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 and the US: Deadly Embrace or Suicide Pact?

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 and the US: Deadly Embrace or Suicide Pact?

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 and the US: Deadly Embrace or Suicide Pact?

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

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Content

New Atlanticist

Apr 3, 2013

Iran and the US: Deadly Embrace or Suicide Pact?

By Harlan Ullman

During the Cold War, the thermonuclear standoff between the United States and Soviet Union was often described as two scorpions in a bottle. The notion was that both scorpions would sting the other to death no matter which struck first. Of course, the prospect of the scorpions being of the opposite sex with options other […]

Iran National Security

Event Recap

Mar 26, 2013

Iranian Economic System Bending, not Breaking Under Sanctions

On March 26, 2013, the South Asia Center hosted a briefing with Bijan Khajehpour, cofounder and managing partner at Atieh Internationa; Reza Marashi, research director, National Iranian American Council; and Trita Parsi, founder and president, National Iranian American Council on “The Impact of Sanctions on Tehran’s Nuclear Calculations.”

Iran

New Atlanticist

Mar 20, 2013

Iran and US Economy Remain Key Questions for Obama

By Harlan Ullman

As U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Israel for his first state visit, clearly Iran will dominate the agenda along with discussions over Syria, the Arab Spring and even the Palestinian issue (although Israeli settlements in occupied territories may be missing in action as too politically sensitive).

Iran

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2013

A Roadmap for Negotiating with Iran

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

It is still early in the second term of the Obama administration, and as with the beginning of all presidential terms, hope springs eternal in political circles that longstanding obstacles to policy progress will be swept away. In that spirit, a host of commentators are calling for the United States and Iran to make a […]

Elections Iran

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2013

Is Iran Essential to Syria’s Future?

By Loren White

After 23 months of fighting, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on power is increasingly tenuous. Fearing its greatest ally could be ousted, Iran has reportedly begun forming large sectarian militias in Syria to bolster the regime in the short term, and also to preserve its influence should Assad be overthrown. With so much at stake, […]

Iran Syria

New Atlanticist

Jan 9, 2013

The Iranian Cliff

By Harlan Ullman

If 2012 turned out to be the year of the “Cliff Hanger,” what will 2013 bring? This column has written about the fiscal, strategic and civility cliffs. Alarmingly, the worst may yet to come: Consider the “Iranian cliff.”

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

Event Recap

Dec 5, 2012

Can the World Live Without Iranian Oil?

By Jason Harmala

On December 5, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center held a discussion entitled “Can the World Live Without Iranian Oil,” with Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International; and Denise Natali, Minerva Chair, Institute of National Strategic Studies, National Defense University.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2012

VIDEO: Secretary Kerry Addresses the Key Points of the Iran Deal

By US Dept of State

Iran

New Atlanticist

Nov 6, 2012

Israel and US – Divergent Views Over Iran’s Nuclear Threat

By Jonathan Paris

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations in September 2012 that Iran is between six and eight months away from having sufficient enriched uranium to make a bomb.

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Nov 5, 2012

Anatomy of a Deal with Iran

By Rajan Menon

The on-again, off-again musings about a deal between Washington and Tehran are on again. A deal might reconcile the most important demands of each side: Iran’s insistence that it has a legal right to an independent fuel cycle for what it insists is a nonmilitary nuclear program and the declaration of the United States that […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation
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Experts

Fellow

Simin Kargar

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Fellow

Mark N. Katz

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Geopolitics & Energy Security Iran

Fellow

Mark Klamberg

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English European Union

Staff

Matthew Kroenig

Vice President, Geostrategy and Fellows and Senior Director, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Staff

Andrew L. Peek

Director

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

Europe & Eurasia Intelligence

Fellow

Keir Lieber

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy
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