IISS
London-based defence and geopolitics think tank; publisher of The Military Balance and host of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Last refreshed: 28 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Who decides what the world thinks Iran's military can do?
Latest on IISS
- What is the IISS?
- The International Institute for Strategic Studies, an independent think tank founded in London in 1958. It specialises in defence, geopolitics and armed conflict analysis.Source: editorial
- What is The Military Balance?
- An annual IISS publication providing data on the armed forces and defence spending of every country. It is the standard global reference for military capability comparison.Source: editorial
- Is the IISS independent or government-funded?
- The IISS describes itself as independent and is funded by a mix of government, corporate and foundation grants. Critics note significant funding from Western governments and Gulf States.Source: editorial
Background
Founded in 1958 in London, the International Institute for Strategic Studies is an independent think tank specialising in political-military conflict, geopolitics, and defence economics. It publishes The Military Balance, the standard global reference for armed forces data, and Strategic Survey, its annual assessment of world affairs. The Shangri-La Dialogue and Manama Dialogue are its flagship conferences.
The IISS has been one of the most cited analytical voices on the 2026 Iran conflict, providing assessments on everything from the IRGC's Hormuz toll system to CENTCOM's destruction of 8,000 targets and 130 Iranian warships in 22 days . Its analysis of Iranian missile reach into the Indian Ocean has shaped the debate on Gulf defence gaps .
The institute's role in the current crisis illustrates how think tanks shape the information environment during conflict. IISS assessments are cited by governments, insurers and media to calibrate risk, and its verdict on Iranian military capacity directly influences shipping insurance premiums and Gulf state procurement decisions.
