Hessam Habibi Doroh and Javad Heiran-Nia

The Supreme Defense Council in Iran: Strategic Reform and Political Realignment
19/08/2025
The twelve-day war between Iran and Israel exposed significant shortcomings in Iran’s deterrence and defense capabilities. In its aftermath, Tehran announced the creation of the Supreme Defense Council (SDC) as a subsidiary of...
The Gulf Arabs and the Iran-Israel War: The Question of a “New Middle East”
15/07/2025
The 12-day war between Iran and Israel revealed important dynamics shaping the regional order, particularly for the Gulf Arab states. The current strategic landscape in the Persian Gulf is shaped by the U.S....
Persian Gulf Arabs and Iran–U.S. Talks
07/05/2025
The Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which were strong opponents of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) with Iran during President Obama’s administration, are now supporting negotiations between Iran...
Iran and the Future of the Axis of Resistance
06/03/2025
The Axis of Resistance is a central pillar of Iran’s regional strategy. It serves as Iran’s “strategic depth,” enabling Tehran to manage regional threats—particularly Israel—beyond its borders while establishing a deterrence framework. Additionally,...
Iran’s Regional Strategy in Syria, Strategic Adaptation with and without Assad
18/12/2024
The fall of the Assad regime signals a major shift in the regional order which Tehran views with unease. Iran's foreign policy framework is strategically shaped by the establishment (nezam), with governments acting...
The Escalating Tensions Between Iran and Pakistan: An Analytical Review 
30/01/2024
What is going on between Iran and Pakistan? In recent months, the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape has been characterized by escalating tensions and strategic maneuvers, particularly involving the Islamic Republic of Iran, poised...