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About

Afkār is a publication of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, providing short-form analyses, insights, and perspectives on regional issues and developments from the Council's experts and outside contributors. Afkār is published in English and Arabic, and is edited by Omar H. Rahman.
Contact us at afkar@mecouncil.org.

Hamidreza Azizi

nonresident fellow

Bio

Hamidreza Azizi is a nonresident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. He is also a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and an associate researcher at Clingendael – the Netherlands Institute of International Relations.

Prior, Azizi was an associate fellow at Al Sharq Strategic Research in 2022. He also lectured at several Iranian universities, including the University of Tehran (2016-2018) and Shahid Beheshti University (2016-2020). Azizi’s research interests include security and geopolitical issues in the Middle East and Central Eurasia, Iran’s foreign and security policy, and Iran-Russia relations.

Azizi has published many books, academic articles, and policy papers in English and Persian. His latest peer-reviewed articles were published in the Mediterranean Politics, the Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, and Small Wars & Insurgencies. His analysis has been featured in many research and media outlets including Chatham House, the Middle East Institute (MEI), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Foreign Policy, The National Interest, and Al-Monitor, among others.

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Articles

Is Iran Changing Its Defense Doctrine?
Amid rising external pressures and post-war vulnerabilities, Iranian authorities have released a statement hinting the country could act when it perceives clear signs of danger instead of waiting to be attacked, fueling debate over whether this posture makes conflict less likely or more risky.
Hamidreza Azizi
How Iran Is Calculating Its War With Israel
Facing a massive attack on its homeland, the Islamic Republic's response has been restrained, driven by vulnerability and the need to avoid U.S. intervention. Its strategy appears aimed at preserving deterrence and diplomatic options while managing internal fallout amid mounting civilian losses.
Hamidreza Azizi
Israel Applies Its Lebanon Playbook to Iran in Opening Salvo 
By targeting senior Iranian military leadership in recent strikes, Israel appears to be following a playbook focused on overwhelming shock and disruption. 
Hamidreza Azizi
The First 100 Days: Trump's Middle East Policy Revisited
In this Council Views, experts from the ME Council reflect on the past 100 days of the new Trump administration's disruptive foreign policy, unpacking what recent changes mean for MENA and how states are responding—from USAID and State Department cuts, to the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, to Gulf states’ posturing ahead of the president’s expected visit
Mouin Rabbani, Rory Miller, Frédéric Schneider, Haid Haid, Dalia Ghanem, Özge Genç, Rashid Al-Mohanadi, Adel Abdel Ghafar, Faozi Al-Goidi, Mahjoob Zweiri, Hamidreza Azizi
The Art of Disruption: How Trump's Foreign Policy is Impacting MENA
In this Council Views, ME Council experts assess how the Trump administration’s foreign policy disruptions will impact the region. 
Mouin Rabbani, Maysa Baroud, Nejla Ben Mimoune, Adel Abdel Ghafar, Dalia Ghanem, Omar H. Rahman, Ranj Alaaldin, Hamidreza Azizi
How Will Iran React to Israel’s Latest Strikes?
Bracing for the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, Tehran continues to downplay the impact of Israeli military provocations on Iranian soil.
Hamidreza Azizi
Interview: A Step Back for Iran’s “Forward Defense”
Hezbollah's recent losses, including the assassination of Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, are a major blow to the organization and the wider “Axis of Resistance,” undermining decades of Iranian regional strategy.
Hamidreza Azizi
Targeted Assassinations and the Threat of Regional War – Council Views
ME Council experts assess the impact of Israel’s war on Gaza, 300 days in, and the recent assassinations of senior leaders of Hamas and Hizballah.
Beverley Milton Edwards, Omar H. Rahman, Tarik M. Yousef, Adel Abdel Ghafar, Mohammad Abu Hawash, Jin Liangxiang, Hamidreza Azizi
The Unlikely Election of Another Reformist in Iran
Amid deep public apathy that should have made victory nearly impossible, a snap election has brought to power the little-known reformist politician Masoud Pezeshkian. How did it happen?
Hamidreza Azizi
What Does President Raisi’s Death Mean for the Islamic Republic?
Amid regional tensions, the fatal helicopter crash raises questions about Iran’s future domestic and foreign policy.
Hamidreza Azizi
Iran-Israel Tensions Emerge from the Shadows – Council Views
Middle East Council experts analyze the implications of the exchange of strikes between Iran and Israel for the ongoing war on Gaza.
Galip Dalay, Omar H. Rahman, Özge Genç, Adel Abdel Ghafar, Shahram Akbarzadeh, Ranj Alaaldin, Hamidreza Azizi
The Hamas Raid and Israel's Onslaught of Gaza
Middle East Council experts offer their thoughts on the unfolding crisis in Palestine-Israel that began on October 7.
Ali Bin Musa, Shahram Akbarzadeh, Sahar Khamis, Beverley Milton Edwards, Omar H. Rahman, Galip Dalay, Noha Aboueldahab, Saoud El Mawla, Faozi Al-Goidi, Hamidreza Azizi
Is a New Iran Nuclear Deal in the Making?
Tehran and Washington are talking once again, with a more limited nuclear deal than the JCPOA rumored to be in the works. What is driving both sides to give negotiations another try, and what would it mean if they succeed?
Hamidreza Azizi
How Does Iran View Syria's Return to the Arab League?
Iran has stood by the Assad regime's side for the past 12 years of civil war. Now that Syria is reentering the fold in the Arab world, where does that leave its stalwart ally in Tehran?
Hamidreza Azizi

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