Iran Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

Beyond Khamenei: Why Iran’s Next Regime Could Be More Militarized—and More Dangerous

According to a Reuters exclusive, citing U.S. officials familiar with classified intelligence, the CIA completed contingency assessments before military action against Iran that examined succession scenarios in the event of Ayatollah…

July 1, 2026Iran

Conflict Economy Energy Geoeconomics Geopolitics

The Russian Factor in the Middle East War:Economic Parasitism and the Kremlin’s Destabilization Strategy

The war in the Middle East around Iran has become not only a regional conflict but also an instrument of global economic and geopolitical competition. The primary beneficiary of this instability…

April 30, 2026China, Iran, Russia, USA

Geopolitics Governance ideology

Trump’s Iran Rhetoric Is Not Deterrence. It Is Strategic Self-Sabotage

Every revolutionary regime depends on a story to survive. The Islamic Republic’s story has always been simple, emotionally powerful, and politically effective. Iran, according to the Khomeinist worldview, stands as a righteous…

April 8, 2026Iran, USA

Conflict Economy Energy Warfare

Behind Iran’s Strikes: Russia’s Covert Role in Targeting the Gulf”

Russia’s partnership with Iran has evolved from opportunistic cooperation into a systemic military–technological alliance that directly shapes the balance of power in the Middle East. While Tehran executes kinetic operations, Moscow increasingly…

March 27, 2026Iran, oil, Russia

Geopolitics

Albania on the Frontline: Strategic Loyalty and the Escalating Risk of Iranian Retaliation

Albania is no longer a peripheral actor within NATO’s strategic landscape. It has consciously and decisively positioned itself on the frontline of an intensifying geopolitical confrontation with Iran. At a time…

March 20, 2026Albania, Iran, MEK

Propaganda and Disinformation

Disinformation and cyber threat narratives in Kosovo during the Iran crisis

In the contemporary security environment, conflicts increasingly unfold not only on physical battlefields but also within the digital information space. Cyber operations, disinformation campaigns, and strategic propaganda have become key…

March 13, 2026Cyberattacks, Iran, Kosovo, Serbia

National Security Nonproliferation

Russia’s Nuclear Shield for Iran: How Rosatom Is Undermining U.S. Pressure on Tehran

Russia is embedding itself deeply in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.Through its state nuclear corporation Rosatom, Moscow is consolidating a long-term presence at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, including personnel deployment, reactor construction, fuel…

March 13, 2026Iran, Russia, USA

Democracy Governance National Security

Beyond Decapitation: Why Iran’s Political System Is Built to Survive War

A recent classified assessment by the National Intelligence Council concludes that even a large-scale interstate war against Iran would be unlikely to remove or fundamentally transform the country’s ruling system. According to…

March 11, 2026Iran, USA

Governance

Iran’s New Supreme Leader: Strategic Outlook of Mojtaba Khamenei

The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic marks the most significant leadership transition in Iran since 1989. Selected by the Assembly of Experts in March…

March 9, 2026Iran

Geopolitics

China–Russia Strategic Alignment and Its Implications for U.S. Global Influence

The recent statement by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlights a strategic reality that is increasingly difficult for Washington to ignore: Russia now possesses in China a powerful external pillar that enables…

March 9, 2026China, Iran, Russia

Iran