Maseh Zarif

Intelligence Estimate and Forecast: The Syrian Theater

The United States will continue to risk its vital strategic interests in the Middle East unless it changes its policies in Syria and Iraq.

Iran is Still at the Negotiating Table--And Still Not Cooperating

We now have nine months' worth of Iranian rhetoric and behavior as a basis for judging Tehran's intentions and perceptions. Iran's leader...

Empty Rhetoric in the Obama Administration's Iran Policy

The Obama administration has often responded to crises of confidence in its foreign policy by treating unease and skepticism among intern...

Iran Action Plan is No Step Forward

The deal with Iran fails to verifiably eliminate Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons. Or more succinctly, in Iranian President Hass...

Explaining Iran's Nuclear Deal Win

The Geneva agreement represents an effort on the part of the Obama administration to try and manage the Iranian nuclear weapons program r...

Opening the Door to a Bad Iranian Nuclear Deal

Senior administration officials have said that the U.S. will not be roped into a bad deal with Iran. The emerging framework for this week...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V7.0

This assessment is the ninth version of a recurring analysis of Iran's nuclear program. Iran's ability to produce fissile material is no ...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V6.0

This assessment is the eighth version of a recurring analysis of Iran's nuclear program. Iran's ability to produce fissile material is no...

Iran's Centrifuge Plans Would Undermine U.S. Policy Assumptions

Iran has announced its intention to expand its ability to enrich uranium rapidly by installing advanced centrifuges at the Natanz Fuel En...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V5.0

Iran can produce one bomb's worth of fissile material faster than it likely can deploy a functioning nuclear device. Tracking Iran's uran...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V4.1

Iran can produce one bomb's worth of fissile material faster than it likely can deploy a functioning nuclear device. Tracking Iran's uran...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V4.0

Iran is at the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. AEI's Critical Threats Project has produced a capabilities assessment of the ti...

Iran Expanding Nuclear Enrichment Capacity and Stockpiles

The International Atomic Energy Agency's latest report on Iran's known nuclear facilities highlights the regime's progressing and undeter...

Iran's Military Complex at Parchin and the Nuclear Connection

The Parchin facility is of interest not only because of the presumed weaponization facilities there, but because it is a central and vita...

Iran's Denial and Deception at Parchin

The Iranian regime's refusal to provide the IAEA access to certain nuclear-related facilities and personnel is one element of a broader d...

Iran Nuclear Threat Overshadows Talks

The threat of Iran's illicit nuclear program continues to grow as another round of meetings between P5+1 and Iranian negotiators ends tod...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V3.0

Iran is at the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. AEI's Critical Threats Project has produced a capabilities assessment of the ti...

Iran's Nuclear Weapons Fuel Production Capability

Iran could offer to halt production of 20% enriched uranium in upcoming negotiations. This "concession" would have limited impact on Iran...

Stop Giving Iran a Pass

The Obama administration's recent focus on finding a compromise to allow the Iranian regime to maintain some enrichment capabilities "for...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V2.1

Iran is at the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. AEI's Critical Threats Project has produced a capabilities assessment of the ti...

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V2.0

Iran is at the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. AEI's Critical Threats Project has produced a capabilities assessment of the ti...

America's Iranian Self-Deception

Americans are being played for fools by Iran--and fooling themselves. There is no case to be made that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear wea...

It's No 'Potemkin' Nuclear Enrichment Plant

Calling the Fordow enrichment plant a 'Potemkin' plant is grossly misleading. Unfortunately, the reality that must be confronted is much ...

Iran Takes Another Step

The prospect of Iran achieving nuclear breakout capability is becoming more imminent.

The Iranian Nuclear Program: Timelines, Data, and Estimates V1.1

Iran is at the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. AEI's Critical Threats Project has produced a capabilities assessment of the ti...

From the Middle East to the U.S. Homeland: The Iranian Qods Force's Growing Ambitions

On October 11, 2011 the Department of Justice revealed that U.S. authorities had foiled a plot by Iran's Qods Force to assassinate the Sa...

Containing and Deterring a Nuclear Iran: Questions for Strategy, Requirements for Military Forces

Too many people assume that a nuclear-armed Iran can be contained. Will it really be that easy? What are the diplomatic, strategic and mi...

Jund al Khilafah Targets Kazakhstan

It remains to be seen the extent to which the recent spate of attacks and increased militancy in Kazakhstan have operational links to the...

Undeterred Iran Nears Nuclear Weapons Capability

The threat of a nuclear weapons-capable Iran is now a fast approaching prospect. An increasingly hostile Iranian regime that just attempt...

Drawing Back the Curtain on Iran

The disrupted plot is yet another, albeit significantly more dramatic, escalation of Iran's war against the U.S., Israel, and, now Saudi ...

Qods Force Terrorist Plot in the U.S.

Iran has been plotting a mass-casualty attack on American soil targeting Saudi Arabian interests. The significance of this plot cannot be...

A Still-Dangerous World

Ten years after 9/11, we remain at war against a diverse enemy network posing a threat to our homeland from Somalia to Pakistan. And yet,...

Yemen Crisis Situation Reports: Update 52

Al Qaeda's Safe Haven in Iran

The Treasury designated six al Qaeda members as global terrorists. These operatives form a network that funnels money and personnel from ...

Al Qaeda's Safe Haven In Iran

Yesterday the Treasury designated six al Qaeda members as global terrorists. These operatives form a network that funnels money and perso...

Iran's Strategic Offensive in Iraq

The Iranian regime has reinvigorated its use of hard and soft power tactics in Iraq as a means to undermine the American presence in Iraq...

Terror Partnership: AQAP and Shabaab

The most dangerous al Qaeda affiliate appears to be partnering with Somalia-based militant Islamist group al Shabaab to attack the West.

Yemen Crisis Situation Reports: Update 29

IRGC On "The Day After"

A May 2011 article on an IRGC website describes the hypothetical day after Iran's testing of a nuclear weapon.

Iran Drives Nuclear Program Forward

The international community is faced with an unprecedented impasse in Iran's drive towards nuclear weapons. This week, Iranian leaders un...

Libya Conflict: Pro-Qaddafi Movements and Statements

Al Qaeda Network Lives on after bin Laden

Dusseldorf al Qaeda Cell

The arrest of a militant Islamist cell in Germany on April 29 demonstrated the significance of safe havens for the al Qaeda network. The ...

Unrest in Yemen Could Benefit AQAP

Qods Force Operation in Africa

Iran's Nuclear Program: IAEA Update

U.S. efforts to halt Iran's development of a nuclear weapons capability are failing.

Internal Divisions Mask External Unity

Iran's ruling elite faces internal political friction while remaining unified on key nuclear and foreign policies.

Iran's Nuclear Proposal In Context

Defiance & Distraction: Iranian Regime Responds to Nuclear Posture Review

February 11, 2010: A Challenge to the Regime 31 Years On

Escalating Confrontation on Ashura

Surviving Dissent: Assessing Recent Demonstrations in Iran

Gasoline Sanctions on Iran: How Will Tehran Respond?

Uranium Enrichment Facility Near Qom: Brief Background

Iranian Influence in Afghanistan: Recent Developments

Iran Policy: Sanctioned Individuals & Entities

U.S. Policy Toward Iran's Nuclear Program

Changes in IAEA Leadership and Findings from the IAEA's June Report: Implications for Iran Policy

U.S.-Israeli Dialogue on Iran

State Department Highlights Iranian Support For Terrorism in 2008

Amb. Dennis Ross Spring 2009 Mideast Trip Background

Technology Sources for Iran's Nuclear Program

Locations of Iran's Nuclear Program

Potential Delivery Systems for Iran's Nuclear Program

Overview of Iran's Nuclear Program