FDD's Foreign Podicy Breaking Down The Islamic Republic
Mar 20, 2026
Mark Dubowitz, a longtime Iran and national security analyst, explains Iran’s ideology, military strategy, and regional networks. He discusses U.S.-Israel operational ties, multi-front pressures on Israel, Iran’s 2024 missile and drone actions, and options to degrade Iran’s war-making and nuclear capacity. Short, sharp insights into coalition dynamics, strategic targets, and what counts as success.
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U.S. And Israel Fighting As Peer Militaries
- The U.S. and Israel are operating as peer militaries with integrated air, naval, and intelligence coordination.
- Mark Dubowitz cites joint F-35 sorties, shared English communications, and Israeli pilots acting as part of a combined force rather than a force multiplier.
Why The JCPOA Was A Strategic Risk
- The 2015 JCPOA would have given Iran huge financial windfalls and temporary nuclear limits that sunseted later.
- Dubowitz argues the deal provided about a trillion dollars in relief and allowed a patient pathway to near-zero breakout capacity by 2030.
Decapitation And Pressure Degraded Iran's Axis
- Targeted actions weakened Iran's proxy network and command structure before October 7th.
- Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and later killed Qasem Soleimani, degrading Iran's Quds Force orchestration of proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas.