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Iran

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More than 30 years after Iran's revolution, its political, military, and international activities continue to challenge and perplex its neighbors and many Western democracies. RAND research has informed and influenced U.S. policymakers on a range of topics, from engagement and containment and Tehran's ability to exploit pan-Islamic causes to Iran's ongoing development of nuclear capabilities.

Commentary
Iran: Challenges and Successes in COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Iran has faced an uphill battle since the first cases of COVID-19 were found in the country. Despite limited resources, Iran has also had its share of successes and innovations in combating the virus.
Apr 20, 2022
Report
What Drives Iran's Military Interventions?
Iran has risen as one of the most significant regional challenges faced by the United States. A RAND report identifies key signposts of Iranian military interventions that can be used as early warning indicators for U.S. military planners.
Sep 27, 2021

Explore Iran

Blog
Australia's Fires, Artificial Intelligence, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Australia's devastating fires, how artificial intelligence could manipulate the masses, the fentanyl crisis, and more.
Jan 24, 2020
Commentary
The Politics of Man-Hunting and the Illusion of Victory
Captures and strikes are important accomplishments and the countless nameless professionals who carry them out deserve the credit for executing them. But leaders are charged with something larger and should be judged by a higher standard: namely, seeing beyond the illusion and producing actual strategic victories.
Jan 22, 2020
Commentary
Iran Claws Back Its Regional Influence
Last year, Iran faced protests at home as well as in Iraq and Lebanon, where thousands rallied against Tehran's regional hegemony. But with its recent machinations and the fallout over the killing of Soleimani, Iran has succeeded in changing the regional conversation.
Jan 17, 2020
Blog
Iran, Mental Health and Jail, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Iran and Iraq following the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, supporting those experiencing mental illness in jails, Russia's hostile measures, and more.
Jan 10, 2020
Commentary
How Will Iran Respond to Soleimani's Killing—and Where Will the Escalation End?
Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani's death will reverberate in the Middle East region for a long time. The United States must know its end game and be able to respond to this changing landscape of its own making, without stumbling into another full-fledged conflict that the Trump administration itself, Congress, and the American people have said they do not want.
Jan 7, 2020
Commentary
All-Out U.S.-Iran War Is Unlikely. But Low-Level War Expected to Continue
Iranian retaliation for Soleimani's killing and counter-retaliation by the United States seem likely. But Tehran and Washington have good reasons to inflict limited pain without engaging in a full-scale war.
Jan 6, 2020
Commentary
Can Iraq Evict U.S. Forces?
The Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops from Iraq. This vote was nonbinding, and the Iraqi caretaker government cannot pass laws, but it does indicate that a majority in parliament wants U.S. forces to leave.
Jan 6, 2020
Commentary
Baghdad Siege Wasn't Benghazi, and Never Will Be
Given the heightened tension between the United States and Iran and the ongoing instability in Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad may very well be attacked again. If such an attack were to be successful, it would be more akin to the fall of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon than the U.S. mission in Benghazi.
Jan 6, 2020
Commentary
Iraq's Vote to Expel U.S. Troops Is Iran's True Victory
If American soldiers are ejected from Iraq, the consequences may be far-reaching and damaging to U.S. strategic interests. What options remain to reset the relationship between Washington and Baghdad?
Jan 6, 2020
Blog
Iranian Commander Soleimani Killed: RAND Experts React
The White House has confirmed that a U.S. airstrike authorized by President Trump killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani just outside the Baghdad airport in Iraq. We've rounded up how RAND researchers reacted to the news.
Jan 3, 2020
Blog
Most Popular RAND Blog Commentary of 2019
Terrorism. The humanitarian crisis at the border. How to engage friends and foes on the world stage. Here are the top 10 commentaries that readers engaged with most on The RAND Blog in 2019.
Dec 23, 2019
Commentary
Iraq at the Crossroads
The protests gripping Iraq pose an extraordinary challenge to Baghdad's political leadership, which must move the country ahead or step aside. Unless it finds the will to compromise for the common good, the governing class could risk thrusting the country into civil war.
Dec 18, 2019
Blog
How Americans Get the News, Iran, Caregiving: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how Americans consume the news, U.S.–Iranian relations, how federal disability payments help caregivers, and more.
Dec 13, 2019
Commentary
Understanding Iran's Nuclear Escalation Strategy
Throughout 2019, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. What are its goals in doing this? Why has it adopted this strategy? And perhaps most importantly, how far does Iran intend to go?
Dec 12, 2019
Commentary
Don't Expect a Thaw in Iran
Iran's recent protests could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Iran's domestic politics. Whatever happens inside the country, though, it will not likely change Iran's foreign policy.
Dec 11, 2019
Blog
Hong Kong, Reducing Crime, Medical Marijuana: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on what the U.S. can do about Hong Kong, reducing crime in Chicago, medical marijuana, and more.
Dec 6, 2019
Commentary
With Chaos in the Streets of Iran, Here's How the United States Could Help the Iranian People
The Iranian people deserve American support. But current U.S. policies are hurting the cause that Iranians are fighting for while failing to achieve any strategic objectives.
Dec 3, 2019
Blog
Medicare, Climate Change, 'Superbugs': RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on opening Medicare to Americans at age 50, how to assess climate change plans, antibiotic-resistant
Nov 22, 2019
Commentary
Don't Overestimate the Power of Iraqi Protests
As protests in Iraq grow, a “good news” narrative seems to be developing that they are a significant blow to Iranian influence. But the bigger story is not who is up and who is down between Washington and Tehran; it is that yet another Arab public has taken to the streets demanding change.
Nov 14, 2019
Commentary
Iran, the Unitary State
Current and future U.S. policy toward Iran must begin with the premise that the Islamic Republic is the sum of its parts and that to try to empower moderates or disempower hard-liners is naive. Rather, Washington should strive to deal with Iran as it is, not as Washington wishes it were.
Oct 18, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Iran

Topic Synonyms:
Islamic Republic of Iran

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Dalia Dassa Kaye

Adjunct Political Scientist

Dalia Dassa Kaye is an adjunct political scientist at the RAND Corporation. She is also a senior fellow at UCLA's Burkle Center for International Relations. In 2020–2021 she was a visiting scholar at the Wilson Center. She served as the director of RAND’s Center for Middle East Public Policy…
Karishma R. Mehta

Technical Analyst

Karishma Mehta (she/her) is a technical analyst at the RAND Corporation who works on projects related to terrorism, intelligence, national security, and homeland security implementing the lens of process mapping. She started her career at RAND as a research assistant working on projects that…

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