Latest Briefs

Iran, Tankers and the Threat of Greater Destruction

by Steven Ward

New audio of the seizure of a British-flagged tanker indicates the vessel was too far away from help to avoid being forced to change course by Iranian Paramilitary forces last week.  In audio...

Iran's State of Play

by Norman T. Roule

Tensions remain high between Iran and several EU countries, even after some of the primary signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement vowed their continued support this week, offering Iran an...

Avoiding War in the Fifth Domain

by The Cipher Brief

Few today would argue that the threat surface in cyberspace has expanded significantly in the past decade.  Just ask your fridge.  From the new risks we’ve brought into our own kitchens, to the...

Reading the Clues on North Korea

by Tim Willasey-Wilsey

Tim Willasey-Wilsey is a former senior member of the British Foreign Office and a Cipher Brief expert. He is currently a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at Kings College London’s Department of War...

Mexico's Role in Border Security

by The Cipher Brief

The Cipher Brief is taking a look this week at the national security situation along the southern border.  On Sunday, Congressman Will Hurd told NBC, “We need to make sure that countering human...

The Real National Security Challenges at the Border

by The Cipher Brief

The Cipher Brief is taking a look this week at the national security situation along the southern border. On NBC, the only Congressional Republican who represents a district along that border said on...

Iran Strikes Back

by Vincent Stewart

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif confirmed Monday that Tehran has violated the limits imposed on uranium enrichment that were a key part of the 2015 nuclear deal.  The U.S. withdrew its support...

Twitter Diplomacy and North Korea

by Joseph DeTrani

The significant weekend visit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un started with a Tweet last Thursday as President Trump was getting ready to depart the G20...

How Iran Targets U.S. Businesses

by The Cipher Brief

U.S. businesses are being warned to harden their defenses in anticipation of potential cyberattacks as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate.  President Donald Trump posted to...

Deadlier Skies: Risks and Benefits of Drone Technology

by The Cipher Brief

Last week, the U.S. nearly launched retaliatory attacks against Iran for the shooting down of a U.S. military drone that was operating in the region.  While the Trump Administration has been casting...