Iran
After the Militias
Now emptied of Iranian militias and split between U.S.-backed forces and Syria’s interim government, the Syrian province closest to the Iraqi border wrestles with what comes next.
Frenemies With Benefits
Iran and Israel maintained a covert relationship after the revolution that brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power, continuing to engage in trade worth millions of dollars per year, even as Iran publicly denied Israel’s right to exist. This shows that the Iranian regime is and has historically been a rational actor.
Iran’s Persistent Sadness
Over five decades, the sanctity of mourning, the imperative of introversion and the centrality of pondering upon death have been instilled in Iran’s people. The masses have been trained to dismiss smiles and eulogize tears, with profound effects.
A New Appointment Signals Iran’s Investment in the Propaganda War
Attention is on a likely military response to the assassination of Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Yet Iran’s strategic communications have already gone into overdrive under a new head of propaganda and public relations.
The Death of an Iranian President Affirms a Lesson From History: The Establishment Comes First
Between Khamenei's election and the moment of the helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan, a clear path was established in Iran. The state and system proved stronger than any individual, even Khomeini, the man who initiated the 1979 revolution.
The Fiasco of Iranian Diaspora Politics
Amid new crackdowns and the threat of war, Iranians, both in Iran and across the diaspora, are asking why the Woman, Life, Freedom movement failed and the Islamic Republic endures. Their hopes for change depend on an organized and effectively led political alternative that has yet to emerge.
Iran’s Dissenting Voices Are Being Targeted Online
Over the past few decades, the Iranian regime has developed both well-known cyberwarfare units — such as “Charming Kitten” — and more shadowy entities for psychological operations. While the former have received plenty of international attention, the latter have largely operated under the radar.