Middle East

War on the Rocks

The Uncomfortable Reality of Russia and Iran’s New Defense Relationship

Since 2022, Russia’s defense relationship with Iran has taken a big leap forward.

Foreign Affairs logo

What Russia Wants in the Middle East

Moscow seeks to exploit instability but avoid escalation.

William Potter, Sarah Bidgood, and Hanna Notte

Death Dust: The Rise, Decline, and Future of Radiological Weapons Programs – CISAC Stanford

Death Dust explores the largely unknown history of the rise and demise of RW—sometimes portrayed as a “poor man’s nuclear weapon”—through a series of comparative case studies across the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Iraq.

Foreign Affairs logo

Russia’s Dangerous New Friends

Article on Russia’s relationship with the axis of resistance, to balance ties with Arab countries, including Israel, its encouragement of anti-American activities among Iran-backed groups, and the U.S. challenge to counteract by addressing conflicts and disrupting the partnership between Russia and the axis.

Sarah Bidgood, William Potter, and Hanna Notte

Death Dust: The Rise, Decline and Future of Radiological Weapons Programs

This seminar focuses on the findings of the recently published book “Death Dust: The Rise, Decline and Future of Radiological Weapons Programs.”

Kim Jong Il and missile displays

Dr. Siegfried Hecker on North Korean nuclear weapons for BBC’s Nuclear Armageddon

This video features discussions on the nuclear issues in North Korea with a short discussion of Iran.

War on the Rocks

Russia’s Growing Support for Iran and North Korea

Podcast: CNS expert Hanna Notte is interviewed on the podcast, Thinking the Unthinkable with Ankit Panda.

Cover of the Occasional Paper #58: Dangerous Decline: Russia’s Military and Security Influence in the Global South and the Implications for the United States

OP#58: Dangerous Decline: Russia’s Military and Security Influence in the Global South and the Implications for the United States

This study argues that Russia seeks to boost its military and security influence in the Global South in light of what it considers a protracted, systemic confrontation with Western states.

The New York Times

Putin Is Getting What He Wants

Russia stands to gain from a protracted conflict. Events in Gaza are distracting Western policymakers and publics from the war in Ukraine.

Generic News Logo Foreign Policy

Where Does Russia Stand on the Israel-Hamas War?

Moscow may temporarily profit from the West’s focus on the Middle East, but navigating its ties in the region will be tricky.