UN Watchdog Playing ‘Blind Man’s Bluff’ with Iran’s Nuclear Program
OPINION — The United States must use this week’s Vienna meeting of atomic inspectors to stop Iran’s nuclear program from becoming a black box. Without […] More
Iran
What the U.S. Military’s ‘Overwhelming Force’ Means for the Middle East
DEEP DIVE — As the war in Gaza rages, ceasefire talks founder, and the world waits for – and worries about – an Iranian retaliation for […] More
Assessing the ‘Last Opportunity’ for a Gaza Ceasefire Deal
EXPERT INTERVIEWS— In the last-gasp negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire underway in Cairo, the negotiating teams reflect the high stakes of the moment. CIA Director […] More
North Korea and Iran – A Proliferation Nightmare
OPINION — As tension in the Middle East increases, with the likelihood that Iran will strike out at Israel for the July assassination of the […] More
The Latest
What Happened to Iran’s Promised Revenge Against Israel?
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT — Cipher Brief Experts suggest a range of possible explanations for Iran’s delay in delivering promised retaliation toward Israel after the killing […] More
Why Iran’s Intelligence Minister Still Has His Job – After a Major Intelligence Failure
OPINION — In the wake of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced last week that Esmail Khatib […] More
Hamas, Hezbollah, and Stepping Back From the Abyss
OPINION —The recent Israeli killing of Hezbollah’s senior leader Fu’ad Shukr has not diminished the group’s standing as the key and perhaps most influential actor […] More
U.S. Moving Big Guns to the Middle East to Deter, Protect and Defend
EXPERT Q&A — The U.S. began moving additional military assets to the Middle East in anticipation of a direct attack on Israel after the assassination […] More
Spoilers that could Ignite ‘Tinder Box’ in the Middle East
SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – Since the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran nearly two weeks ago, world leaders are urging calm while waiting […] More
U.S. Adversaries Create a Web of Threats
EXPERT Q&A — Closer collaboration between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – increasingly referred to as the ‘Axis of Authoritarians’ – requires a more holistic […] More
Americans Need to Understand We’re Living in a New Era of Global Threats
EXPERT Q&A – Experts have been concerned in recent times, about national security threats emanating from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea but a new […] More
Dealing with ‘Axis of Authoritarians’ Requires Greater U.S. Policy Risk
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT — Individually, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea consistently rank high on the U.S. list of global threats but national and […] More
How U.S. Adversaries are Eyeing Our Presidential Election
OPINION — Describing the conditions that set the stage for history’s largest, most costly war, Winston Churchill wrote in The Gathering Storm, “The malice of […] More
DEEP DIVE: How Trump and Vance Would Deal With Global Hot Zones
SUBSCRIBER+ EXCLUSIVE REPORTING – Whoever wins the November 5 U.S. presidential election will face an almost unprecedented set of global security challenges: Wars in Europe […] More
The Houthis’ Next Move – and the Next Stage of the Yemen War
OPINION — The Houthis have launched attacks on Israel and international shipping over the past nine months as a means rather than an end. For […] More
EXPERT INTERVIEW: Pezeshkian Celebrates a Win in Iran but What Can He Really Do?
SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE EXPERT INTERVIEW — Iran’s incoming president Masoud Pezeshkian is promising to be a leader for “all Iranians” after a weekend election victory that followed […] More
Iran’s Election – and the Threats Facing the Next U.S. President
SUBSCRIBER+ EXCLUSIVE EXPERT INTERVIEW — Hours after U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump hold their first debate, Iran will choose its next […] More
Ex-CENTCOM Leader On Iran Threat – and the Mission to Kill an Iranian Commander
SUBSCRIBER+ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — Israel’s war against Hamas rages on, Israel is considering opening a new front against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and this week the […] More
How a U.S.-Saudi Deal Could Reshape the Middle East
SUBSCRIBER+ EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS — It’s a tantalizing dream for diplomats and longtime observers of the Middle East: A grand bargain that would normalize relations between […] More