Iran

Iran Update Special Report, June 30, 2026

Key Takeaways Iranian officials are simultaneously employing diplomatic outreach and military coercion to pressure regional states to support a new “regional security mechanism,” likely to advance Iran’s long-standing objective of expelling the United States from the Middle East. Iran is likely using this proposed regional security mechanism to encourage Gulf …

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Iran’s ‘Deal’: What Happens After Trump?

The Iranian regime’s strategy is clear: survive the pressure of President Donald J. Trump’s second term by any means necessary, secure breathing room through negotiations, and position itself for a far more aggressive posture once his administration is over. Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — Tehran’s …

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Iran Update Special Report, June 26, 2026

Key Takeaways Iran is using force in an attempt to maintain its control over the Strait of Hormuz in the immediate future. Iran is likely attempting to prevent vessels from using non-Iranian shipping channels with force in the immediate term as it continues negotiations with the Gulf Arab states to …

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Iran’s economic catastrophe

On February 28, 2026, American and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury. The country they targeted was already in economic crisis: inflation had topped 50%, the currency was in free fall, merchants had shuttered their shops in protest, a major private bank had just collapsed. When the bombs began to …

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Iran Update Special Report, June 23, 2026

Key Takeaways Iran is taking steps to establish a joint mechanism with Oman to try to exercise long-term authority over the Strait of Hormuz. Such a mechanism would enable Iran to regulate transit through the strait and decide to restrict passage at its discretion. Recent increased vessel traffic through the …

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