The Iran Conflict's Strategic Dimension

The Iran Conflict's Strategic Dimension

From Modern War Institute by Modern War Institute at West Point

March 8, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

The episode explores the strategic dimensions of the US-Israeli military operations against Iran and the responses from various regional actors.

What were the strategic calculations that drove the United States and Israel to launch a military operation aimed at a wide range of targets in Iran? And are the fundamental objectives of the two partners fully aligned? Inside Iran, as the regime's resilience and the military's capability are under more pressure than they have been in decades, how are institutions responding? What drove the decision to respond with drone and missile strikes throughout the region? How are the Gulf states positioning themselves as they have defended against Russian attacks? What role has the Gulf Cooperating Council played? What outcomes might emerge from the conflict and how are Iran's neighbors working to influence those outcomes? These questions offer insights into the strategic dimension of the ongoing US-Israeli operation against Iran. To examine them, John Amble is joined on this episode by three guests who share their insights on the strategic perspectives of the United States, Israel, Iran, and the Gulf states. Jonathan Panikoff is the director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council and formerly served as the deputy national intelligence officer for the…

People in this episode

Host: John Amble

Guests: Jonathan Panikoff, Sydney Laite, Rory Miller

Topics covered

  • Iran conflict
  • US-Israel military operations
  • strategic calculations
  • Gulf states positioning
  • regional security
  • military resilience

Keywords

  • Iran
  • US-Israel relations
  • military operations
  • Gulf states
  • strategic decision-making
  • drone strikes
  • regional security

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Modern War Institute, Atlantic Council, National Intelligence Council, Georgetown University

Places: Iran, United States, Israel, Gulf states, Gulf Cooperating Council

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