This piece examines how Iran and Israel use force—military strikes, covert operations, and symbolic actions—to signal intent, calibrate escalation, and redefine deterrence in the region.
Missiles and Messages: Characterizing the Use of Force between Iran and Israel Read More »
Ideas in Print
A Conflict in Suspense: General Close of Military Operations in the Iran-Israel Conflict by Masoud Zamani, Amirabbas Kiani | Nov 13, 2024 In April 2024, hostilities between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran intensified significantly, with both sides engaging in direct military operations within each other’s borders. A bombing near the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1st triggered this
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Ideas in Print
Dilemmas of Defense: The U.S. Role in the Iran-Israel Conflict by Masoud Zamani, Amirabbas Kiani | Jan 24, 2025 On April 13, 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out an unprecedented operation, launching hundreds of drones and cruise missiles toward Israel. Reports indicate that Israel intercepted the majority of these drones and missiles with assistance from the United States, Britain, and Jordan.
Dilemmas of Defense: The U.S. Role in the Iran-Israel Conflict Read More »
Ideas in Print
The Iran–Israel Conflict Through the Lens of Game Theory By Masoud zamani ( Sep 19 , 2025 ) The 12-day war between Israel and Iran may have paused—but the next round of violence is already taking shape. As of writing this piece, the 12-day war has been halted by a fragile ceasefire—one that could collapse at any moment. While
The Iran–Israel Conflict Through the Lens of Game Theory Read More »
Ideas in Print
The Ideological Constraints of the Islamic Republic By Masoud zamani ( Dec 6 , 2024 ) As the U.S. prepares for a second Trump administration, the question looms: can Iran’s Islamic Republic ever shift its deeply rooted ideological stance in response to external pressure? While some may hope that renewed ‘maximum pressure’ from Washington could
The Ideological Constraints of the Islamic Republic Read More »
Ideas in Print
The Suicidal Machine: On AI, Death, and Autonomy By Masoud Zamani The Suicidal Machine: On AI, Death, and Autonomy By Masoud Zamani As the world grows increasingly anxious about the existential risks of artificial intelligence—from the specter of superintelligence to the slow erosion of human autonomy—a more fundamental, and perhaps more disquieting, question remains
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Contemplations
It appears that Israel’s Operation Rising Lion has dealt a significant blow to the militaryand security infrastructure of the Islamic Republic. As of this writing, the prospect ofregime change remains uncertain. Yet what is beyond doubt is that the Islamic Republicis at its weakest point since 1979. The fragility of the current moment makes it
Reverse-Engineering Collapse: How the Islamic Republic Brought Itself to theBrink Read More »
Contemplations
Reza Pahlavi’s popularity and Iran’s mounting discontent raise the possibility of restoring a constitutional monarchy, a secular, democratic alternative increasingly viewed as a stable path forward after the Islamic Republic.
Can Iran’s Monarchy Be Restored? Read More »
Ideas in Print
