"The Iranian threat has been greatly diminished while Israel presents a new challenge of its own to regional stability, raising fundamental questions about the [Abraham] accords," write Mohammed Baharoon and Alex Vatanka mei.edu/publications/g…

What to make of an Iranian smile and a Lebanese stare? In Tehran’s rival narratives, this is the face-off before the storm or the public posturing that avoids one

هل يخشى الخليج تحول إسرائيل من داوود لجالوت؟ النسخة العربية من مقالة مع الباحث ⁦Alex Vatanka⁩ نشرت في ⁦Middle East Institute⁩ نناقش فيها التحولات في المنطقة ما بعد حرب غزة bhuth.ae/ar/publication…

Are the so-called reformists in Tehran looking for a way back to influence or are they being played by the real power brokers as has been the case in the past? iranintl.com/en/202508192832

Not seen this footage before. Iran beat Israel 2-1 in 1968 AFC Asian Cup, going on to win the tournament. The game was in Tehran

🇮🇱 Gulf Arabs fear Israel is becoming Goliath ⁦Mohammed Baharoon⁩ ⁦Alex Vatanka⁩ ⁦Middle East Institute⁩ mei.edu/publications/g…

Alex Vatanka Middle East Institute says that reformists are testing the waters precisely because they sense the Islamic Republic is battered by sanctions and the war with Israel. “The Islamic Republic is under strain like never before,” he told Iran International, “but reformists

Sadr drops bombshells: blames Israel for Raisi’s death, calls Iran-Russia pact “nonsense,” warns Pezeshkian of Trump–Netanyahu war, slams hardliners’ theatrics & reminds Nasrallah got most aid under Khatami Sadr is a prominent foreign policy voice from moderate wing of regime

🇦🇲🇮🇷🇦🇿Wyoming Star explores the Iranian response to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal brokered by President Trump and the Zangezur Corridor with Alex Vatanka, Dr. Mostafa Ghaderi Hajat, دکتر احمد کاظمی, Arman Grigoryan, and Mehran Kamrava. Learn more: wyomingstarnews.org/2025/08/28/exc…

Pretty staggering. Former senior Majlis member says pro-Russia figures inside the regime in Iran act on Moscow's orders, block any candidates or policy Russia dislikes - the Russian mafia in Iran is a real thing

For some 40 yrs, Gulf states have steadily invested in the U.S. as their guarantor. But Israel’s strike on Qatar exposed a harsh truth: America’s security commitments in Gulf are now hostage to Israeli ultimatums—and Gulf confidence is starting to fray axios.com/2025/09/09/isr…

🙏@alaneyre1

Many officials in Tehran are clinging to the illusion that China and Russia will rescue Iran from Western pressure. That is hope, not strategy, writes Alex Vatanka. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/11/ira…

Panel: “Foreign Policy on Iran—What Is It, and Where Is It Headed?” Discussing current strategies, future transitions, and the diaspora’s influence. کنفرانس گفت‌وگوی ملی برای ایران National Dialogue Conference for Iran #MahsaDay2025

Iran's Shahed drone and modern warfare wsj.com/world/iran-sha…

Pictures from first ever meeting of "Liberation Movements" organized by new post-Shah Islamist regime (Jan 1980) Iran’s policy then = maximal noise, minimal gains. A spoiler’s game that hit enemies and “friends” alike 46 yrs later, still plenty of strategic confusion in Tehran

In Episode 7 of the Axis of Resistance Initiative at Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) , I moderated a panel on #Iran’s #Yemen policy & Axis of Resistance activities in Yemen with guests Nadwa Dawsari , Alex Vatanka & John Pennell. Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=GeLbwT…

"The Islamic republic, despite the horrendous things it does to its own people, likes to go out and say, 'We protect Iranians anywhere in the world,'" MEI's Alex Vatanka tells The Washington Post. wapo.st/48EgTdt

🚨New Conflicted Community Ep! 🚨 This week on Conflicted, host Thomas Small is joined by Alex Vatanka , a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and a leading scholar of Iranian domestic and foreign policy. Together, they explore the profound impact of the recent 12-Day

Immigrants make up just 14% of the U.S. population - but earned 50% of America’s Nobel Prizes in 2025 wsj.com/opinion/nobel-…