Informing U.S. engagement with the world

Tame, Don’t Topple, the Islamic Republic
By Charles A. Kupchan
![<p>A person rides on a scooter as smoke rises in the Fujairah oil industry zone following a fire caused by debris after interception of a drone by air defenses, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026.</p>]()
What’s Next for the War in Iran?
By Michael Froman
![<p>Men watch from a hillside as a plume of smoke rises after an explosion on March 2, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.</p>]()
Europe’s Disjointed Response to the War With Iran
By Matthias Matthijs
![U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026.]()
U.S. Homeland Security Concerns After Iran Strikes
By Bruce Hoffman
![Members of the U.S. Capitol Police guard a check point near the U.S. Capitol after the Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin following the weekend missile strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2025.]()
The Iran Conflict, Explained
The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28, targeting nuclear facilities, military installations, and senior leadership—killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggering Iranian retaliation across the region.
Use CFR’s analyses, reports, timelines, explainers, and backgrounders to learn more.
The Spillover Podcast: Iran War Ignites Energy Fears
The strikes on Iran are disrupting energy markets. Iran’s production capacity has been hit, the Strait of Hormuz has essentially been closed, and Iran’s energy-producing neighbors have been dragged into the conflict. Spillover hosts Rebecca Patterson and Sebastian Mallaby, both CFR senior fellows, discuss the resulting energy shock and explore the geopolitical effects with guest Natasha Kaneva, head of Global Commodities Research at J.P. Morgan
CFR Spotlights
Artificial Intelligence
President Trump ordered the U.S. government to stop using Anthropic’s cutting-edge AI model. It is the latest development in a standoff between the tech company and the Pentagon over how the new technology should be used.
The War in Ukraine
Russia’s invasion has reshaped European security, strained Western alliances, and tested the limits of international resolve. But, as the conflict enters its fifth year, the terms of any eventual settlement appear to remain as contested as the front lines themselves.
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