Covering topics ranging from security and politics to business and society, IranSource draws on written analysis and multimedia content to inform a broader public conversation about Iran from an array of angles and perspectives.

It aims to identify the challenges, opportunities, and policy conundrums facing the US-Iran relationship and present a range of options to address them.

Editor: Holly Dagres

The views expressed in IranSource are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

Learn more about Iran
Hezbollah considers the United States, not Israel, its greatest enemy

IranSource Nov 20, 2024

2025 will be a decisive year for Iran’s nuclear program

Diplomatic deadlines and regional factors will force Iran to decide soon whether to strike a deal or seek a nuclear weapon. Either choice will have major ripple effects.

Read More
Hezbollah considers the United States, not Israel, its greatest enemy

IranSource Nov 20, 2024

How to wrestle with an ayatollah 

By Khosro Sayeh Isfahani

If one looks closely, the ancient Persian sport of wrestling might have answers to understanding how to contain Iran
Civil Society Freedom and Prosperity
Hezbollah considers the United States, not Israel, its greatest enemy

IranSource Nov 1, 2024

How the death of Abdul Malik al-Houthi could impact the Houthis and Iran

By Emily Milliken and Caitlin Miller Hollingsworth

While Abdul Malik al-Houthi is still alive today, his death in the near term would impact the Houthi’s ability to operate and widen a leadership vacuum within Iran’s Resistance Axis.
Conflict Iran

Content

IranSource

Apr 30, 2020

Hezbollah considers the United States, not Israel, its greatest enemy

By David Daoud

The Open Letter, Hezbollah's manifesto, reserves its highest level of opprobrium for America, labeling it the main root of evil and declaring the “confrontation with America” as the yardstick for all of Hezbollah’s other activities.

Lebanon Middle East

IranSource

Apr 29, 2020

US-EU tensions set to escalate over Iran’s coronavirus crisis

By Giorgio Cafiero and Maysam Behravesh

On top of strong disagreements with President Donald Trump’s decision to pull Washington out of the 2015 nuclear deal and re-impose stifling sanctions on the Islamic Republic in May 2018, America’s longstanding partners in Europe also oppose the Trump administration ramping up “maximum pressure” on Tehran amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Apr 28, 2020

Iran’s satellite launch carries more political weight than military significance

By Sina Azodi

The IRGC’s move should be analyzed more in terms of Tehran’s political posturing instead of as a strategic leap toward developing ICBMs.

Iran Middle East
IRGCN Vessels Conduct Unsafe, Unprofessional Interaction with U.S. Naval Forces in Arabian Gulf

IranSource

Apr 23, 2020

Trump’s Twitter threat to destroy Iranian boats isn’t guidance

By John W. Miller

In a tweet on April 22, US President Donald Trump announced that he ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boats harassing US warships. While the tweet may seem like new and escalatory guidance from the Commander in Chief to his forces in the region and an indication of a substantial increase in tensions between the United States and Iran, it is neither.

Iran Maritime Security

IranSource

Apr 20, 2020

The Supreme Leader doesn’t want détente with the United States—ever

By Shahir Shahidsaless

Iran’s Supreme Leader has cemented no talks and no relations with the United States as the grand strategy guiding Tehran’s foreign policy. He offers some arguments behind this strategic thinking and they are all flawed.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Apr 15, 2020

COVID-19: The last nail in the coffin of Iran’s tourism industry?

By Giorgio Cafiero

While global tourism is suffering worldwide amid this terrifying pandemic, Iranians dependent on tourism will continue to suffer for the foreseeable future.

Coronavirus Iran

IranSource

Apr 14, 2020

Can Qasem Soleimani’s young daughter continue his path?

By Arash Azizi

After Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack on Baghdad’s international airport on January 3, Zeinab quickly emerged as his most visible offspring.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Apr 10, 2020

Iran’s regional ambitions are not going anywhere

By Raz Zimmt

Time and time again, Iran has proved that, despite its limitations and weaknesses, it manages to hold on and turn threats into opportunities that preserve not only the regime’s survival, but its regional influence, as well.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Apr 9, 2020

Iranian officials troll the US handling of the coronavirus to hide their own failings

By Scheherazade Faramarzi

Iranian officials have taken to firing aggressive and sometimes disparaging remarks deriding the Western—especially American—response to the coronavirus outbreak in an apparent attempt to counter criticism of their own shortcomings.

Coronavirus Middle East

IranSource

Apr 7, 2020

Iranian prisoners left behind amid COVID chaos

By Mehrnaz Samimi

Even before the current crisis, the situation in prisons was becoming difficult to manage due to a poor economy and crippling US sanctions. Prisoners, regardless of their crimes or location of incarceration, are terrified of being forgotten or left without medical care. Overcrowding makes them susceptible to contracting COVID-19 and other diseases.

Coronavirus Iran
Load More