Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute. He is a political scientist by training and the originator of the theory of transformation of the Islamic Republic into a military dictatorship. Alfoneh first put forward the theory in the spring 2006 edition of Udenrigs, journal of The Danish Foreign Policy Society. In the United States since 2007, Alfoneh advanced the theory in a series of essays published by the American Enterprise Institute culminating in Iran Unveiled: How the Revolutionary Guards are Transforming Iran from Theocracy into Military Dictatorship published by AEI Press in April 2013. He is also the author of Political Succession in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Demise of the Clergy and the Rise of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (2020).
Alfoneh also created AGSI’s Iran Media Review, a twice-weekly publication that monitors, translates, and reviews critical Persian-language media sources identifying important developments and trends in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Subscribe to receive the Iran Media Review Recap.
Analysis
How Did the IRGC Seize Power in Iran?
The IRGC did not seize power in a single stroke. It accumulated it – patiently, methodically – until no counterweight remained.
Under Mojtaba, the IRGC Will Reign Supreme
Iran may still call itself an Islamic Republic. In practice, however, it increasingly resembles a state in which the military governs from behind clerical robes.
Political Life and Legacy of Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in his office in Tehran at age 86, leaving behind a country in ruins and on the verge of civil war and potential disintegration.
Iranian Regime Fighting for Survival
Iran is signaling that it will not absorb attacks passively. But whether this strategy ensures the regime’s survival, seals its fate, or accelerates a broader catastrophe will shape the region for years to come.
Iran’s 2025-26 Protests in Perspective
The erosion of the regime’s legitimacy across broad segments of society, combined with the breadth of the 2025-26 protest coalition, raises the possibility that a new confrontation could trigger renewed anti-regime mobilization.
Protests in Iran: Regime Deal With Trump or Degrade Toward Collapse?
Though the Iranian regime is facing increasing pressure from protesters and armed insurgent groups, it is not yet doomed – but without a deal with the United States, the regime is likely headed for a slow collapse.
Events
Book Talk: Iran and the Bomb: The United States, Iran and the Nuclear Question
On June 16, AGSI hosted a discussion on the evolution of Iran's nuclear program.
Speakers
Apr 21, 2026
Inside Iran’s Wartime Leadership: Power, Succession, and Regime Stability
On April 21, AGSI hosted a discussion on the evolution of Iran's leadership during the war.
Speakers
Mar 18, 2026
In Its Conflict With the United States and Israel, Does Escalation Favor Iran?
On March 18, AGSI hosted a discussion on the escalation of the Iran war.
Speakers
Mar 2, 2026
After the Shock: Implications of the U.S.–Israeli Strikes and Iran’s Leadership Transition
On March 2, AGSI hosted a discussion on the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Speakers
Jan 8, 2026
Outlook 2026: Prospects and Priorities for U.S.-Gulf Relations in the Year Ahead
On January 8, AGSI hosted a virtual roundtable with its leadership and scholars as they look ahead and assess trends likely to shape the Gulf region and U.S. foreign policy during the coming year.
Speakers
Sep 16, 2025
Book Talk: Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History
On September 16, AGSI hosted a discussion on the roots of Iran's strategic outlook.
Speakers
Iran Media Review
Jul 10, 2026
Iranian Media Prepares the Public for a “War of Attrition”
The July 10 edition of the Iran Media Review highlights an Iranian article arguing that Iran and the United States are in a “protracted regional war of attrition.”
Jun 30, 2026
Iran’s New Doctrine: A Forever War in the Strait of Hormuz
The June 30 edition of the Iran Media Review considers an Iranian argument that only deterrence, not diplomacy, can influence U.S. behavior.
Jun 26, 2026
IRGC Seeks to Institutionalize Control Over the Strait of Hormuz
The June 26 edition of the Iran Media Review examines IRGC messaging about travel through the Strait of Hormuz.
Jun 24, 2026
A Consensus Emerges in Tehran on U.S.-Iran Negotiations
The June 24 edition of the Iran Media Review considers Iranian media responses to ongoing U.S.-Iranian negotiations.
Jun 18, 2026
Regime Surveys Show Erosion of Social Capital
The June 18 edition of the Iran Media Review highlights Iranian messaging about Iran’s military strength and societal polarization.
Jun 16, 2026
Tehran’s Limited Expectations for U.S.-Iran Agreement
The June 16 edition of the Iran Media Review analyzes Iranian views on a prospective U.S.-Iranian memorandum of understanding to end the war.
