Iran, Revolution, and the Logic of Proxy Warfare

About this episode

This episode explores the historical and strategic forces shaping modern Iran and its use of proxy warfare in the Middle East.

Episode 150 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines the historical and strategic forces that shaped modern Iran and explores how the Islamic Republic uses irregular warfare to advance its interests in the Middle East. Our guests begin by examining the political foundations of modern Iranian politics, tracing the country’s trajectory from the rule of the Shah and the 1953 coup against Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh to the revolutionary upheaval of 1979. They then explore why the Islamic Republic turned to irregular warfare—particularly the use of proxy groups and militant networks—as a core component of its foreign policy and regional strategy. Finally, our guests assess how Iran’s proxy network evolved over time, why it proved effective for decades, and what recent conflicts may reveal about the future of Iran’s regional influence and internal political stability. Dr. Arman Mahmoudian is a research fellow at the Global and National Security Institute and an adjunct faculty member whose work focuses on Middle Eastern and Russian affairs. His research and commentary have appeared in outlets including Foreign Policy, The National Interest, and the Atlantic Council, and he…

People in this episode

Guests: Dr. Arman Mahmoudian, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Topics covered

• Iran
• proxy warfare
• Middle East politics
• Islamic Republic
• historical context
• foreign policy
• regional strategy

Keywords

• Iran
• proxy groups
• militant networks
• foreign policy
• regional influence
• political stability
• 1979 revolution
• 1953 coup
• Shah
• Mossadegh

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Global and National Security Institute, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Places: Iran, Middle East

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