Iran Seeks to Expand Its Influence in Tunisia
Danny Citrinowicz
INSS Insight No. 2049, November 4, 2025
The recent visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Tunisia adds to the mutual decision to abolish visa requirements between the two countries, underscoring Iran’s strong interest in expanding its influence in North Africa in general, and in Tunisia in particular. For the leadership in Tehran, North Africa represents a highly significant geo-strategic region that allows Iran to advance a variety of political, economic, and security interests. Therefore, without a diplomatic move to prevent Iran from pursuing this goal,...
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: Disseminating the Regime’s Ideology Worldwide
Danny Citrinowicz
INSS Insight No. 2045, October 19, 2025
Recent reports from the United Kingdom and Italy about the involvement of Iran’s PressTV television channel in sophisticated influence operations in those countries attest to the ongoing efforts of Iran’s state propaganda network—operated under the supervision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting—to weaken Western nations and amplify the Iranian narrative within them. The ability to curb Iran’s global influence depends, among other things, on the international community’s capacity to disrupt this elaborate system that Iran...
Fracturing the Axis: Degrading and Disrupting Iran’s Proxy Network
Avishay Ben Sasson-Gordis , Danny Citrinowicz , Udi Dekel, Orna Mizrahi, Yaron Schneider, Eldad Shavit, Sima Shine, Carmit Valensi, Raz Zimmt, , , , ,
Joint Special Publication of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Israel Policy Forum (IPF), September 11, 2025.
__________________
Overview
The Middle East is undergoing an unprecedented transition sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent regional war. The war in the Gaza Strip provided Iran with its first real opportunity to implement its “unity of the fronts” concept through the simultaneous, coordinated activation of several fronts against Israel and the United States. Iran hoped to avoid direct involvement and the consequences thereof. Ultimately, however, it failed to employ its network of proxies to force Israel to...
The policy of Moscow and Beijing, which consisted of fairly mild condemnations of the Israeli and US strikes in Iran, sparked criticism and disappointment in Tehran. It also reinforced the Iranian assessment that its reliance on Russia and China remains limited, particularly in the event of a military confrontation with Israel and the United States. Nevertheless, it is clear that for now, Iran has no viable alternative to continuing its political, economic, and security partnership (as limited as it may be) with Russia and China,...
In recent years, and even more so since October 7, Iran has been conducting influence and interference campaigns targeting the Israeli public. These efforts aim to deepen societal divisions and weaken the country from within. Recently, an aggressive Iranian operation was uncovered, designed to recruit Israelis for espionage, terrorism, and to assist Iran in the event of war. The latest revelations about Iran’s long-standing influence and interference operations in the United Kingdom highlight a common ground between Israel and other...
An Opportunity to Block Iranian Influence in Latin America
Danny Citrinowicz
INSS Insight No. 1983, May 15, 2025
Moves advanced by the Trump administration toward countries in Latin America—aimed at strengthening US security, particularly by accelerating the campaign against drug trafficking and illegal immigration into its territory—create a unique opportunity to mobilize the administration to take actions that challenge Iran’s expanding presence on the continent.
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran in April and his meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, were intended to underscore and deepen the renewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran on the second anniversary of their restoration. The visit took place against the backdrop of talks between Iran and the United States aimed at reaching a nuclear agreement, along with reports of a possible Israeli and/or American strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Although both Saudi Arabia and Iran have an interest in...
Iran—Between Accepting a Diplomatic Settlement or Acquiring a Nuclear Bomb
Danny Citrinowicz
INSS Insight No. 1949, February 19, 2025
As the renewal of nuclear talks approaches, the Iranian leadership faces an increasingly sharp dilemma over the strategy it should adopt regarding its nuclear program. On one side, figures from the “moderate” camp are urging Tehran’s leadership to take a conciliatory approach that would lead to a nuclear agreement with the United States in exchange for concessions on its uranium enrichment program. On the other side, voices within the “conservative” camp are growing louder, advocating for Iran to reconsider its nuclear strategy and...
The Solution to the Houthi Problem Is Not in Iran
Danny Citrinowicz
INSS Insight No. 1930, January 1, 2025
Recently, the Houthis have adopted a strategy aimed at exhausting the Israeli population, thereby increasing pressure on the Israeli government to halt its military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Given that Israel’s current approach to countering the Yemeni terrorist organization has been ineffective, it would be prudent to significantly intensify coalition and Israeli efforts against the group’s leadership, as well as its missile production and launch capabilities. Targeting Iran, however, would contradict American interests, risk...
Iranian Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference During the Swords of Iron War
, Danny Citrinowicz
A Special Publication in cooperation between INSS and the Institute for the Study of Intelligence Methodology at the Israel Intelligence Heritage Commemoration Center (IICC), November 12, 2024
In recent years, Iranian actors have carried out a range of hostile influence operations as part of the Israeli public discourse, aiming to expand social and political rifts, create political tension and chaos, and encourage demonstrations and distrust of the government and its democratic institutions. Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, the Iranian influence operations have focused on issues related to the war and the attempt to sow distrust and demoralization, incite violence against Arab citizens, and deeply penetrate the...
Iran in Latin America
Danny Citrinowicz
INSS Insight No. 1885, August 7, 2024
In recent years, Iran has expanded its political, military, and economic foothold in Latin America in an effort to utilize to its advantage the political changes in the region, especially the rise to power of left-wing parties. Without the coordinated activity of the United States and its allies in Latin America, the spread of Iranian influence in the continent could reach levels that would threaten Israel’s fundamental interests in the region.
Iran in the Continent of Africa
Danny Citrinowicz
INSS Insight No. 1878, July 11, 2024
While Israeli attention is currently focused primarily on the assistance Iran provides to its proxies as part of the Swords of Iron war, Tehran continues to expand its activities across the African continent, thereby increasing the threat to Israel’s political, security, and economic interests in this region. In light of this, Israel needs to formulate a strategy to prevent Iran from achieving its goals in Africa.
Sorry, no posts match your search,
You can search for others ....