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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

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
Report
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
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
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
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
Commentary
The Costs of Confrontation with Iran Are Mounting
Even if the United States and Iran avoid a direct military clash, recent escalation and the U.S. maximum pressure campaign are exacting long-term costs for U.S. interests and regional stability in ways that may be difficult if not impossible to reverse.
Jun 17, 2019
Research Brief
The Growing Need to Focus on Modern Political Warfare
RAND researchers analyzed how political warfare is practiced today and identified ways that the U.S. government, its allies, and its partners can respond to or engage in this type of conflict to achieve U.S. ends and protect U.S. interests.
May 31, 2019
Blog
Iran, Prison College Programs, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Iran's nonstate partners, lessons from a prison college program, what a fentanyl ban in China means for the U.S. opioid crisis, and more.
May 24, 2019
Commentary
Iran's Network of Fighters in the Middle East Aren't Always Loyal to Iran
Iran's nonstate partners are emerging as central players in the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, and may be a driver of further escalation. But how involved is Iran with these proxy groups?
May 21, 2019
Blog
Journalism, U.S.–Iranian Tensions, School Reform: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how the news has changed in the digital age, rising U.S.–Iranian tensions, how educators feel about school improvement plans, and more.
May 17, 2019
Commentary
The U.S. and Iran: Beyond the Rhetoric
Since the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran, tensions between the two countries have increased. Washington has stepped up pressure on Tehran in the hopes of reopening negotiations or ushering in the regime's collapse, while inside Iran, President Rouhani is facing pressure to retaliate.
May 17, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Iran

Topic Synonyms:
Islamic Republic of Iran

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Sunny D. Bhatt

Policy Analyst

Sunny D. Bhatt is a policy analyst based in the Washington, DC office of the RAND Corporation. His research experience includes qualitative analysis and policy research for the National Security Research Division, through the Cyber and Intelligence Policy Center and the International Security…
Ian Mitch

Senior Policy Analyst

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

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