Democratic lawmakers criticize Trump administration policy after Soleimani targeting

Dispatches Jan 28, 2026

The expert conversation: Should Trump strike Iran? What happens next if he does?

By Jason M. Brodsky and Danny Citrinowicz

As the USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in the Middle East, two experts debate the opportunities, uncertainties, and risks of a US strike on Iran.
Iran Middle East
Democratic lawmakers criticize Trump administration policy after Soleimani targeting

Dispatches Jan 23, 2026

What Trump could do next in Iran

By Nate Swanson

As a US carrier strike group nears the Persian Gulf, what options does US President Donald Trump have to strike against the Iranian regime?
Iran Middle East
Democratic lawmakers criticize Trump administration policy after Soleimani targeting

MENASource Jan 14, 2026

Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

By Tara Kangarlou

If Trump is serious about peace, stability, and a lasting legacy, the path forward does not run through air strikes or transactional deals with a failing theocracy.
Civil Society Crisis Management

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New Atlanticist

Jan 9, 2020

Democratic lawmakers criticize Trump administration policy after Soleimani targeting

By David A. Wemer

“This entire escalatory lead up,” Murphy contended, “was all an exercise of choice.” While both Democratic lawmakers conceded that Soleimani—who led the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force—was an enemy of the United States and responsible for the deaths of US soldiers, they called into question the administration’s decision to target Soleimani on Iraqi soil and at a moment of such high tensions in the region.

Conflict Iran

In the News

Jan 9, 2020

Francis in Financial Post: Russia is the only winner after Iranian strikes, plane shoot-down

By Atlantic Council

Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Diane Francis explains in the Financial Post about how Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin intend to take advantage of recent events in the Middle East and will attempt to insert themselves as a major geopolitical player in the region. Related reading Related experts

Conflict Iran

In the News

Jan 9, 2020

Slavin joins CNN to discuss reasons behind Soleimani killing

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Iran

MENASource

Jan 9, 2020

Qasem Soleimani and escalatory parity

By Frederic C. Hof

For the better part of forty years, American action and inaction have persuaded the Islamic Republic that it could act with impunity; that the United States feared the escalatory implications of push-back. That dangerous, destabilizing belief seems to have been suspended with the killing of Soleimani.

Iran Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jan 9, 2020

Bryza joins CNN to discuss Iran’s strikes against US military bases in Iraq

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Iran

In the News

Jan 9, 2020

Slavin joins CBC to discuss US-Iran conflict

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Iran

IranSource

Jan 9, 2020

Qasem Soleimani: From meme to martyr

By Suzanne Kianpour

The Quds Force commander was seen by some as the future of Iran’s leadership, in recent years having evolved out of the shadows of spymaster to increasingly in the spotlight as a celebrity officer who took selfies with Shia militias. Now, the seemingly untouchable commander is a martyr—something he always said he dreamed of—and the memes have gone international.

Conflict Iran

Press and members call

Jan 8, 2020

Atlantic Council press call: What will follow the US strike on Major General Soleimani?

By Atlantic Council

This development will influence US engagement with Iran and partners in the region and its knock-on effects may very well manifest in the cyber domain. What type of de-escalatory engagement should we expect between the US and Iran following the assassination of Soleimani? What types of responses, both kinetic and cyber, can we expect from Iran, a country in need of appearing powerful to its allies and adversaries?

Cybersecurity Iran

In the News

Jan 8, 2020

Katz quoted in Foreign Policy on Russia’s move to heighten relations with Iran after Soleimani assassination

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

In the News

Jan 8, 2020

Ullman in UPI: Donald Trump fails to take high ground in message to Iran

By Harlan Ullman

Iran Politics & Diplomacy
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Experts

Fellow

Carmiel Arbit

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Civil Society Extremism

Fellow

Colin Brooks

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Iran Middle East

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fellow

Danny Citrinowicz  

Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Cybersecurity

Fellow

Ariel Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Central Asia Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Jonathan Fulton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

China Chinese
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Holding enablers accountable: The Islamic Republic of Iran’s role in Russia’s drone war
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