Iran

The US-Iranian relationship has experienced significant challenges over the past forty years. The lack of diplomatic relations, changes in both the US and Iranian administrations, repeated US military interventions in the region as well as Iran’s support for militant groups and increasingly harsh rhetoric on both sides have further undermined chances for reconciliation. Through a balanced approach of engagement and containment, there is a need to push back against Iranian intervention while promoting US interests, regional conflict resolution, and the well-being of the Iranian people.

Mortlock in The Hill: Stay in the Iran Nuke Deal to Keep America’s Seat at the Negotiating Table

Dispatches
Mar 6, 2026

How would a Kurdish offensive change the war in Iran?

By
Atlantic Council experts

Our experts explain the goals of the various Kurdish groups the United States is reportedly backing for an attack against Iran and how their involvement could impact the wider war.

Conflict
Defense Policy

Mortlock in The Hill: Stay in the Iran Nuke Deal to Keep America’s Seat at the Negotiating Table

Dispatches
Mar 6, 2026

Washington’s limited levers to shape a post-Khamenei Iran

By
Nate Swanson, Ingrid Small

The United States and its allies do have some options to coax change that might result in a more Western-leaning Tehran.

Conflict
Iran

Mortlock in The Hill: Stay in the Iran Nuke Deal to Keep America’s Seat at the Negotiating Table

MENASource
Mar 3, 2026

Trump wants Iranians to ‘take back their country’ from the regime. Can they?

By
Alan Pino

To succeed in overthrowing the Iranian regime, an uprising would likely require a unifying leader, an effective organization, and the support of whatever remains of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Conflict
Democratic Transitions

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

May 3, 2018

Mortlock in The Hill: Stay in the Iran Nuke Deal to Keep America’s Seat at the Negotiating Table

By David Mortlock

Read the full article here

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

May 3, 2018

Morningstar in The Hill: Stay in the Iran Nuke Deal to Keep America’s Seat at the Negotiating Table

By Richard L. Morningstar

Read the full article here

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

IranSource

May 3, 2018

Little Fires Everywhere: The Middle East After Trump’s Iran Deal Decision

By Richard LeBaron

The best-selling novel “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng provides an apt title for the next book in the long-running non-fiction history of Middle East conflicts—that which will come after US President Donald J. Trump moves to modify or nullify the Iran nuclear agreement. Those fires, not so little for those directly affected, are burning […]

Iran

Event Recap

May 3, 2018

The Fate of the JCPOA

By Global Business & Economics Program

On Thursday, May 3, 2018, the Atlantic Council’s Economic Sanctions Initiative hosted a private breakfast on US sanctions against Iran and the fate of the JCPOA.

Iran

In the News

May 3, 2018

Alfoneh Quoted in Reuters on Iran Nuclear Scenarios

By Ali Alfoneh

Read the full article here

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

May 3, 2018

Pham Quoted in The National Interest on Iranian Activity Across the African Continent

By J. Peter Pham

Read the full article here

Africa Iran

In the News

May 3, 2018

Charai in The National Interest: Will War with Iran Be the Result of a Poorly Planned Trump Doctrine?

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

New Atlanticist

May 3, 2018

Little Fires Everywhere: The Middle East After Trump’s Iran Deal Decision

By Richard LeBaron

The best-selling novel “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng provides an apt title for the next book in the long-running non-fiction history of Middle East conflicts—that which will come after US President Donald J. Trump moves to modify or nullify the Iran nuclear agreement. Those fires, not so little for those directly affected, are burning […]

Iran Middle East

In the News

May 3, 2018

Vajdich Quoted in The Atlantic on Ukraine’s Courtship of Trump

By Daniel Vajdich

Read the full article here

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

IranSource

May 2, 2018

Can Russia Serve As An Honest Broker Between Israel And Iran?

By Stephen Blank

Victory in war often brings with it unforeseen challenges and obligations.  Russia is now learning that to sustain its victory in Syria’s civil war it must play a role as an arbiter or honest broker between Iran and Israel lest their rivalry explodes into large-scale combat, engulfs the entire region, and undermines Russia’s newly-acquired position […]

Iran
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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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Events

Online Event Tue, March 31, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Holding enablers accountable: The Islamic Republic of Iran’s role in Russia’s drone war
Civil Society Conflict Crisis Management Iran