“The Trump administration’s best bet, and its best way to support the Iranian people in their aspirations for a better future, is to patiently continue a strategy of military, economic, and diplomatic pressure,” writes Michael Singh.

“Neither may want a wider war with escalation that can take on a life of its own, but each reads the other as willing to back down on their red-lines, believe it is very costly for them to back down on their own, and are effectively playing a game of chicken,” writes Amb. Dennis Ross in Politico.

If the U.S. decides to strike Iran, Washington and Jerusalem “will likely agree on a military division of labor that suits them both,” writes Michael Herzog.

“Apart from the mismatch in perceptions, there is an irony: Neither side actually wants a wider war,” writes Amb. Dennis Ross in @politico.com.

Amb. Dennis Ross spoke with @npr.org's @michelmartinnpr.bsky.social about the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran. 🎧Listen to the full interview:

“For now, Jerusalem is operating under the assumption that President Trump will ultimately opt for military action, and that Iran will retaliate by attacking Israel, among other targets,” writes Michael Herzog.

📺Join us on Monday, March 2 at 12 PM ET for a special conversation with the former top U.S. envoy for Ukraine Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Keith Kellogg. Anna Borshchevskaya and Matt Tavares will also join the discussion.

"Ultimately, it remains in the US interest to provide aid to the LAF, especially funds to pay soldiers’ salaries. But this must be strictly conditioned on measures of effectiveness, meaning results, not measures of performance," writes @mattlevitt.bsky.social in The National Interest.

“Even if Iran does not strike Israel during a military showdown with the United States, Jerusalem could very well decide to join the American war effort in earnest,” writes Michael Herzog.

As of now, #Hezbollah Is Winning the Race to Rearm in Lebanon. LH's single-minded rearmament drive is outpacing the LAF’s half-hearted disarmament operations. Lebanon still can flip this equation, but time is running out. nationalinterest.org/feature/hezb... @washinstitute.bsky.social

“The Trump administration’s best bet, and its best way to support the Iranian people in their aspirations for a better future, is to patiently continue a strategy of military, economic, and diplomatic pressure,” writes Michael Singh.

President Trump and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei don’t seem to want an open-ended war, but they fear the costs of backing down, writes Amb. Dennis Ross in @politico.com.

This season of "Decision Points" tackles the toughest U.S. foreign-policy debates, from the brink of war in Iran to the painful aftermath in Gaza and the new government in Syria. Check out the first episode ⬇️

More than 20,000 IS-affiliated individuals are unaccounted for, and no one has a plan for what to do about this mix of committed radicals, at-risk victims, and other escapees, write @devorahmargolin.bsky.social and Joana Cook in @foreignpolicy.com.

"Continuing to bring all parties—including Algeria—to the table by addressing their core concerns will be key to yielding results," write Institute experts Souhire Medini and Sabina Henneberg in Al Majalla. More on the Western Sahara conflict:

As the U.S. and Iran stand on the brink of war, former Israeli National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata speaks with "Decision Points" host David Makovsky about the implications for Israel. Listen to the full episode⬇️

As the U.S. and Iran stand on the brink of war, former Israeli National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata speaks with "Decision Points" host David Makovsky about the implications for Israel. Listen to the full episode ⬇️

In a timely episode of the podcast "Decision Points," former U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told host David Makovsky that it's "a very dangerous game to play" to embark on a war against Iran "by just dropping bombs and hoping good things happen." Listen ⬇️

The U.S. must learn the lessons of the 12-day war with Iran, writes Michael Eisenstadt in a new report. Washington must dictate the terms of engagement, deter by using all instruments of national power, and complicate Iran’s risk calculus.

15 new entries have been added to @mattlevitt.bsky.social's Lebanese Hezbollah interactive map and timeline. Visit the map to learn more about the latest updates ⬇️

🎙️In the first episode of Season 6 of Decision Points, host David Makovsly is joined by former U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and former Israeli National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata to discuss Iran and the Trump administration’s policies toward the Middle East.

The U.S. must learn the lessons of the 12-day war with Iran, writes Michael Eisenstadt in a new report. Washington must dictate the terms of engagement, deter by using all instruments of national power, and complicate Iran’s risk calculus.

In a timely new study, military expert Michael Eisenstadt reviews recent U.S. and Israeli conflicts with Iran and its proxies to better understand the Islamic Republic's approach to deterrence and escalation.

Any new U.S. agreement with Iran should not “simply slow down Iran’s nuclear progress and extend hypothetical breakout timelines—it must structurally and irreversibly prevent the possibility of a rapid nuclear breakout,” writes Zohar Palti.

The goal of any additional U.S. military strikes on Iran “should be to leave the Islamic Republic more vulnerable, less capable, and less stable, thereby limiting its future options and perhaps causing it to act with greater caution,” writes Michael Eisenstadt.

As tensions with Iran rise, the new season of the "Decision Points" podcast helps cut through the noise on the Middle East. From the brink of war with Iran to post-conflict Gaza, "Decision Points" helps shed light, not heat. The first episode drops Monday, February 23, with host David Makovsky.

U.S. military buildup in the Middle East suggests that the Trump administration is “prepared for something much more extended than a one-day cycle” of strikes, Dana Stroul told @washingtonpost.com.

What if the U.S. doesn’t strike Iran? Patrick Clawson examines the implications if President Trump refrains from military action.

The U.S. should use its leverage to press Iran on a range of concerns, including Tehran's nuclear program, missile threats, and human rights abuses, write Institute experts Michael Singh and @richardmnephew.bsky.social.

A “good deal” with Iran should be defined by whether it permanently removes the regime’s ability to transition rapidly from civilian to military nuclear capabilities, writes Zohar Palti.

President Trump "now faces a dilemma: having threatened action, if he does not act (or acts ineffectively), then American credibility will suffer, emboldening Iran and undermining U.S. deterrence beyond the region," writes Michael Eisenstadt.

"The Trump administration should be thinking less about a 'deal' with Tehran and more about how it can use the threat of imminent strikes to press its demands of Iran on a range of concerns," write Michael Singh and @richardmnephew.bsky.social.

President Trump is hosting the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, D.C. Ghaith al-Omari shares the key things he's looking for including who will be in attendance, prospects for Hamas disarmament, and how much money will be raised. Watch: youtube.com/shorts/3TyGu...

“If a process of disarmament takes hold, Trump’s peace plan, including a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, will begin to look less aspirational and more realistic,” write Amb. Dennis Ross and David Makovsky in @foreignaffairs.com.

@hdagres.bsky.social spoke with MEI about Iranian public opinion, protest movements, and U.S. strategy on Iran, and more. 🎧Listen to the full episode:

"I certainly think an agreement is possible if the Iranian regime were prepared to make meaningful concessions with respect not only to their nuclear program, but also the range of their ballistic missile program," Dana Stroul told @npr.org's @michelmarechal.bsky.social. 🎧More on U.S.-Iran talks:

The security situation in the Gaza Strip remains tense, raising questions about how the parties will overcome the challenges of enforcing the ceasefire, disarming Hamas, transferring power, and launching reconstruction, writes Neomi Neumann.

[email protected] joined @warontherocks.bsky.social podcast to discuss the pressures bearing down the Iranian regime and what might come next. 🎧Listen:

"I think there is still a question not only of whether or not a deal can be struck, but whether or not it's the right outcome from the standpoint of what the regime can and will do," @richardmnephew.bsky.social told @npr.org. 🎧More on the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks:

What can we expect from the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks? Michael Singh and @richardmnephew.bsky.social explain.

38 new entries were added to @mattlevitt.bsky.social's Iranian external operations map and timeline. Check out the latest updates ⬇️

The security situation in Gaza remains tense after completing phase 1 President Trump’s peace plan, raising questions about how the parties will overcome the challenges of enforcing the ceasefire, disarming Hamas, transferring power, and launching reconstruction, writes Neomi Neumann.

🧵This week, Amb. James Jeffrey and Andrew Tabler testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. 1/3

How can negotiators avoid the shortcomings of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons? Zohar Palti describes the requirements for preventing an Iranian nuclear breakout.

Amb. Dennis Ross spoke with @pbsnews.org about President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 🎧Listen to the interview:

"By continuing to expend American power in peripheral or unnecessary conflicts," writes Michael Singh in @foreignaffairs.com, "the Trump administration will only accelerate the country’s relative decline."

“A ‘good deal’ with Iran should not be defined by diplomatic optics or short-term de-escalation; it should be defined by whether it permanently removes the regime’s ability to transition rapidly from civilian nuclear activities to a military nuclear capability,” writes Zohar Palti.

Threats against international shipping in strategic Mideast waterways have been evolving for several years now. Find out what's going on in key regional chokepoints and waterways. Check out this interactive map by Noam Raydan and Farzin Nadim ⬇️

Listen to "Understanding #Hezbollah: From Ideology to Operations," my interview on @techvsterrorism at podcast.techagainstterrorism.org/1684819/epis...

Matthew Levitt said the designation “would make it a criminal offense to belong to this organization, support the group, attend its meetings, or display its logo in public.” It would subject the IRGC to “enhanced police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.” www.lemonde.fr/article-offe...