Reading List - March 18, 2009

-Iran expands UAV capability
By Liam F. Devlin
Unmanned Vehicles

-Iran seeks technology boost from Western UAVs
By Liam F. Devlin
Unmanned Vehicles

-Study on a Possible Israeli Strike on Iran's Nuclear Development Facilities
By Abdullah Toukan and Anthony H. Cordesman
Center for Strategic & International Studies

Reading List - March 10, 2009

-Iran’s Majles Strikes a Blow to Ahmadinejad’s Economic Plans
By Farideh Farhi
Informed Comment: Global Affairs

-Ahmadinejad really is the man in charge
By Shahir Shahidsaless
Asia Times Online

-Iran's anti-Israel rhetoric targets Arabs
By Gareth Porter
Asia Times ONline

Reading List - Feb. 18, 2009

-Israel engaged in covert war inside Iran: report
By Luke Baker
Reuters

-Obama's Persian double
By Pepe Escobar
Asia Times Online

-Will Obama say 'we're sorry'?
By Pepe Escobar
Asia Times Online

-US estimate muddied Iran's nuclear intent
By Gareth Porter
Asia Times Online

-Iran moves to boost its air defense capabilities
By Ali Akbar Dareini
Associated Press

Reading List - Feb. 2 2009 - Updated

-Iran: Revolutionary Guards are Taking Over in Tehran
By Richard Weitz
Eurasianet.org

-A new line of defence: Iran's naval capabilities
Janes Defence News

-Iran's nuclear terrorism fears
By Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Asia Times Online

Update:
-The Iranian Revolution at 30
Middle East Institute

Reading List - Jan. 11, 2009

-U.S. Rejected Aid for Israeli Raid on Iranian Nuclear Site
By David E. Sanger
New York Times

-Iran Using Fronts to Get Bomb Parts From U.S.
By Joby Warrick
Washington Post

Farhi's Analysis

There is a well written piece by Professor Farideh Fahri over at Informed Comment: Global Affairs. It is titled "Israel, Gaza War, Return of "Emboldened Iran," and Obama. Below is an excerpt:

A curious pattern characterizes the recent military adventures in the Middle East. Overwhelming and disproportionate force is utilized in the name of at least temporarily popular objective – combating terrorism, preventing WMD proliferation, restoring deterrence, bringing democracy and so on. But once the human costs and efficacy of attacks in terms of stated objectives begin to be questioned, the narrative shifts and the argument for the sustenance of war, refusal of ceasefire, or even the need for “victory” begins to rely on the line that if a certain party or organization in question is not crushed, all the extremist forces in the Middle East led by Iran will be emboldened.

Read the rest by clicking here.

Reading List - January 6, 2009

-Iran’s Postmodern Beast in Gaza
Robert D. Kaplan
The Atlantic


-Iran firms told: cut ties to “Zionist”-held firms
Hossein Jaseb and Hashem Kalantari
Reuters UK


-Iran Says 70,000 volunteer for Israel fight
Associated Press

Reading List - December 22, 2008

-Israel vs. SAM: Iran's S-300
Sean O’Connor
IMINT & Analysis

-Will Tehran get Russian weapons or not?
Borzou Daragahi and Ramin Mostaghim
Babylon and Beyond, LA Times

-S-300s for Iran: an argument for peace
Ilya Kramnik
RIA Novosti

Reading List – December 9, 2008

-Iran's Basij Force -- The Mainstay Of Domestic Security
By Hossein Aryan
Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty

-Has Iran Achieved a Nuclear Weapons Breakout Capability?
Not Yet, But Soon.
By David Albright, Jacqueline Shire, and Paul Brannan
Institute for Science and International Security

-Iran’s Breakout Incapability
By Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Asia Times Online

-Student Day in Iran
By Farideh Farhi
Informed Comment: Global Affairs

Reading List - December 2, 2008

-'Joint experts' statement on Iran' recommends sweeping changes to US policy
The Daily Star

-Build New or Buy Old
Geoffrey Forden
Arms Contol Wonk

-Designing Iran’s ICBM from the Ground Up
Geoffrey Forden
Arms Contol Wonk

-Once again, Iran launches a space rocket…
Geoffrey Forden
Arms Contol Wonk

-Kavosh at its Peak
Geoffrey Forden
Arms Contol Wonk

Reading List - November 10, 2008

-The Iran-Saudi Cold War
by James Brazier
Diplomatic Courier

-Iran economists denounce Ahmadinejad’s policies
by Borzou Daragahi
LA Times

-Iran extends an early friendly hand
by Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Asia Times Online

Reading List - November 2, 2008

Stuart Levy’s War
by Robin Wright
New York Times

Some Israelis feel an urgency to attack Iran
by Ashraf Khalil and Paul Richter
LA Times

The impending strike on Iran
by David Fink
Asia Times Online

Reading List - October 5, 2008

This week's reading list includes a short piece on Iran's Quds Force, an article on Israel's attempted march to war with Iran and a report claiming a S-300 SAM deal has yet to be reached between Russia and Iran.

-Iran’s elite and mysterious fighters
By Peter Spiegel and Borzou Daragahi
LA Times

-Israel laying its yellow brick road to Iran war
By Mohammad Davari and Dex A. Eastman
PressTV

-Israelis see delay in Iran-Russia missile deal
Finanznachrichten.de

Reading List- September 28, 2008 Updated

Recommended reading for September 28, 2008 includes the following titles:

- Israel asked US for green light to bomb nuclear sites in Iran
by Jonathan Steele
Guardian

- The 2006 Lebanon Campaign and the Future of Warfare: Implications for Army and Defense Policy
by Dr. Stephen D. Biddle, Mr. Jeffrey A. Friedman
Stategic Studies Institute

- Mystery surrounds hijacked Iranian ship
by Nick Grace & Abdiweli Ali
Long War Journal

Update:
- Inside Iran’s Fury
By Stephen Kinzer
Smithsonian Magazine

Update 2:
- Israel lobby loses on Iran resolution
By Jim Lobe
Asia Times Online

Iran’s Asymmetric Naval Warfare by Fariborz Haghshenass

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has just published a new title: Iran’s Asymmetric Naval Warfare by Fariborz Haghshenass. It is downloadable here. Stated summary is as follows:

As nuclear negotiations between Iran and the international community enter a more dangerous and uncertain phase, further tensions and confrontations are likely on an often-overlooked front: the vital shipping lanes of the Persian Gulf. Given its natural geographic advantages and deliberate military development, the Islamic Republic effectively holds the Strait of Hormuz -- the world's oil lifeline -- at risk. And despite its overall defensive posture in these waters, Iran could take preemptive action in response to a perceived threat of imminent attack.

In this new Washington Institute Policy Focus, Iranian military expert Fariborz Haghshenass outlines what form such action might take given Tehran's efforts to greatly expand the role and capabilities of its unconventional naval forces. In the two decades since the Iran-Iraq War, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy has been transformed into a highly motivated, well-equipped, and well-financed force, capable of executing its unique doctrine of asymmetric naval warfare against larger naval forces and key regional energy assets alike. Understanding the nature, scope, and likelihood of this threat is a critical facet of both the nuclear issue and Iran's wider regional ambitions.

Another fine study of the IRGCN by Mr. Haghshenass. This new work is a must read. It contains a military geography of Iran’s Military Zones, a historical background, factors influencing Iran’s approach to asymmetric naval warfare, Iranian capabilities and intentions, conflict scenarios and a conclusion. There is even a listing of IRGCN and IRGC military ranks in an appendix.

CNAS Updated Publication on Iran

Center for a New American Security has just published an updated title, Iran: Assessing U.S. Strategic Options. The PDF download is available here.

CNAS stated synopsis is as follows:

Dealing with Iran and its nuclear program will be an urgent priority for the next president. In order to evaluate U.S. policy options, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) convened a bipartisan group of experts on foreign policy and national security, retired military personnel, former diplomats and other government officials, and specialists on Iran and the region. Ambassador Dennis Ross presented a paper on diplomatic strategies for dealing with Iran, and Dr. Suzanne Maloney wrote on potential Iranian responses. Dr. Ashton Carter evaluated various U.S. military options, and Dr. Vali Nasr described likely Iranian reactions and other potential impacts. Ambassador Richard Haass considered the challenges of living with a nuclear Iran. Each of these papers represents an important contribution to a much-needed national discussion on U.S. policy toward Iran. Based on these papers and expert group discussion, as well as additional research and analysis, three CNAS authors (Dr. James Miller, Christine Parthemore, and Dr. Kurt Campbell) proposed that the next administration pursue “game-changing diplomacy” with Iran. While both Iran and the international community would be better off if Iran plays ball, game-changing diplomacy is designed to improve prospects for the United States and the international community irrespective of how Iran responds.

Reading List for Sunday, June 22 2008

This week's reading list contains selections on Iran's internal politics, underground defenses, nuclear power program and a possible US blockade initiated by the US Congress. Greg Bruno at the Council of Foreign Relations writes about Religion and Politics in Iran. Gabriel Schoenfeld at the Weekly Standard looks into the fortified, underground defenses of Iran's nuclear program, and how they would need to be overcome for any US/Israeli attack to be successful. Cyrus Safdari makes a passionate case that Iran's nuclear power program is peaceful and, most of all, legal. Most important read of the week goes to Carah Ong, who points out that controversial Congressional resolutions are poised to require a belligerent blockade of Iran, which is tantamount to an act of war.

Religion and Politics in Iran by Greg Bruno

Darkness at the End of the Tunnel, Penetrating the Iranian Underground by Gabriel Schoenfeld

Iran's nuclear program: The REAL issue behind the conflict by Cyrus Safdari

Sanctions Resolution Raises Controversy by Carah Ong

Iran Open Source Reading List Two

This week's open source reading list contains two titles on military issues relating to the Persian Gulf. Fariborz Haghshenass writes an Iranian perspective on Revolutionary naval warfare that includes an explanation of its general war fighting doctrine. This is a must read for any Westerner attempting to understand Iran's Pasdaran and Basij military forces. Christopher Dickey provides a look into Persian Gulf incidents at sea between the US and Iran, including naval actions that took place during the Iran-Iraq War.

Iran's Doctrine of Asymmetric Naval Warfare
by Fariborz Haghshenass
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Will the US and Iran go to War at Sea?
by Christopher Dickey
Newsweeek

Open Source Readings on Iran

This week's suggestions include topics
pertaining to Iranian economics, defense and international
politics. Professor Farhri writes at length about the
challenges facing Iran's economy and the Presidency of
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Sean O'Connor analyzes the
introduction of the S-300PT surface-to-air-missile
system for the defense of Iran. The Long War Journal offers a slideshow depicting purported Iranian arms captured in Iraq. And MESH provides an article by Chuck Freilich that basically accepts that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and that steps toward war with Iran are acceptable.

Ahmadinejad and the "System" by Farideh Farhi
Informed Comment: Global Affairs

Iran and the S-300PT by Sean O'Connor
IMINT & Analysis

Iranian Weapons in Iraq
The Long War Journal

Too Late to Dissuade Iran? by Chuck Freilich
Middle East Strategy at Harvard