Building on the Win: U.S. Strategy Toward Iran After the 12-Day War
Years, even decades, of tensions over Iran’s nuclear program culminated in just 12 days in June. But though Israeli-U.S. operational excellence prevailed in battle, the question for Tehran and Jerusalem is when, not if, this war continues, and what its final verdict will be. Iran seeks to undo the setbacks of this short but sharp conflict and still refuses to negotiate in earnest, leaving Israel at least to prepare for another round with urgency and purposiveness. At the same time, the regime’s severe setbacks and unpreparedness in this war are magnifying its deeper failures to govern effectively or justly, in turn exposing acute vulnerabilities surrounding its ability to rule the country.
The United States must work closely with Israel and other partners to seize the initiative and leverage created by this summer’s watershed moment. Though backfooted, Iran’s regime already exploits any daylight and letup from its adversaries to rebuild its shattered arsenals and reinforce its grip at home. America now must lead in encircling the regime with concentric pressures to sever its lifelines to China and Russia, deter or defeat its nuclear and military reconstitution, compel it into a stringent and comprehensive diplomatic agreement and, ultimately, exploit the Islamic Republic’s weaknesses and encourage its collapse.
Co-Chairs
Ambassador Eric Edelman
Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Gen Charles Wald, USAF (ret.)
Former Deputy Commander of United States European Command
Members
Elliott Abrams
Former U.S. Special Representative for Iran
VADM John Bird, USN (ret.)
Former Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet
Gen James Conway, USMC (ret.)
Former Commandant of the Marine Corps
Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (ret.)
Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, U.S Air Force Headquarters
VADM Robert Harward, USN (ret.)
Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command
Lt Gen Charles Moore, USAF (ret.)
Former Deputy Director, U.S. Cyber Command
Lt Gen Henry Obering, USAF (ret.)
Former Director of the Missile Defense Agency
Steve Rademaker
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Nonproliferation
Maj Gen Lawrence Stutzriem, USAF (ret.)
Former Director, Plans, Policy and Strategy at North American Aerospace Defense Command
Ray Takeyh
Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Roger Zakheim
Former General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of U.S. House Armed Services Committee
JINSA Staff
Michael Makovsky, PhD
President & CEO
John Hannah
Randi & Charles Wax Senior Fellow
Blaise Misztal
Vice President for Policy
Jonathan Ruhe
Director of Foreign Policy
Ari Cicurel
Associate Director of Foreign Policy
Yoni Tobin
Senior Policy Analyst
Jonah Brody
Policy Analyst
Sarah Havdala
Policy Analyst