New Books in Military History Understanding Iran Under Attack: A Discussion with Author Vali Nasr
Mar 12, 2026
Vali Nasr, a Tehran-born professor of international affairs at Johns Hopkins and author of Iran’s Grand Strategy, discusses Iran’s unexpected wartime resilience and extensive prewar preparations. He explores Tehran’s cohesion, nationalist currents, the IRGC’s role, Western misreadings of Iran’s motives, and differing Israeli and U.S. objectives in the conflict.
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Iran Exploits Air-Defense Limits To Project Power
- Iran exploited the shortage of long-term interceptors in U.S. and allied air defenses to extend the battlefield beyond expected targets.
- Nasr argues Iran aims to raise oil prices and disrupt Gulf trade rather than directly match U.S. firepower.
Attacking Gulf Infrastructure Is Strategic Leverage
- Iran's strategy intentionally shifts pressure to global energy markets and Gulf states, making U.S. inability to fully secure the Gulf a strategic advantage for Tehran.
- Nasr highlights container traffic and energy flow risks to economies like India as leverage.
Public Remarks Don't Mean A Break In Iran's War Unity
- Apparent public inconsistencies by Iran's president do not indicate regime fissures because wartime decisions come from a war cabinet led by the Revolutionary Guards and new supreme leadership.
- Nasr says civilian apologies were tempered by statements that retaliation will continue if attacked from those territories.
