Shaffer in Baku Dialogues: Iran’s longstanding cooperation with Armenia

New Atlanticist Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran
Shaffer in Baku Dialogues: Iran’s longstanding cooperation with Armenia

New Atlanticist Jun 26, 2025

What really happened to Fordow? Three possible futures for Iran’s nuclear program after US strikes.

By Amir Asmar

The condition of Fordow will have a direct impact on the likelihood of Iran giving up its nuclear program versus resuming its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iran Middle East
Shaffer in Baku Dialogues: Iran’s longstanding cooperation with Armenia

Fast Thinking Jun 24, 2025

The big lessons from 12 days of war with Iran

By Atlantic Council

A tentative cease-fire is underway in the war between Iran and Israel. But where did the conflict leave Iran, Israel, and the United States?
Conflict Iran

In-depth research & reports

Report

Oct 8, 2024

A bipartisan Iran strategy for the next US administration—and the next two decades

As tensions spike in the Middle East, how should the next US president approach Iran and its network of proxies including Hezbollah and Hamas? With a strategy that can be maintained for decades, by administrations of either party. A bipartisan, expert working group lays out the details.

Iran Middle East

Programs

Middle East Programs

Working with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

EXPLORE THE Atlantic Council’s Middle East PROGRAMs

Content

In the News

Sep 11, 2020

Shaffer in Baku Dialogues: Iran’s longstanding cooperation with Armenia

When the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991, Iran’s stable northern boundary suddenly became a shared border with five states: land borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, and maritime borders with Kazakhstan and Russia. Tehran viewed this momentous change as a source of several new security challenges.

Iran
Middle East

IranSource

Sep 10, 2020

Why Nasrin Sotoudeh is on hunger strike to protest Iran’s dire prison conditions

By Tara Sepehri Far

The prominent Iranian human rights lawyer has been on a hunger strike in Evin prison for almost a month in order to demand the release of the country’s scores of political prisoners.

Human Rights
Iran

IranElections2021

Sep 10, 2020

Iran’s reformists don’t have a strategy yet—let alone a candidate

By Raz Zimmt

There is a growing number of voices among the reformist faction indicating confusion and distress less than a year before the June 2021 presidential election.

Iran
Middle East

In the News

Sep 9, 2020

Azodi quoted in Forbes on Iran weapon exports
Iran
Middle East

Report

Sep 9, 2020

Future of DHS Project: Full report

By Thomas Warrick & Caitlin Durkovich

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to refocus its mission to lead the defense of the United States against major nonmilitary threats.

China
Coronavirus

In the News

Sep 4, 2020

Ferziger in Foreign Policy: UAE Deal Boosts Israeli Oil Pipeline Secretly Built With Iran
Iran
Israel

In the News

Aug 31, 2020

Shaffer in National Interest: Iran’s multiethnic society explains why Tehran fears democracy

Iran faces the democracy conundrum: in multi-ethnic states where one non-majority group prevails over others, democratization entails risk of loss of empire.

Iran
Middle East

In the News

Aug 25, 2020

Slavin joins CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss Trump’s Iran policy
Iran
Middle East

In the News

Aug 22, 2020

Slavin quoted in VOA on ‘snapback’ sanctions on Iran
Iran
Middle East

Elections 2020

Aug 21, 2020

Adviser on Biden’s foreign policy: Start at home and repair alliances

By David A. Wemer

One of his chief foreign policy advisers said that a future Biden White House would focus its foreign policy on revitalizing the United States at home, rehabilitating frayed alliances, and building a team of democracies to solve the world’s biggest challenges.

China
Climate Change & Climate Action
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Bahar Ghandehari

Junior Policy Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan English

Fellow

Mark Klamberg

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English European Union

Fellow

Brian O’Toole

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba Economy & Business

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Staff

Andrew L. Peek

Director

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Europe & Eurasia Intelligence

Fellow

Amanda J. Rothschild

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Iran
Load More