Observation ·
How the U.S. Attack on Iran Hurts Russia and China
By Zineb RibouaOperation Midnight Hammer deals a blow to the anti-Western alliance.
Iran
Latest Mosaic Content for Iran
Observation ·
Israel’s Attack on Iran Is Reshaping the Middle East
By Jonathan Silver, Elliott Abrams, Amiad Cohen, Assaf Orion, John SpencerOperation Rising Lion.
Observation ·
Why the Attacks on Iran Won’t Lead to an Arab Embrace of Israel
By Hussein Aboubakr MansourThe rulers of the Gulf states are cheering every Israeli strike. But they now have less incentive to improve diplomatic relations with Jerusalem.
Observation ·
The Israeli Raid on Syria That Exposed the Weakness of Hardened Targets
By John SpencerIran has assumed it can keep its assets safe by hiding them deep underground. The IDF's daring operation in Masyaf may have shattered that assumption.
Response ·
Are Israel and Hizballah Destined for All-Out War? Watch and Read the Discussion
By The EditorsRaphael BenLevi, Richard Goldberg, and Hanin Ghaddar came together for a critical conversation on the possible war between Israel and Hizballah.
Observation ·
The World Is Not Taking the Houthis Seriously Enough
By Ari Heistein, Jason M. BrodskyOf all the actors that have taken the world stage since October 7, the Houthis are surely the most surprising. Where did they come from and what do they want?
Response ·
America Can No Longer Wait to Put Its Own House in Order
By Stephen Peter RosenWars in Ukraine and Israel are strengthening ties among Iran, Russia, and China. As in 1940, America can protect itself only if it rises to help the nations on the front line.
Response ·
Israel’s Outside-the-Box Options
By Aaron MacLeanA war in Gaza right now is a war on Hamas's timeline and initiative. Israel should consider seizing the initiative by making unpredictable moves elsewhere first.
Observation ·
What the Israeli Show “Tehran” Means to This Iranian
By Shay KhatiriThe spy show seems so accurate I found myself wondering whether its creators are themselves former Mossad agents who spent time in the titular city.
Response ·
Making Sense of Israel, Erdoğan, and Turkey
By Hay Eytan Cohen YanarocakAn interview with the author of Mosaic's June essay on how to understand Turkish politics, and the prospects for its relations with America and Israel.
Response ·
Michael Doran and Ze’ev Maghen Think about Iran and its Revolutionary Regime
By Michael Doran, Jonathan SilverWith a new nuclear deal looming, two experts met to discuss what it means, and to think more broadly about the nature of Iran's radical leadership.
Observation ·
The Covert War Between Israel and Iran Rises to the Surface
By Jonathan SchanzerIran's missile attack last weekend sheds light on America's role in the escalating conflict that Israel refers to as the "war between wars."
Monthly Essay ·
How Iran Thinks
With a new nuclear deal on the way, attention is again turning to Iran. Four recent books, plus the deal itself, suggest that America and Europe are blind to the regime's motivating spirit.
Observation ·
How America Lost Its Leverage on Iran
By Richard GoldbergTen years ago, two senators, one Republican and one Democrat, joined together to force America to sanction Iran. In the years since, the leverage they built has dissipated. Why?
Observation ·
Did the Recent War Between Israel and Hamas Help Iran or Hurt It?
By Ray Takeyh, Assaf OrionTwo top analysts talk about how Iran sees the region these days, and especially how it thinks about its friends and its enemies.
Observation ·
How Governors and State Legislatures Can Mitigate the White House’s Iran Strategy
By Richard GoldbergA few months ago it seemed that the Biden administration would pursue a more moderate version of Obama's Iran strategy. Now it's poised to make even greater concessions.
Observation ·
What Saudi Arabia Is Thinking
By Richard GoldbergThere’s talk of the new American administration moving closer to Iran. Could a Saudi step toward peace with Israel protect Riyadh from the troubles that might ensue?
Observation ·
How America Helped Iraq Fall under Iran’s Grip
By Michael PregentThe U.S. has repeatedly chosen the wrong allies in Iraq. Now Iran is poised for total control over its old adversary, a development that carries grave costs.
Observation ·
The Soul of Man Under Iranian Repression
By Shay KhatiriOnly after fleeing Iran have I been able to perceive my home clearly, and what disturbs me the most are not the political or economic issues there but the social and sexual ones.
Response ·
The Men Responsible for the AMIA Bombing Are Known—and Still at Large
By Matthew LevittOccupying positions from the highest rungs of the Iranian government to agents and operatives in the field, the terrorists have been rewarded, not punished.
Monthly Essay ·
The Shameful Cover-Up of the Worst Attack on Diaspora Jews Since the Holocaust
By Avi WeissA personal look at the 25 years that have passed since the bombing of an Argentine Jewish center that killed 85 people, with no progress toward justice.
Observation ·
What Iran Is Really Up To
By Michael DoranDesperate to preserve the nuclear deal, Iran with the help of its Western friends is creating just enough turmoil to make America, and not it, appear eager for war.
Response ·
Getting Smart about America’s Middle East Policy
By Michael DoranAs a strategic concept, defeating the Iranian-led order plays to America’s strengths, serves its vital interests, and is poised to attract the support of its traditional allies.
Response ·
Why Turkey Is No Partner for the United States
By Steven A. CookDespite Michael Doran's efforts to argue otherwise, Turkey shares neither American values nor American interests.
Response ·
Is the American Withdrawal from Syria a Disaster, or an Opportunity, or Something Else?
By Martin KramerThe inconstancy of America’s role in the Middle East is really no secret, either to its allies or to its enemies.
Monthly Essay ·
The Strategy Washington Is Pursuing in the Middle East Is the Only Strategy Worth Pursuing
By Michael DoranAmerica needs to back up its allies (Israel, Saudi Arabia, and potentially Turkey), and isolate its adversaries (Iran, Russia, China, Islamic State). Everything else is secondary.
Response ·
Iran Must be Contained, but Iran Must Also Not be Viewed in Isolation
By Michael Doran, Peter RoughAmerica needs to form as broad an international coalition against Tehran as possible—and simultaneously to develop a strategy for the Middle East as a whole.
Response ·
The Moscow-Tehran Axis Is a Coalition of the Weak
By Frederick W. KaganIran’s economy remains inefficient and inadequate, and Russia's is in even worse shape. To push both countries back, the only thing America needs is the will to do so.
Response ·
How to Drive a Wedge Between Russia and Iran
By Eran LermanThe two countries' shared Middle East interests don't extend much beyond keeping Assad’s blood-drenched Syrian regime in power. That presents an opportunity.
Response ·
America Is Not in a Zero-Sum Contest with Iran
While we do need to push back against Iran throughout the Middle East, it's unrealistic to expect Tehran to have no influence.
