Senior Fellow @MiddleEastInst Tehran-born Washingtonian. الکس وطن خواه Iran,Middle East, US ME Policy Books: https://xitter.cf/t.co/AJfY62vm7E and https://xitter.cf/t.co/VGrtz9h3ch
Washington D.C.
Joined September 2015
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Alex Vatanka retweeted
📌 اختارت #إيران مهرداد أخلاقي، أحد أبرز مهندسي صناعتها الصاروخية، وزيراً للدفاع لإعادة بناء ترسانتها المنهكة، وتحصين مصانع الأسلحة وتطوير الدفاعات الجوية، وسط استعدادات لمواجهة عسكرية مع #أميركا و #إسرائيل.
🔍 ماذا نعرف عن أبرز محطات مسيرة مهرداد أخلاقي في الصناعات الصاروخية الإيرانية؟
♦️ بالرغم أن مهرداد أخلاقي غير معروف على نطاق واسع لدى الرأي العام الإيراني، فقد ظل موضع اهتمام أجهزة الاستخبارات الغربية طوال عقدين على الأقل.
♦️ ففي مارس 2007، فرض عليه مجلس الأمن الدولي عقوبات لدوره في برنامج الصواريخ الباليستية الإيراني، وكان آنذاك يرأس مجموعة شهيد باقري الصناعية، إحدى الركائز الأساسية لصناعة الصواريخ في البلاد.
♦️ ثم فرضت عليه الولايات المتحدة عقوباتها الخاصة، وتبعها الاتحاد الأوروبي وبريطانيا. وهكذا، أخرج تعيينه إلى دائرة الضوء شخصية عملت طويلا خلف الكواليس.
♦️ التحق بقطاع الصناعات الدفاعية عام 1984، بعد أربع سنوات من اندلاع الحرب بين إيران وعراق صدام حسين، وبحلول منتصف العقد الأول من القرن الحادي والعشرين، كان قد وصل إلى منصب رفيع في صناعة الصواريخ الإيرانية.
♦️ وتنسب تقارير إيرانية إلى أخلاقي دورا في دعم تطوير الصواريخ العاملة بالوقود الصلب، ومنها عائلة صواريخ "فاتح 110"، كما تربط مراحل لاحقة من مسيرته الإدارية بتطوير صواريخ "سجيل" و"ذو الفقار" الباليستية.
♦️ ويصعب تحديد حجم مساهمته الشخصية في تطوير كل منظومة من هذه المنظومات بدقة.
♦️ لكن المؤكد أنه شغل مناصب قيادية في مؤسسات كان لها دور أساسي في توسيع الترسانة الصاروخية الإيرانية.
✍️ أليكس فاتانكا يسلط الضوء في #المجلة على وزير الدفاع الإيراني الجديد مهرداد أخلاقي
🔗 رابط المقال: majalla.com/node/333753/
@AlexVatanka
Alex Vatanka retweeted
A beautiful tribute to @AzizAlghashian, who is deeply missed and will always be fondly remembered.
agsi.org/engagement/remember… @GulfStatesInst
As the Persian Gulf again braces for conflict, a small but important reminder of a different path for the region
In 1997, the US State Department was documenting a remarkable $1.5 billion proposal to pipe freshwater from Iran to Qatar, including 200 km beneath the Gulf
The project was never built. Washington did not formally endorse it, but its inclusion in US commercial reporting shows that cross-Gulf economic cooperation was still being taken seriously
A region connected by water pipelines rather than defined by war was once imaginable. It still should be
They make up some 50% of Israel's population but no Sephardi/Mizrahi has ever been prime minister. Maybe Eisenkot (Azenkot) will change that..
Reading this article about Mizrahi trends in Israeli politics, I was reminded of the fascinating moment back in 2005 when two men born in Iran's city of Yazd (president Khatami of Iran and president Katsav of Israel) stood close to each other at Pope John Paul II's funeral, and might have spoken Persian to each other
wsj.com/world/middle-east/is…
Alex Vatanka retweeted
“Iran is keen to keep Turkey close, but not because of trust,” @AlexVatanka told @barinkayaoglu al-monitor.com/originals/202…
Alex Vatanka retweeted
"[Iran’s leaders are] expecting this to be a protracted war of attrition. … The regime feels comfortable that it can pull it off. But what the regime needs to watch out for is what happens to Iranian public opinion," explains @AlexVatanka. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
Alex Vatanka retweeted
I am standing to be Secretary-General because I believe this is a moment to act with greater urgency: to act earlier, bring people together across difference, and drive the work forward until it produces concrete results. That is how we rebuild trust in the United Nations and ensure it delivers meaningful change for the people it exists to serve.
My vision: lananusseibeh.org
Prominent Iranian hardliner Foad Izadi argues that Kuwait’s ruling family has effectively surrendered its sovereignty to the US, dragging Kuwait into the war against Iran. Bahrain’s rulers, by contrast, are fighting Iran by choice, he says
He considers Kuwait easier to occupy militarily, but Bahrain more deserving of an Iranian ground invasion
Mr. Izadi, Iran will one day have to live alongside these neighbors again. Threatening to invade them is reckless and counterproductive, even in the heat of war. Such rhetoric does Iran no favors
Source: Raja News
rajanews.com/news/390750
Nearly 40 years ago, the US and Iran were already trading blows in the Persian Gulf.
On October 19, 1987, US warships shelled Iranian offshore platforms in retaliation for an Iranian missile strike on a US-flagged tanker.
Operation Nimble Archer was a reminder of how long this confrontation has endured (Photo: U.S. Navy)
Iran's Nournews plays down speculation that Lavrov is visiting Tehran to mediate with Washington
Instead, it stresses the long-term Iran-Russia strategic partnership: economic cooperation, regional security without the US, and regional diplomacy backed by military deterrence
The message: Moscow is a partner, not merely a messenger for Trump. Fine, but Lavrov is there to mediate too if there is something in it for the Russian. Of course
Alex Vatanka retweeted
From two days ago.
I'm still in shock and disbelief.
Geopolitical analyst Dr. Abdulaziz Alghashian describes Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as terrorism, saying strikes on civilian targets, including airports, demonstrate the group’s desperation. He cites Saudi military figures reporting hundreds of attacks since September and a 97–98% interception rate, while stressing that some missiles and drones have caused civilian casualties.
#SaudiArabia #HouthiAttacks #RegionalSecurity #MiddleEast #PakistanTV
Alex Vatanka retweeted
From March, Tehran. Thousands of Iranian civilians were killed in attacks like this by US and Israel
Such sad news. Aziz was always wonderful. A great analyst but more importantly, just a wonderful human being. May he rest in peace.
Alex Vatanka retweeted
Many thanks to @AlexVatanka & @serafcan for their valuable insights. 🙏🏼
Türkiye is gearing up to back Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks while also asking Iran to help calm things down.
But Tehran may see value in letting the Houthis keep up the pressure.
My latest for @AlMonitor 👇🏼
al-monitor.com/originals/202… @TurkeyPulse
Alex Vatanka retweeted
A thought for Piruz Mojtahed-Zadeh who has passed away in Tehran aged 81.
A leading expert on Persian Gulf affairs he taught at several Iranian universities, was author of 9 books & learned articles on the region.
In 1980s he started his career as a conributor to Londn Kayhan.
Thanks to Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn on the Restricted Handling podcast - we talked about Tehran's power struggles, the limits of military pressure, Iran's nuclear ambitions, and what a realistic US strategy should look like
Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=FWyIS22x…
All good points by @SanamVakil & @almuslimi
@almuslimi and I write that the Yemen/Houthi conflict is not just a Saudi problem. It is a Gulf-wide one. It is time for Gulf states to treat it as such and work together.
"After more than a decade of war, the Houthis still control Sanaa, Yemen’s government remains weak, and Gulf divisions continue to undermine efforts to end the conflict. Avoiding another prolonged war requires a common Gulf vision, investment in a functioning Yemeni government and a political settlement that addresses the causes of the conflict, rather than merely seeking to contain its consequences."
Alex Vatanka retweeted
Turkey-Azerbaijan tensions appear to be growing. Israeli President Herzog reportedly flew to Baku through Turkish airspace aboard an Azerbaijani aircraft, circumventing Ankara’s ban on flights carrying Israeli officials. Azerbaijan allegedly failed to inform Ankara that Herzog was on board.
The irony of it all is that the plane was named “Shusha” after the declaration that cemented the Turkey-Azerbaijan military alliance.
Türkiye’nin hava sahası yasağını Azerbaycan uçağıyla deldi: İsrail Cumhurbaşkanı Herzog, Bakü’ye “Şuşa” adlı Azerbaycan uçağıyla gitti
🔺 Uçak, Türkiye’nin İsrailli devlet yetkililerini taşıyan uçaklara yönelik hava sahası yasağına rağmen Türk hava sahasından geçti.
🔺 Azerbaycan, uçakta Herzog’un bulunduğunu Ankara’ya bildirmedi.
🔺 Herzog’u taşıyan uçağın adının, Türkiye ile Azerbaycan arasındaki askeri ittifaka adını veren “Şuşa” olması da dikkat çekti. (MEE/ Ragıp Soylu)
serbestiyet.com/haberler/dun…
An important piece by former Israeli intelligence chief Tamir Hayman. He warns of a fundamental shift in Israel's security thinking:
From fighting wars to achieve peace and security, to seeing permanent war as the basis of national security itself.
In other words, war is no longer a means to an end, but increasingly an end in itself @INSSIsrael @citrinowicz
inss.org.il/publication/new-…
Another reminder: the Houthis are not simply Iran's proxy
New @WSJ reporting shows they are developing advanced missiles using Chinese components, reducing dependence on Tehran
Iranian influence remains, and is considerable, but Houthi autonomy is growing. Treating them only as an Iranian puppet has always missed the point
wsj.com/world/middle-east/ho…
