Iran

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.

Featured commentary & analysis

The Middle East Transformed by Iran Agreement? Take a Deep Breath; Here’s Why Not

MENASource
May 14, 2026

Five ways the Iran war will forever alter the Middle East

By
Amir Asmar

Expect the war to weaken the Iranian regime, keep the US in the Middle East, harm Israel’s standing in the region, and more.

Conflict
Iran

The Middle East Transformed by Iran Agreement? Take a Deep Breath; Here’s Why Not

MENASource
Apr 1, 2026

The US should rethink Iran as a Southwest Asia challenge

By
Mike Schoengold Beatty

Conventional instinct to treat Iran as another Iraq or Yemen risks misallocating resources and missing the real challenges ahead.

Iran
Security & Defense

The Middle East Transformed by Iran Agreement? Take a Deep Breath; Here’s Why Not

MENASource
Mar 23, 2026

The Iran conflict exposes the new cost curve of war

By
Nic Adams

The Pentagon must rapidly field innovative, lower-cost technologies alongside its exquisite capabilities, ensuring each is used where it delivers the greatest advantage.

Conflict
Defense Industry

Programs

Iran Strategy Project

The Iran Strategy Project is designed to synchronize and bring together the Atlantic Council’s policy and analytical efforts on Iran under a single banner, reflecting the unprecedented level of discord and uncertainty in Iran.

Learn more about the Middle East programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our 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

New Atlanticist

Jul 14, 2015

The Middle East Transformed by Iran Agreement? Take a Deep Breath; Here’s Why Not

By Richard LeBaron

The reactions to the nuclear agreement with Iran announced July 14 were utterly predictable. Those against the agreement yesterday are those against the agreement today. Those for it are still for it. The Obama administration will fight for its approval by Congress and the Netanyahu administration will fight against it. Republican presidential hopefuls are all […]

International Organizations Iran

In the News

Jul 14, 2015

Slavin on Iran Policy

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Americans for Peace Now to discuss the impact of the nuclear deal on Iranian policy and reform:

Iran

In the News

Jul 14, 2015

Burns: The Deal Is Historic, But The United States Must Now Act to Contain Iran

By Nicholas Burns

Atlantic Council Board Member Nicholas Burns writes for the Financial Times on the need for international cooperation to contain Iranian nuclear development:

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

Jul 14, 2015

Slavin: Iran Nuclear Deal Shifts Tectonic Plates in the Middle East

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Jazeera America on the ways in which the recently negotiated deal to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons may lead to greater cooperation among the nations involved:

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 14, 2015

An Opportunity to Discuss Iran’s Support for al-Assad

The nuclear deal reached July 14 between Iran and the so-called P5+1—the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany—presents an opportunity for the Obama administration and its partners to address Iran’s support for Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, writes Frederic C. Hof, a Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for […]

Iran National Security

SyriaSource

Jul 14, 2015

Dealing with Iran Post-Deal

By Frederic C. Hof

One may see the nuclear agreement with Iran as the product of a faulty premise and still respect the industry of US Secretary of State John Kerry and his team in arriving at respectable terms consistent with that premise. One may see the prospect of a regionally aggressive Iran soon to be flush with cash […]

Iran Syria

In the News

Jul 14, 2015

Slavin on Iran Deal and Diplomacy

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Public Radio International’s The World to discuss the diplomatic resolution to the Iran deal:

Iran

In the News

Jul 13, 2015

Manning: How the ‘Japan Model’ Could Strengthen the Iran Nuclear Deal

By Robert Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning writes for The National Interest on the ways in which Japan’s nuclear experience may provide helpful insights on the way forward following the nuclear deal with Iran:

Iran Japan

Europe After The Vote

Jul 10, 2015

Slavin Moderates Issues in the News

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Voice Of America’s Issues in the News to moderate a discussion on the Greek crisis, the Iran nuclear deal, and the US strategy to combat ISIS:

Greece Iran

In the News

Jul 9, 2015

Slavin: Why the Iran Endgame is So Tortuous

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for the Voice of America on why successfully concluding a nuclear deal with Iran is so difficult:

Iran
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Experts

Fellow

Nilofar Sakhi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Afghanistan Arabic

Expert

Nate Swanson

Director, Resident Senior Fellow, Iran Strategy Project

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

Iran Middle East

Fellow

Thomas S. Warrick

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

National Security Terrorism

Staff

William F. Wechsler

Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

National Security Middle East