Skip to page content

Iran

Featured

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
The Drivers of and Outlook for Russian-Iranian Cooperation
Russia and Iran's recent cooperation regarding Ukraine has raised concerns that the once wary partners might be moving toward a more comprehensive, strategic alliance. Such a prospect could have significant consequences for the United States' ability to safeguard its interests in the Middle East.
Oct 4, 2023
Report
Deterring Russia and Iran
How can the United States effectively and efficiently deter Russia and Iran without crowding out investments in other military missions, including competition with China in the Indo-Pacific?
Aug 17, 2023

Explore Iran

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
Commentary
Iran's Proxies Are More Powerful Than Ever
The Trump administration has pursued a so-called maximum pressure strategy designed to alter the course of Iran's foreign and security policies, which relies heavily on sanctions to change Iranian behavior. Financial sanctions are an important part of any counterterrorism strategy. But they aren't enough.
Oct 16, 2019
Blog
Virtual Societal Warfare, Iran, Opioids: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the risk of virtual societal welfare, Iran's domestic debates, federal policy options for supervised consumption sites, and more.
Oct 11, 2019
Commentary
Why Iran's Domestic Debates Should Matter to the United States
Iran's internal debates play a critical role in framing, molding, and selling foreign and security policies. Understanding areas of both consensus and division among Iranian elites is key to developing a realistic policy on Iran and ensuring successful engagement in any future negotiations.
Oct 9, 2019
Report
Are States Using Cyber Operations to Coerce Others?
Cyber operations have become another tool of statecraft. But have any cyber operations sponsored by Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea met the definition of cyber coercion? If so, how? And what should the United States do to respond?
Sep 17, 2019
Commentary
Israel’s War with Iran May Be Going Too Far
Israel has a right to defend itself from Iranian threats to its country. American leaders should consider balancing support for Israel's efforts to counter Iran with firm redlines about activities negatively impacting American interests.
Sep 16, 2019
Commentary
Syria Changed the Iranian Way of War
To get a sense of the playbook that Tehran might consult in any future conflict with the United States, Washington should pay close attention to what the Iranians have learned in Syria.
Aug 16, 2019
Commentary
Japan's Hormuz Dilemma
Japan is a staunch U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific. But any decision to support a coalition against Iran in the Middle East is likely to put Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a tough position.
Aug 16, 2019
Blog
Inmate Suicides, India and Kashmir, Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap looks at preventing inmate suicides, India and Kashmir, improving health care for veterans, and more.
Aug 16, 2019
Commentary
Iran's Cooperation with the Taliban Could Affect Talks on U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has acknowledged that his country has some level of cooperation with the Taliban. How did Iran's relationship with the Taliban come about? And how might it affect the future of U.S.-Taliban talks?
Aug 9, 2019
Blog
DMZ Meeting, Students with Disabilities, Iran: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Trump's meeting with Kim Jong Un, supporting students with disabilities, the flawed logic of a proportional response in Iran, and more.
Jul 5, 2019
Commentary
The Flawed Logic of Proportionality
President Trump halted a retaliatory strike against Iran on the basis that it would have claimed many Iranian lives and was not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. There are many good reasons to avoid attacking Iran, but if Washington must resort to force in the future, it should avoid the flawed logic of proportionality.
Jul 1, 2019
Commentary
Changing the Way America Goes to War
America's vast power, and the weakness of most of its enemies, has allowed it to get away with a striking absence of deliberative judgment when deciding on war, as the Iraq case makes clear. But that free pass is coming to an end. It's time for the United States to rethink the way it decides on wars of choice.
Jun 25, 2019
Blog
Iran, School Discipline, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the costs of U.S.–Iran confrontation, discipline reform in America's schools, why the North Korea problem is bigger than nukes, and more.
Jun 21, 2019
Commentary
A Post-2020 U.S. Return to the Iran Nuclear Deal?
Now that the United States is out of the Iran nuclear deal, signing back on will not be as simple or as practical as some may hope. Too much has happened since it was first inked in 2015. With the political landscape in Tehran and Washington still taking shape, those who want to return to some kind of deal should start planning.
Jun 20, 2019

Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next

RAND Topic:
Iran

Topic Synonyms:
Islamic Republic of Iran

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Ian Mitch

Senior Policy Researcher

Ian Mitch is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, where his research focuses on terrorism, transnational criminal networks, cybersecurity, and homeland security issues.
Sunny D. Bhatt

Policy Analyst

Sunny D. Bhatt is a policy analyst at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Based in the Washington, D.C. office, Bhatt's research experience includes qualitative analysis and policy research for the National Security Research Division, through the Cyber and…

Explore Our People »