Proliferation

Policy Analysis on Proliferation

Iran Is Preparing Its Public, But Not (Yet) for Nuclear Compromise

Despite its iron grip at home, the regime generally seeks to build domestic support for its policies—so what outcome has it been prepping the public for during the nuclear talks?

Feb 3, 2022

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Jason Brodsky
Omer Carmi

Brief Analysis

Will the Ukraine Standoff Affect the Iran Nuclear Talks?

Some Western policymakers seem to believe that Russia can be helpful on Iran even as it threatens to attack Ukraine, but they’re missing the bigger picture.

Jan 11, 2022

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Brief Analysis

Fighter Aircraft Could Give Iran a Nuclear Delivery Option

Newly disclosed interviews indicate that a key Pakistani source of Iran’s nuclear know-how also figured out how to equip F-16s with nukes.

Dec 20, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Next Budget Assumes No Nuclear Deal

The government seems to believe the economy will grow significantly even without sanctions relief or increased oil revenue.

Dec 14, 2021

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Patrick Clawson

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Ballistic Missile Arsenal Is Still Growing in Size, Reach, and Accuracy

Tehran has doubled down on the strategic importance of missile systems that can threaten U.S. forces and allies, even as its defensive justifications for such an arsenal ring more hollow than ever.

Dec 13, 2021

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Farzin Nadimi

Articles & Testimony

Iran’s Nukes: This Time the Wolf Is Here

Given the regime’s considerable technical progress, even a good deal would only buy time rather than resolving the long-term nuclear threat.

Dec 10, 2021

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David Pollock

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivers public remarks.

Articles & Testimony

Tehran Won’t Tolerate a Reset with Washington—But Will Take a Deal

As the previous nuclear agreement showed, U.S. officials don’t need to change the regime’s mind about America’s supposedly nefarious intentions in order to cut a deal.

Dec 6, 2021

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Amir Toumaj

Articles & Testimony

Why Israel (Sort of) Misses the Iran Deal

Given the nuclear program’s advancement under the U.S. maximum pressure policy, a raft of Israeli officials now say the JCPOA was better than nothing—but rejoining it will be difficult.

Dec 6, 2021

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Neri Zilber

Video

Brief Analysis

How Tehran Views Washington

Researchers discuss Iran’s mindset toward the Biden administration and the country’s prospects for internal change as nuclear talks resume in Vienna.

Dec 1, 2021

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Amir Toumaj
Sanam Vakil

Iranian and international negotiators participate in nuclear talks in Vienna, 2021.

Brief Analysis

Reading Through Iran’s Nuclear Demands

Tehran has maintained its stringent line of insisting that Washington lift all sanctions, verify their removal, and provide future guarantees before it will lift a finger on resuming compliance with the JCPOA.

Nov 24, 2021

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Omer Carmi

Articles & Testimony

Biden Needs a Plan B for Yemen If Houthis Win

Ending the war under the current circumstances will generate new problems unless further steps are taken to interdict weapons smuggling and bolster security in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea.

Nov 4, 2021

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David Schenker

USAF ground crew directs a B-1 Lancer bomber

Articles & Testimony

The Threat of War Is the Only Way to Achieve Peace with Iran

Tehran no longer takes Washington seriously, so the Biden administration needs to put the prospect of military escalation back on the table if it hopes to make progress on the nuclear issue.

Oct 27, 2021

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

A Plan B for Iran

Tehran has seemingly concluded that sanctions relief is no longer worth compromising for, so Washington needs to change that calculus by credibly sharpening the consequences.

Oct 25, 2021

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Michael Singh

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Iraqi Militias Show Off Iranian Anti-Air Missile

Iran-backed resistance groups are seemingly staging missile "discoveries" as a way of warning off coalition air forces.

Oct 21, 2021

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Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight

Articles & Testimony

While Washington Argues, Iran Makes Nuclear Advances

A closer look at the technical progress being made under the country’s new nuclear chief—and his potential links with the Pakistani scientist who first gave Tehran weaponization know-how.

Oct 15, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

What AQ Khan’s Diaries Tell About Pakistan’s Drive for a Nuclear Bomb

The custodian of the infamous scientist’s four-decade-long journal offers new insights into his proliferation role and relationship with Pakistani military authorities.

Oct 12, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

How Iran’s Deadly Tanker Attack Is Linked to the Nuclear Deal

If the United States does not respond to the drone strike off Oman, it could impair rather than facilitate progress on the JCPOA talks.

Aug 11, 2021

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Robert Satloff

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, gestures while speaking

Brief Analysis

What If It’s Not a Tactic? Khamenei’s Waning Faith in the JCPOA

The Supreme Leader’s rhetoric in recent months indicates that Iran's experience under the nuclear deal has made him gun-shy about returning to that framework.

Aug 3, 2021

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Omer Carmi

Articles & Testimony

Iran’s Gift to President Biden

Although Tehran’s specific JCPOA demand may not be feasible, it opens the door to negotiating a new nuclear deal.

Aug 1, 2021

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Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

To Deter Iran, Give Israel a Big Bomb

In addition to renegotiating key parts of the JCPOA, expanding Israel’s arsenal is the best way to keep Tehran off the nuclear weapons threshold.

Jul 23, 2021

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Dennis Ross

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Featured experts

Patrick Clawson

Patrick Clawson is Morningstar senior fellow and director of research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Michael Singh

Michael Singh is the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Simon Henderson

Simon Henderson is the Baker fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

Henry Rome

Henry Rome is a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, specializing in Iran sanctions, economic, and nuclear issues.

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Proliferation

Policy Analysis on Proliferation

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