Deterring Iran in the 'Gray Zone' with Michael Eisenstadt

Military analyst Michael Eisenstadt details how the Islamic Republic of Iran operates in the gray zone between war and peace to manage escalation, leverages asymmetries to achieve disproportionate effects, and employs its hybrid force structure for maximum effect. The current U.S. approach, he explains, is based on overt action, blunt force, and emphatic messaging, all of which entail a heightened potential for escalation. But an alternative approach—one focused on unacknowledged activities, indirection, subtlety, and discreet messaging—could more effectively deter Iran while reducing the risk of further escalation and broader conflict.

Michael Eisenstadt is Kahn Fellow and director of the Military and Security Studies Program at The Washington Institute. He is the author of the recently published study, Operating in the Gray Zone: Countering Iran's Asymmetric Way of War. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/operating-in-the-gray-zone-countering-irans-asymmetric-way-of-war

View a presentation on countering Iran's gray zone activities prepared by Michael Eisenstadt: https://www.slideshare.net/TWIPubs/operating-in-the-gray-zone-countering-irans-asymmetric-way-of-war

Middle East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.