As US pursues ‘maximalist demands,’ Iran builds on four decades of asymmetric warfare

Carys Garland is pleased to welcome Ali Vaez, Director of the Iran Project and Senior Advisor to the International Crisis Group. It examines the evolving dynamics of the confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran. Military escalation risks triggering regional and global systemic consequences, while diplomatic channels remain constrained by deep distrust, asymmetric expectations and the absence of credible guarantees. At the same time, Iran, despite significant internal and external pressures, maintains its operational coherence and continues to leverage asymmetric capabilities developed over decades.