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Iran

Examining the strategic, economic and military options available to the United States to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability and counteract its destabilizing aggression against the United States and its allies.

Overview:

Title
Main
Members
Iran Policy Project Reports
Featured Media
Analysis and Commentary
Congressional Testimony

Iran Policy Project Members

VADM John M. Bird, USN (ret.)

Co-Chair, JINSA Israel-China Policy Project; Former Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet

Gen James T Conway, USMC (ret.)

Former Commandant of the Marine Corps; former Director of Operations (J-3) on the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Maj Gen Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, USAF (ret.)

Former Director, Plans, Policy and Strategy at North American Aerospace Defense Command

Larry Goldstein

Founder and Director of Energy Policy Research Institute, Inc.; JINSA Gemunder Center Senior Advisor

John Hannah

Gemunder Center Senior Fellow; Former Assistant for National Security Affairs to the Vice President

Hon. Stephen Rademaker

Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation; JINSA Gemunder Center Senior Advisor

Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (ret.)

Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, U.S. Air Force Headquarters; JINSA Gemunder Center Senior Advisor

Gen Charles "Chuck" Wald, USAF (ret.)

Co-Chair of the Iran Policy Project and Eastern Mediterranean Policy Project, Former Deputy Commander of United States European Command

Roger Zakheim

Former General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of U.S. House Armed Services Committee

Dr. Ray Takeyh

Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at Council on Foreign Relations

Lt Gen Henry Obering, USAF (ret.)

Former Director of the Missile Defense Agency

Amb. Eric Edelman

Counselor; Co-Chair, Iran Policy Project and Eastern Mediterranean Policy Project, Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Iran Policy Project Reports


No Going Back Now: The Case Against Returning to the JCPOA March 3, 2021 Read Report Download
Leaving the JCPOA Behind: Principles for Preventing a Nuclear Iran September 16, 2020 Read Report Download
If Time Runs Out Again: Implications of Iran’s Nuclear Escalation July 8, 2019 Read Report Download
Comprehensive U.S. Strategy Toward Iran After the JCPOA September 16, 2018 Read Report Download
Countering Iranian Expansion in Syria November 20, 2017 Read Report Download
Strategy to Restore U.S. Leverage Against Iran July 12, 2017 Read Report Download
The Iran Nuclear Deal After One Year: Assessment and Options for the Next President July 12, 2016 Read Report Download
Mitigating the Strategic Consequences of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action March 16, 2016 Read Report Download
Assessment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: Strategic Consequences for U.S. National Security September 2, 2015 Read Report Download
Scorecard for the Final Deal with Iran July 29, 2015 Read Report Download
Necessary Safeguards for a Final Deal with Iran June 18, 2015 Read Report Download
Questions About Iran Framework Agreement April 13, 2015 Read Report Download
Questions for a Final Deal with Iran March 24, 2015 Read Report Download
Centrifuge Cascades and a Final Deal with Iran November 6, 2014 Read Report Download
Separative Work Units (SWU) and a Final Deal with Iran September 22, 2014 Read Report Download
Improving the Prospects for an Acceptable Final Deal with Iran July 17, 2014 Read Report Download
Impact of the Interim Deal with Iran May 12, 2014 Read Report Download
Assessment of the Interim Deal with Iran January 24, 2014 Read Report Download
Principles for Diplomacy with Iran October 14, 2013 Read Report Download

Featured Media


Gemunder Center Senior Advisor and Member of Its Iran Task Force The Honorable Stephen Rademaker Testifies Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee May 9, 2018 Read More

Analysis & Commentary


Biden’s Mideast Drawdown Poses Perils Defense News - April 15, 2021 by VADM John W. Miller, USN (ret.) and Read More
Biden Faces His First Disasters in Yemen and Afghanistan Foreign Policy - April 13, 2021 by John Hannah and Read More
The US Must Not Rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal Washington Examiner - March 21, 2021 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
How to Lose the Nuclear Game in the Middle East The National Interest - March 16, 2021 by IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish and Read More
Red Lines Can Help Address Iran’s Nuclear Escalation The National Interest - March 13, 2021 by John Hannah and Read More
Why a Return to the JCPOA Will Be Even Harder Than Many Think RealClearWorld - March 1, 2021 by Hon. Stephen Rademaker and Read More
Team Biden Tries to Thread the Needle on the Iran Nuclear Deal The Dispatch - February 26, 2021 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Read More
Days of Blunder: Why U.S. Diplomacy Doesn’t Work in Iran The National Interest - February 13, 2021 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
Iran: Still a State-Sponsor of Terrorism, and Growing Bolder The National Interest - February 6, 2021 by LtGen Richard Natonski, USMC (ret.) and Read More
Negotiations Cannot Solve America’s Iranian Nuclear Troubles The National Interest - January 11, 2021 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
Biden Administration Must Counter Iranian Terrorism The Jerusalem Post - December 20, 2020 by Shiri Moshe and Read More
The Biden Administration Must Fix Flawed Iran Nuclear Deal The Defense Post - December 18, 2020 by IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish and Read More
If Biden Wins, He Should Continue to Put ‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran The Algemeiner - November 2, 2020 by Erielle Davidson and Read More
Hassan Rouhani Wants the US to Surrender, but the Pressure is on Tehran Al Arabiya - October 22, 2020 by Erielle Davidson and Read More
Would Sanctions Relief Help Ordinary Iranians, or Go to Terrorist Groups? The National Interest - October 16, 2020 by Erielle Davidson and Read More
Iran-China-Russia Axis Threatens US and Israeli Interests The Defense Post - October 14, 2020 by General Douglas Fraser, USAF (ret.) and Read More
America Must Do More To Prevent An Iranian Nuclear Weapon The National Interest - September 25, 2020 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
Don’t Buy Into UN Fearmongering on the Iran Deal Washington Examiner - August 20, 2020 by Erielle Davidson and Read More
Yes, Iran Could Sink One of the Navy’s Aircraft Carriers The National Interest - August 15, 2020 by VADM John M. Bird, USN (ret.) and Read More
It’s Time to Invoke Snapback Sanctions on Iran The National Interest - August 15, 2020 by Erielle Davidson and Read More
Why the US Must Confront Iran, With or Without the UN Jewish Journal - August 14, 2020 by ADM Kirkland H. Donald, USN (ret.) and VADM John M. Bird, USN (ret.) and Read More
Countdown to Israeli Action Against Iran The Defense Post - July 31, 2020 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Allowing Iran Snapback Sanctions to Expire Would Be A Security Disaster The National Interest - July 25, 2020 by LTG Thomas W. Spoehr, USA (ret.) and Read More
Iran’s Coronavirus Communications Create a Window of Opportunity for America The National Interest - June 7, 2020 by Ari Cicurel and RADM David T. Glenn, USCG (Ret.) and Read More
Enhance US-Israel Cooperation Against Iranian Belligerence The Washington Examiner - May 20, 2020 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Rep. Jack Bergman and Read More
Two Years and Counting – Next Moves to Curb Iran’s Nuclear Aspirations The American Spectator - May 13, 2020 by Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (ret.) and Read More
Rolling Back Iran in Iraq RealClearDefense - May 13, 2020 by LtGen John “Jocko” Toolan, Jr., USMC (ret.) and Read More
Iran’s Most Dangerous Virus Is Its Lying, Oppressive Regime The Washington Times - April 30, 2020 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Mark Wallace and Read More
Change US Escalation Calculus with Iran Breaking Defense - April 22, 2020 by LTG. Mick Bednarek, USA (ret.) and Read More
The United States Needs to Keep Maximum Pressure on Iran The National Interest - April 20, 2020 by VADM John W. Miller, USN (ret.) and Read More
Iran Keeps Up Its Malign Behavior, Pandemic Notwithstanding Jewish News Syndicate - April 13, 2020 by IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror and Read More
Why the US Must Quit Negotiating with Iran The Hill - April 9, 2020 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
America Must Have a ‘Regime Collapse’ Strategic Goal for Iran The National Interest - March 25, 2020 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
What We Know About Iran Five Years After Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress March 8, 2020 by IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror and Jacob Nagel and Jonathan Schacter and Read More
The Case For a Political Warfare Campaign Against Iran The Hill - March 1, 2020 by Jonathan Ruhe and Ari Cicurel and Read More
Avoiding a Nuclear Arms Race in the Middle East Defense News - February 13, 2020 by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.) and Harry Hoshovsky and Read More
How to Limit Iranian Freedom of Action Washington Examiner - January 31, 2020 by IDF Col. (ret.) Itai Shapira and Read More
Drone Strike Spillover: Why the Assassination of Suleimani Could Create a Crisis for Israel The National Interest - January 31, 2020 by IDF Col. (ret.) Itai Shapira and Read More
The US Needs Sustained Strategy Against Iran The Hill - January 12, 2020 by Lt Gen Thomas “Tom” Trask, USAF (ret.) and Ari Cicurel and Read More
The Right Strategy For Iran Isn’t Regime Change. It’s Regime Collapse. The Washington Post - January 8, 2020 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
To Deter War With Iran, U.S. Should Use Its Asymmetric Edge: Air Power Forbes - January 8, 2020 by Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (ret.) and Read More
President Trump Should Worry About Iran’s Military The National Interest - January 3, 2020 by Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
How Trump Should Maximize Pressure on Iran New York Daily News - December 3, 2019 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
New Signs Iran is Creeping Closer to Making a Nuclear Bomb The Hill - November 12, 2019 by Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
Contesting Iran’s Gray Zone Strategy Real Clear Defense - October 18, 2019 by Lt Gen Thomas “Tom” Trask, USAF (ret.) and Jonathan Ruhe and Ari Cicurel and Read More
Quds Force: A Center of Gravity For Iranian Insurgency The Defense Post - September 30, 2019 by IDF BG (ret.) Ram Yavne and Read More
Preventing Iran From Creating More Hezbollahs Across the Middle East The Jewish News Syndicate - September 27, 2019 by IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror and Read More
Trump Can Do Even More on Iran The Wall Street Journal - September 25, 2019 by Hon. Stephen Rademaker and Read More
Rethinking Maximum Pressure on Iran Real Clear Defense - September 20, 2019 by Lt Gen Raymond V. Mason, USA (ret.) and Ari Cicurel and Read More
Trump’s Sanctions on Iran Won’t Work Without Threat of Force The New York Post - September 16, 2019 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
How Iran’s Nuclear Breakout Easily Could Become a ‘Sneakout’ The Hill - September 12, 2019 by Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
Iran’s Nuclear Clock is Ticking Once Again. Here’s How to Stop It Newsweek - July 11, 2019 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Michael Makovsky, PhD and Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
Qatar is Helping Iran. Trump Has the Leverage to Force a Change — But Will He? NBC News - July 9, 2019 by Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
In Light of Iranian Aggression, the US Navy Must Grow in Size and Capability Fox News - June 24, 2019 by VADM John M. Bird, USN (ret.) and Read More
Helping Lebanon While Countering Hezbollah and Iran JINSA - June 18, 2019 by IDF BG (ret.) Ram Yavne and Harry Hoshovsky and Read More
Iran Puts Trump to the Test The Wall Street Journal - June 2, 2019 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
A Triangular Strategy For The Middle East Breaking Defense - March 29, 2019 by IDF BG (ret.) Ram Yavne and Read More
Trump Shouldn’t Pull Out of Syria Right Now – Our President First Needs a Tougher Anti-Iran Strategy Fox News - February 1, 2019 by Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Iran’s Ballistic Missile Test Shows U.S. Defense of Middle East Allies Must Change. Here’s How Newsweek - December 19, 2018 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
The United States Needs a Clear Strategy to Roll Back Iran The Hill - December 3, 2018 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
A Comprehensive Strategy That Secures Real And Lasting Changes In Iran’s Behavior The Hill - September 19, 2018 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
Helsinki Summit an Opportunity to Win Russia’s Support for Constraining Iran in Syria The Hill - July 15, 2018 by VADM John M. Bird, USN (ret.) and John Hannah and Read More
Beyond Sanctions, How The U.S. Can Pressure Iran Reuters - May 29, 2018 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
It’s Time for Trump to Pull Out of the Iran Deal Reuters - April 10, 2018 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Trump’s Quick Fix Approach to Iran Nuclear Deal Creates Untenable Policy Dilemma The Hill - February 21, 2018 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
One Way to Counter Iran’s Aggression? Change the Map of the Middle East Fox News - December 25, 2017 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
US Must Bolster Its Presence In MidEast As ISIS Falls Breaking Defense - December 6, 2017 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Amb. Eric Edelman and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
How Trump Can Prevent a Nuclear Iran Reuters - November 1, 2017 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
North Korea Proved Allowing the Iran Deal to Collapse Could Lead to Proliferation The Hill - September 27, 2017 by VADM John M. Bird, USN (ret.) and Hon. Stephen Rademaker and Read More
Peas in a Nuclear Pod Israel Hayom - August 7, 2017 by IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror and Read More
How Trump Should Handle Iran Politico - July 27, 2017 by Ambassador Eric Edelman and Gen. Charles Wald, USAF (ret.) Read More
The Terror-Fighting Burden on Emmanuel Macron: What President Trump Should Ask from the French president The New York Daily News - July 13, 2017 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Kenneth Weinstein, PhD and Read More
Five Ways for Trump to Put Tehran on Notice The Wall Street Journal - January 3, 2017 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
No Deal The Weekly Standard - October 14, 2016 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and William Kristol and Read More
Iran’s Close Encounters With the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf The National Interest - September 21, 2016 by Jonathan Ruhe and Blake Fleisher and Read More
Iran Needs to Take America Seriously Again USA Today - July 14, 2016 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Michael Makovsky, PhD and Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
What’s the Deal with Iran? The Weekly Standard - July 8, 2016 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Time to Seize the High Ground on Nuclear Weapons RealClearDefense - June 7, 2016 by Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
What Rhodes Revealed The Weekly Standard - May 10, 2016 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Time to Take Aim at Iranian Missiles Politico - April 12, 2016 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and Read More
Gemunder Center Conference Call on Mitigating the Consequences of the Nuclear Agreement with Iran April 6, 2016 Read More
The Costanza Approach The Weekly Standard - April 1, 2016 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and William Kristol and Read More
The Dangerous Post-Deal World The Weekly Standard - March 17, 2016 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
The Overlooked Iranian Missile Threat The Wall Street Journal - February 21, 2016 by Jonathan Ruhe and Blake Fleisher and Read More
Who Really Betrayed the Syrians? The Weekly Standard - November 19, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Iranian Cheating The Weekly Standard - October 26, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
What Next? The Weekly Standard - October 5, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Video: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Cites JINSA Iran Strategy Council Report on Senate Floor September 10, 2015 Read More
Congress Must Reject Flawed Nuke Deal The Hill - September 10, 2015 by Amb. Eric Edelman and Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
JINSA Iran Strategy Council Co-Chair Gen. Wald on WSJ Opinion Journal September 9, 2015 Read More
JINSA Iran Strategy Council in The Washington Free Beacon on Hill Testimony September 9, 2015 Read More
JINSA Gemunder Center Iran Strategy Council Testifies Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee September 9, 2015 Read More
Former Vice President Dick Cheney Quotes JINSA Iran Strategy Council Report September 9, 2015 Read More
JINSA Iran Strategy Council in The Hill September 4, 2015 Read More
Generals: Deal Puts US in ‘Far Worse Position to Prevent a Nuclear Iran’ September 4, 2015 Read More
Obama Secures Rubber Stamp for Iran Deal Catastrophe September 3, 2015 Read More
Retired Military Leaders: Iran Nuke Deal Makes War More Likely September 3, 2015 Read More
JINSA Iran Strategy Council Report on FoxNews.com September 2, 2015 Read More
JINSA Iran Strategy Council Report in The Washington Times September 2, 2015 Read More
Four-Star Generals: Nuclear Deal Hurts American Military, Diplomatic Standing in Middle East September 2, 2015 Read More
New threat: Iran getting Russian anti-air missiles, add to armed drone fleet September 2, 2015 Read More
Obama secures votes to preserve Iran nuclear deal despite majority opposition The Washington Times – September 2, 2015 By Guy Taylor September 2, 2015 Read More
New Report: Iran Nuclear Deal Threatens U.S. Interests and Increases Probability of Military Conflict September 2, 2015 Read More
Blaming Israel First The Weekly Standard - August 10, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and William Kristol and Read More
On the Consequences of the Deal The Weekly Standard - July 27, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Deal Brings Iran Closer to Obtaining Nuclear Weapons Capability The Weekly Standard - July 24, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
‘A Perverse Consequence’ The Weekly Standard - May 25, 2015 by William Kristol and Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Iran’s Cheating The Weekly Standard - April 13, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Appeasement in Our Time The Weekly Standard - March 9, 2015 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Sending a Bunker-Busting Message to Iran The Wall Street Journal - April 8, 2014 by Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (ret.) and Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
The Obama Complex The Weekly Standard - February 10, 2014 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and William Kristol and Read More
‘Folly, Fatuity, and Futility’ The Weekly Standard - December 9, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and William Kristol and Read More
How to Negotiate with Iran The Los Angeles Times - October 29, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Amb. Eric Edelman and Dennis Ross and Read More
Standing Alone The Weekly Standard - October 14, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and William Kristol and Read More
Strategic Interests in the Region Should Guide U.S. Policy in Egypt August 27, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Saudi Arabia Is a U.S. Ally, Not a Friend The New York Times - August 27, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
U.S. Must Mandate Zero Oil Exports for Iran The Weekly Standard - July 25, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Jonathan Ruhe and Read More
Lessons from Syria for Iran The Weekly Standard - June 6, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
Iran’s Shrewd Move The Weekly Standard - February 22, 2013 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
The Economic Cost of a Nuclear Iran The Wall Street Journal - December 19, 2012 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Charles Robb and Dennis Ross and Read More
Hot Debate Over Red Lines The Weekly Standard - September 14, 2012 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
Iran Has No ‘Right’ To Enrich Uranium The Wall Street Journal - July 8, 2012 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
The Red Line for Iran The Weekly Standard - March 2, 2012 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
The Real Oil Shock The Weekly Standard - January 16, 2012 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Larry Goldstein and Read More
Obama’s Iran Policy Shifts to Containment The Washington Post - December 11, 2011 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Blaise Misztal and Read More
Iran, Oil, and the Carter Doctrine The Weekly Standard - August 13, 2010 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Stick Must Remain an Option to Stop Iran San Francisco Chronicle - March 21, 2010 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Read More
Over a Barrel The New Republic - May 29, 2009 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Edward Morse and Read More

Congressional Testimony


Gemunder Center Senior Advisor and Member of Its Iran Task Force The Honorable Stephen Rademaker Testifies Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee May 9, 2018 Read More
JINSA Gemunder Center Iran Task Force Co-Chair Ambassador Eric Edelman Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee December 15, 2017 Read More
JINSA Distinguished Fellow and Gemunder Center Iran Task Force Co-Chair General Charles Wald, USAF (ret.), Testifies Before House Foreign Affairs Committee October 13, 2017 Read More
Gemunder Center Iran Task Force Chair Amb. Edelman Testifies Before Senate Banking Committee September 22, 2016 Read More
Testimony for Hearing, “Implications of a Nuclear Agreement with Iran (Part IV)” September 9, 2015 Read More
JINSA CEO Dr. Michael Makovsky and Senior Advisor Steven Rademaker Testify Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee – July 9, 2015 July 11, 2015 Read More
Gemunder Center Senior Advisor and Iran Task Force Member Stephen Rademaker Testifies Before House Committee on Foreign Affairs April 22, 2015 Read More
Iran Task Force Co-Chair Amb. Eric Edelman Testifies Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs January 27, 2015 Read More

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