran, as well as how Iran’s Arab neighbors will respond to Iranian assertiveness and perceptions of the U.S.-Gulf alliance. The Brzezinski Chair examines evolving domestic trends within Iran as well as Iran’s engagement with its neighbors, in the region, and beyond.

 

Featured Analysis

Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Why Decapitation Will Not Solve the United States’ Iran Problem

Killing Iran's top leaders may feel like a decisive blow, but history shows that decapitation rarely produces the political outcomes the United States hopes for, and often exacerbates instability.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — March 3, 2026

Featured Project

Photo: Jewel samad/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: Jewel samad/AFP/Getty Images

The Iranian Paradox

Iran’s politics are imperfectly understood, both in the West and in Iran itself. Yet, a basic outline does seem clear. 

Report by Jon B. Alterman — March 23, 2017

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Featured Podcast

A tall tower stands in front of a desert.

Sanam Vakil: Iran's Trajectory after Raisi

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Sanam Vakil about the fallout from President Raisi’s death, how Gulf states are likely to react, and the feasibility of U.S. policy options going forward. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss what’s next for Iranian foreign policy and what opportunities there are for the United States.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Leah Hickert — May 29, 2024

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The Impacts of Raisi’s Death

On May 19, 2024, Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, and foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, died in a plane crash. Jon Alterman breaks down what their deaths mean for Iranian politics and the wider region. 

Critical Questions by Jon B. Alterman — May 20, 2024

Jon B. Alterman for Foreign Affairs: A Détente Option for Iran

Jon Alterman delves into U.S.-Iran relations, exposing the failures of deterrence and advocating for a nuanced, strategic response to foster stability and predictability amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — April 3, 2024

Babel: Translating the Middle East

Jason Rezaian: What We Get Wrong About Iran

Jon Alterman talks with Jason Rezaian about what the U.S. government gets wrong about Iran.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Will Todman, and Caleb Harper — February 1, 2022

CSIS Babel

Covid-19, the Iranians, and Us

Jon B. Alterman discusses the impact of the U.S. Covid-19 response on the global standing of the United States and its relations with allies and adversaries.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — July 21, 2020

Baby Boom or Bust

Being single in Iran could become very expensive if a conservative cleric gets his way.

Newsletter by Lauren Fredericks — June 24, 2020

Iran is Not One Crisis, but Three, for the U.S.

In a new piece for The Hill, Jon Alterman argues that the killing of Qassem Suleimani provoked three crises for the United States. In addition to the crisis with Iran, it created one for the global counterterrorism fight in Iraq and one for Great Power relations.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — January 10, 2020