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.

Iran’s Footprint in Syria

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

Iran’s Footprint in Syria

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

Iran’s Footprint in Syria

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

New Atlanticist

Sep 18, 2013

Iran’s Footprint in Syria

By Henry Johnson

While US strategy towards Syria has been mired by indecision, Iran has steadily entrenched its interests in the war-torn country. Iran has pursued a two-track policy of, on the one hand, directly propping up the regime, and, on the other, equipping and training militias loyal to Bashar al-Assad. It has also promoted the convergence of […]

Iran Syria

Event Recap

Sep 12, 2013

US-Iran Reconciliation under President Rouhani

The South Asia Center and the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a discussion entitled “US-Iran Reconciliation Under President Rouhani?”

Iran
President of Russia Vladimir Putin

NATOSource

Sep 12, 2013

A Plea for Caution From Russia

By Vladimir Putin, New York Times

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage.

International Organizations Iran
President Barack Obama and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt

NATOSource

Sep 4, 2013

US and Sweden Agree on Key Security Issues

By Barack Obama and Fredrik Reinfeldt, White House

Excerpts from Joint Statement by President Obama and Prime Minister Reinfeldt of Sweden

European Union International Organizations
Obama administraion authorized hundreds of offensive cyber operations

NATOSource

Aug 31, 2013

US Spy Agencies Mounted 231 Offensive Cyber-Operations in 2011, Documents Show

By Barton Gellman and Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post

U.S. intelligence services carried out 231 offensive cyber-operations in 2011

China Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Aug 28, 2013

US Strike on Syria Could Be Prelude to Diplomacy

By Barbara Slavin

It’s hard to accuse the Barack Obama administration of being trigger happy.   While Obama has been willing to use force to kill Taliban and al-Qaida militants, he has studiously avoided embroiling the United States in another war in the Middle East or South Asia.   The apparent U.S. decision to strike Syria for what […]

Iran National Security
Jamaran frigate of Iranian Navy

NATOSource

Aug 23, 2013

Iran’s Navy May Deploy to Atlantic Ocean

By Zachary Keck, Diplomat

Iran’s state-run media has said that an Iranian naval fleet may deploy to the Atlantic Ocean in the “near future.”

Iran

New Atlanticist

Aug 22, 2013

Iran a Bright Spot in a Bleak Middle East?

By Barbara Slavin

As President Barack Obama returned from vacation this week – a short break interrupted by his need to react to the mayhem in Cairo – he may have been thinking that prospects for a major foreign policy achievement in his second term were fading.

European Union International Organizations

Article

Aug 21, 2013

Iran’s Oil Minister Confronts Sanctions

By Sara Vakhshouri

The man appointed to run the most vital ministry in the Iranian government has more than three decades of experience in the inner sinews of the Islamic Republic, with a track record of turning limitations into opportunities and using less confrontational rhetoric than other Iranian officials.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Aug 16, 2013

Four Days in Iran in August: Heat, Hijab, and Hope

By Barbara Slavin

What is it about Iran and Western women journalists?   Foreign reporters who got visas to cover last week’s inauguration of Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, were overwhelmingly female and included me as well as correspondents for NBC and CBS. Historically, women such as Christine Amanpour, Robin Wright and Elaine Sciolino have also reported extensively […]

Iran
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Experts

Fellow

Yesar Al-Maleki

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Geopolitics & Energy Security

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
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Events

Public Event Mon, April 13, 2026 • 12:30 pm ET

The IEA’s Fatih Birol on global energy market resilience in a moment of crisis

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—Fatih Birol discusses how the International Energy Agency is guiding governments and markets through a complex energy landscape.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security Iran