Week 17: Iran Flashcards
When did Iran introduce Islam as a form of governance?
1979
What remains as a primary threat to U.S. forces in Iraq?
Iran-supported Popular Mobilization Committee-affiliated Shia miltias
U.S. destroyer that defended three other U.S. warships from missile attacks in the Red Sea?
USS Mason (DDG-87)
How are regime hardliners challenging rival centrists?
- Undermining their domestic reform efforts
- Pushing a more confrontational posture
Centrist President Hasan Ruhani has gained support from hardliners. But still struggles to address ongoing popular discontent.
What has continued to draw attention to the need for major economic reforms?
- Nationwide protests, mainly focused on economic grievances.
What has limited President Ruhani’s ability to reform the economic remains?
- Pervasive corruption
- Weak banking sector
- Business climate that discourages foreign investment and trade
Military capabilities Iran has improved to target U.S. and allied military assets
- Ballistic missiles
- Unmanned explosive boats
- Naval mines
- Submarines and advanced torpedoes
- Armed and attack UAVs
- Anti-ship ballistic missiles
- Air defenses
Iran’s missile capabilities
Largest ballistic missle force in the Middle East
- Can strike as far as 2,000 km from Iran’s borders
- Russian SA-20c-SAM gave Iran its most advanced long-range air defense system
- Domestically producing medium-range SAMs and developing long-range SAMs
What did Iran do in September 2018?
- Struck Kurdish groups in Iraq
- Struck ISIS in Syria
Demonstrates Iran’s missile precision as well as their ability to use UAVs in conjunction with ballistic missiles
What does IRGC stand for?
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)
What are Iran’s Navies?
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN)
- Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN)
Mission of the IRGCN
Empasizes an asymmetric doctrine to ensure national security in the Persian Gulf against regional neighbors and foreign presence.
Mission of the IRIN
Strategic Force
- Employs a more conventional doctrine and focuses on forward presence and naval diplomacy
- Mission areas include
- Caspian Sea
- Gulf of Oman
- Out-of-area operations
How has the IRGCN been reorganized in 2007?
- Pursues smaller, faster platforms equipped with sophisticated weaponry
- Suited for its asymmetric doctrine
How has the IRIN been reorganized in 2007?
Largely neglected since the end of the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s
- Undertaken a major recapitalization program to replace its surface fleet
- Augmenting their submarine force
