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
- The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran: The United States, Foreign Policy and Political Rivalry since 1979 (2020)
- Iran-Pakistan: Security, Diplomacy, and American Influence (2015)
Book chapters
- 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)
Select articles
- Iran’s IRGC has long kept Khamenei in power (Foreign Policy)
- China’s Great Game in Iran (Foreign Policy)
- Will Iraq get stuck in the middle with Iran? (Foreign Affairs)
- Why Protesters are so angry with Rouhani (Foreign Affairs)
- Iran and Russia Growing Apart (Foreign Affairs)
- Iran’s Bottom-Line in Afghanistan (Atlantic Council)
- Iran Courts China (Foreign Affairs)
- Donald Trump Needs a Good Cop on Iran (Foreign Policy)
- How Deep is Iran’s State? (Foreign Affairs)
- After Rafsanjani (Foreign Affairs)
The Latest from Alex Vatanka
Top Hamas Figure Urges Relinking With Bashar Al-Assad
Mahmoud al-Zahar, one of the top members of the Hamas leadership is reported by the Iranian press to push for the resumption of relations between the Palestinian organization and the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Iran Welcomes New “Attacking” Hamas Leadership
The rise of Yehya Sinwar to lead the Hamas organization in Gaza has been welcomed by Tehran.
Top Russian Official Cancels Trip to Tehran in Anger
Iranian media have been speculating about reasons why Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitryi Rogozin this week canceled his planned trip to Tehran. Rogozin was due to hold talks with top Iranian officials, including Defense Minister Hossein Dehgan.
Monday Briefing: Highs and Lows Before Trump-Netanyahu Meeting
In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Eran Etzion, Alex Vatanka, Gerald Feierstein, Randa Slim, W. Robert Pearson, and Marvin G.
Designating I.R.G.C. a Terror Organization Could Undo Iran Nuclear Deal
U.S. media reports that the Trump White House might list Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) as a terrorist entity has been met by considerable trepidation in Tehran.
Zarif Again Declares His Allegiance to General Soleimani
Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has strongly defended the regional policies of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.). In particular, Zarif defended General Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force, which is the I.R.G.C.’s expeditionary force. “I have had a close relationship with General Soleimani for over 20 years. When I was the head of the [Iranian] negotiating team involving questions of Iraq and Afghanistan, I had a very good working relationship with General Soleimani,” Zarif stated.
Targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Is the Right Move
Another Top Dissident on Hunger Strike In Iran
Mehdi Khazali, a prominent critic of the Iranian regime who was arrested by the security forces this week and sent to Tehran’s Evin Prison, has decided to go on hunger strike. Khazali’s hunger strike was reported by a number of reformist-leaning outlets in Iran.
Iran Plays with ISIS Card to Scare Its People
Iranian media is reporting that the security forces in the country have arrested members of the Islamic State just outside Tehran.
I.R.G.C. Boss Calls U.S. “Paper Tiger”
Mohammad Ali Jaffari, the head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.), has in a speech dismissed American warnings against Iranian actions. “Iran is today in a such a position that it can look at America as a ‘paper tiger’,” Jaffari said on February 7.
Harsh I.R.G.C. Attack on Turkey in Midst of Syria Talks
Mohsen Rezaei, a top commander in the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.), has waged an exceptionally tough attack on Turkey and accused Ankara to be the minion of the United States in Washington’s “dangerous game in the Middle East.”
Iran Hardliners Urge Escalation in Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
Hardline Iranian media are enthusiastically speculating that the conflict in Yemen will soon enter a more dangerous phase with the intensification in the use of missiles by the Yemeni rebels.
