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Alex Vatanka is a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute. He specializes in Middle Eastern regional security affairs with a particular focus on Iran. He was formerly a Senior Analyst at Jane’s Information Group in London. Alex is also a Senior Fellow in Middle East Studies at the US Air Force Special Operations School (USAFSOS) at Hurlburt Field and teaches as an Adjunct Professor at DISAS at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He has testified before the US Congress and lectured widely for both governmental and commercial audiences, including the US Departments of State and Defense, US intelligence agencies, and a list of international corporations.

Born in Tehran, he holds a BA in Political Science (Sheffield University, UK), and an MA in International Relations (Essex University, UK), and is fluent in Farsi and Danish. He is the author of two books: The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran: The United States, Foreign Policy and Political Rivalry Since 1979 (2021) and Iran and Pakistan: Security, Diplomacy, and American Influence (2015).

He has also written chapters for a number of books, including Authoritarianism Goes Global (2016); Handbook on Contemporary Pakistan (2017); Russia in the Middle East (2018), Winning the Battle, Losing the War: Addressing the Drivers Fueling Armed Non-state Actors and Extremist Groups (2020); Global, Regional and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis (2020); Routledge Handbook of Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare Operations (2021); and Understanding New Proxy Wars (2022). He is presently working on his third book, Iran’s Arab Strategy: Defending the Homeland or Exporting Khomeinism?

Education
B.A. in Political Science at Sheffield University; M.A. in International Relations at Essex University

Languages
Farsi, Danish

Countries of Expertise
Iran

Issues of Expertise
Iran domestic and foreign affairs, Iranian military and security forces, Iran-US relations, Political Islam in Middle East

Website
Vatanka.com

Books

Praise for "The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran"

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The Latest from Alex Vatanka

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Iran’s Role in Prolonging Syrian War
  • Analysis
  • Iran’s Role in Prolonging Syrian War

    On February 5, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said that “certain countries are worried about the weakening of terrorist groups in Syria.” Shamkhani made the remarks after his meeting with visiting Russian president’s Special Envoy for Syrian Affairs, Alexander Lavrentiev. Shamkhani and Lavrentiev praised the latest Syrian peace talks held in Astana and which were brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran.

    I.R.G.C.’s Stranglehold on Iranian Politics
  • Analysis
  • I.R.G.C.’s Stranglehold on Iranian Politics

    Generals from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) have been busy in the last few days issuing threats against the United States and her regional allies such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. One such commander has been Esmail Kowsari.

    Iran Incites Toppling of Bahrain Government
  • Analysis
  • Iran Incites Toppling of Bahrain Government

    A hardline Iranian site has again engaged in incitement against Bahrain. Tasnim, which is close to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C), the controversial political-military organization that is spearheading Iran’s military interventions in the Middle East, claimed in an article that the overthrow of the Bahraini government is a “public call.”

    I.R.G.C. Mayor of Tehran Refuses to Apologize after Building Collapse
  • Analysis
  • I.R.G.C. Mayor of Tehran Refuses to Apologize after Building Collapse

    Following the January 19 collapse of Plasco, a 17-story historic building in downtown Tehran, mass anger against the authorities in the Iranian regime has been building up. Twenty people were killed in the disaster. The mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Ghalibaf, a former Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C) commander, who remains close to his comrades, appeared in front of the members of the parliament but refused to apologize.

    Top Khamenei Aide: “We Need Weapons”
  • Analysis
  • Top Khamenei Aide: “We Need Weapons”

    Ahmad Khatami, a hardline cleric close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 3 defended Iran’s latest ballistic missile test. “In a world of wolves, we need weapons,” Khatami was quoted as saying to worshippers at the Friday prayer in Tehran.

    Rouhani Family Corruption Continues to Roil Election Waters
  • Analysis
  • Rouhani Family Corruption Continues to Roil Election Waters

    Ahmad Tavakoli, a prominent hardliner and a former member of the Iranian parliament, has urged for members of the public with information about corruption inside the Iranian regime to be “applauded.” “Transparency must be part of the duties of officials,”

    Rouhani Blasts Trump as Political “Amateur”
  • Analysis
  • Rouhani Blasts Trump as Political “Amateur”

    Since the Trump administration last week introduced a ban on Iranian travelers to the United States for a certain time period, hardliners in Tehran have been pressuring President Hassan Rouhani to retaliate.

    Rouhani: Home-Made Satellites Are Not Enough
  • Analysis
  • Rouhani: Home-Made Satellites Are Not Enough

    On Iran’s 9th National Day of Space Technology, President Hassan Rouhani unveiled the country’s latest communications satellite. “Nahid 1” was unveiled with “Payam,” a remote sensing satellite, and “Saman 1,” an orbital transfer system as reported by Iranian media

    Iran Paper Warns Israel about Hezbollah’s Missile Power
    Middle East Institute
  • Analysis
  • Iran Paper Warns Israel about Hezbollah’s Missile Power

    Kayhan newspaper, arguably Iran’s most reactionary paper whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ran an extensive background of what it claimed to be Israeli fears about Lebanese Hezbollah’s missile arsenal. “Zionists [Israel] are deeply worried about Hezbollah’s missile strength,” the paper said.