Council on Foreign Relations
Non-partisan US think tank founded 1921; publishes Foreign Affairs and shapes policy frameworks on Iran, Russia-Ukraine, and European security.
On 8 March 2026, the Council on Foreign Relations assessed that Mojtaba Khamenei retained effective control of Iranian security policy through institutional loyalty and foreign backing.
Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 4 active topics
How does CFR analysis of Iranian power structures translate into what Washington actually decides?
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The Council on Foreign Relations is a non-partisan US think tank founded in 1921. It researches international affairs, convenes policy figures and publishes Foreign Affairs. Its work supplies analysis for readers seeking to understand foreign-policy choices and the institutions behind them.
CFR's role rests on translating specialist research into arguments that officials, journalists and the public can use. Its March 2026 assessment of Iranian security power focused on institutional control rather than Iran's nominal civilian leadership.
The organisation also provides context for changes in European security policy. Germany's military strategy of 22 April 2026 named Russia as its most immediate threat, a shift relevant to CFR's long-running work on transatlantic security.
CFR maps Iran's security command
On 8 March 2026, the Council on Foreign Relations assessed that Mojtaba Khamenei held effective control of Iranian security policy. Its assessment cited institutional loyalty within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Russian and Chinese diplomatic cover, and the absence of a civilian figure able to override him.
For CFR, the episode showed the value of analysing power through institutions rather than formal titles. The assessment gave readers and policymakers a framework for judging which Iranian actors could make or block security decisions during the March 2026 crisis.
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 September 2026. Editorial standards.