Latest news with #BehnamBenTaleblu
Fox News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Iran still wants a nuclear weapon despite ‘serious damage' from US, Israeli strikes: expert warns
Iran is preparing its next step in what one security expert warns remains its chief objective: developing a nuclear weapon. "Repair, reconstitute and rebuild is going to be the modus operandi of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Iran Program told Fox News Digital. "It just depends on how are they going to be doing it? While flirting with the international community? Are they going to go dark totally altogether? "All of this remains to be seen," he added. Spokesman for the regime, Fatemeh Mohajerani, confirmed this week that the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites had been "seriously damaged" following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear program last month. Questions remain over the extent of damage that was incurred, as well as skepticism over whether Iran was able to move any enriched uranium or centrifuges away from the heavily guarded sites prior to the strikes. Though the Trump administration said on Wednesday that it had "obliterated" the three facilities it struck, and has fervently rejected reports suggesting that Iranian officials may have been able to transfer some elements of the regime's coveted nuclear program, Israeli officials confirmed this week that they are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Experts in the U.S. and Israel have said they believe Iran is still assessing the extent of the damage from the "bunker busting" bombs, and that the regime will look to recover and repair what it can — meaning it may be looking to buy time. "No doubt, the regime will still have a diplomatic strategy designed to rope-a-dope anybody, and to find as much time as possible for this government to do that," Ben Taleblu said. The Iranian regime this week suggested it remained open to negotiations with the U.S. after President Donald Trump signaled that the talks could begin as soon as next week, though multiple Iranian officials said that that timeframe was overly ambitious. "I don't think negotiations will restart as quickly as that," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a CBS News interview. "The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut." But the regime also took steps to further hinder the UN nuclear watchdog — which is tasked with tracking all nation's nuclear programs — and suspended all interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday. That same day, the State Department condemned the move, and spokesperson Tammy Bruce said it was "unacceptable that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with the IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity." Iran has limited IAEA access in the past and Ben Taleblu argued Tehran will likely look to do this again as it attempts to hold on to any bargaining chip it can. "The Islamic Republic of Iran's next step, and likely most dangerous capability right now, is its diplomatic capability," the Iranian security expert argued. "This is the capability of the regime to either enter negotiations with a weak hand and leave with a strong hand, or try to prevent a military victory of its adversaries from becoming a political victory. "If negotiations do take place between the U.S. and the Iranians, be they direct or indirect, the Iranians are going to be dangling IAEA access. This is already their most important weapon," he added. Ben Taleblu explained that using the IAEA as a bargaining chip not only enables Iran to play for time as it looks to re-establish its nuclear program, but to sow division in the U.S. by creating uncertainty. "By diminishing the monitoring and by circumscribing and even cutting IAEA access to these facilities, the regime is trying to make America have to rely on intelligence alone," he said. "And as you see from the very politicized debates over the battle damage assessment, relying on intelligence alone without sources on the ground inspecting the sites, inspecting the facilities, documenting the fissile material, can lead to drastically different conclusions being taken by similar but not the same intelligence organizations or representatives." Ultimately, Iran is not going to give up on its nuclear ambitions, Ben Taleblu warned, noting that Tehran's security apparatus completely changed during its war with Iraq in the 1980s. "Everything that we face from the regime that is a security threat was started then — the ballistic missile program, the drone program, the maritime aggression, the transnational terrorist apparatus and the nuclear program all have their origins in the 1980s," he said. "By resurrecting this nuclear program, the Islamic Republic was not engaging in a science fair experiment. "The Islamic Republic was seeking an ultimate deterrent," Ben Taleblu continued. "It was seeking an ultimate deterrence because it had a vision for what the region and the world should look like, and it was willing to put foreign policy muscle and the resources of its state behind that vision." The expert on the Iranian regime warned that Iran's 40-year "obsession" with developing its nuclear program to achieve its geopolitical aims is not going to change because of U.S. military intervention.
Fox News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
What's next for Iran's terror army, the IRGC, after devastating military setbacks?
Once a revolutionary militia, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps built power through ideology and fear. Now, after devastating losses, its future is uncertain. After major military setbacks, Iran's IRGC faces a turning point. Experts explain its roots, power, and whether its reign of repression and terror can endure. Once a fringe militia born of revolution, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has grown into the regime's most feared and powerful force. But according to Dr. Afshon Ostovar, a leading expert on Iran and author of "Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards," said the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran may have permanently altered its trajectory. "What the IRGC tried to achieve over the last 25 years is basically toast," Ostovar told Fox News Digital, "Their campaign to build a military deterrent at home through missiles and nuclear enrichment, and to expand regionally through proxies, has essentially collapsed." Founded in the wake of the 1979 revolution, the IRGC was created to safeguard and spread the Islamic Republic's values — often through violence. Ostovar describes how its legitimacy evolved over time, initially drawn from the overthrow of the Shah, then the Iran-Iraq War, and later through the manufactured narrative of an eternal struggle with the U.S. and Israel. Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of FDD's Iran Program Behnam Ben Taleblu, told Fox News Digital the IRGC's origin reflects a deep mistrust of Iran's traditional military, which had remained loyal to the Shah. "The IRGC were created through efforts to collect pro-regime armed gangs called Komitehs. They enforced revolutionary edicts and developed a parallel and ideological military force due to clerical skepticism in the national army," he explained. "The IRGC are tasked with preserving and defending the revolution in Iran," Taleblu said. "That's one reason why the 1979 Islamic Revolution has not been tamed, nor has the regime's extremism lost any luster. If anything, terrorism and hostage-taking have continued." "They created a boogeyman in the U.S. and Israel," Ostovar added. "But today, that ideology no longer resonates with most Iranians. The majority want better relations with the West and are tired of the regime's isolationist stance." Today, the IRGC is deeply intertwined with the clerical elite. "The IRGC and the clerical elite are partners in power, treating Iran as a springboard to export their revolution," Taleblu noted. Over the past year, Iran has suffered a series of strategic defeats: Hezbollah has been degraded in Lebanon, Hamas crippled in Gaza, Syria effectively lost, and Iranian military infrastructure — including nuclear and missile sites — destroyed in many cases by U.S. and Israeli strikes. Ostovar says these losses have decimated the IRGC's regional footprint and forced the regime to reevaluate its strategy. "They can try to rebuild everything — but that would take too long and be too difficult," he said. "More likely, we'll see them repress harder at home and lean on China and Russia to rebuild conventional military capabilities like air defense and advanced jets." Internally, the IRGC's economic empire is also under growing strain. Sanctions, cyberattacks, and battlefield losses have made operations far more difficult. Ostovar said that foreign banks avoid any connection with Iran out of fear they may inadvertently deal with IRGC-linked entities, forcing the group to operate through front companies abroad. "They've lost a lot, and now they'll have to redirect their limited resources to rebuild. That's going to stretch them even thinner." Despite these pressures, both Ostovar and Taleblu agree that the IRGC is unlikely to turn against the regime. "Much like the regime elite, the IRGC is at a crossroads," Taleblu said. "They have lost much of their strategic brain trust, but are likely to remain loyal for a combination of ideological and material reasons — so long as the status quo doesn't change." Looking ahead, Iran may shift focus inward, relying more on domestic repression than on external terror. "They can't get weapons into Gaza. They've lost access to Lebanon. They may still attempt terrorism, but they've failed repeatedly — especially against Israeli targets," Ostovar said. "In contrast, repressing their own people is something they can do easily." He warns that Iran could become "more insular, more autocratic — more like North Korea than what it is today." While regime collapse is always a possibility, Ostovar believes autocracies are often resilient. "Look at Venezuela or Cuba — they've run their countries into the ground but still hold on to power." Ostovar thinks change — and not for the better — could come via generational shift. "The IRGC's younger cadre is less religious but no less hardline," he said. "They may not care about hijabs, but they've spent the last two decades fighting the U.S. and Israel in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. That's the war they know." Some reformist elements within the regime envision a different path — one focused on normalization and growth. "They want to preserve the regime not by fighting the world, but by opening up to it," Ostovar said. "They look more to Vietnam or China as models." Taleblu warned that despite recent setbacks, the IRGC's grip remains strong. "Right now, the Guards have power without accountability, wielding political, economic, and military influence in Iranian policy. How this influence is channeled by the next generation of Guardsmen remains to be seen."
Fox News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
President Trump Pulls The Trigger On Iran
Ben examines President Trump's decision to pull the trigger on Iran's nuclear program and discusses the results of the NYC mayoral primary. Senior Director of FDD's Iran Program Behnam Ben Taleblu provides his analysis of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Then, FOX News Senior National Correspondent Aishah Hasnie joins to talk Pacers, party divisions on Capitol Hill, and Senate Majority Leader Thune's leadership under President Trump. Later, Ben shares more about the exciting announcement of his third child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
'Wounded But Still There': What's The Iranian Regime's Next Move After US Strikes & Ceasefire Deal?
Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of the FDD's Iran program, joined Brittany Lewis on "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss what's next for Iran after the United States bombed multiple of its nuclear facilities and it came to a ceasefire agreement with Israel. Watch the full interview above.
Newsweek
21-06-2025
- Newsweek
Satellite Images Show Underground Military Installations Around the World
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, buried beneath a mountain near the city of Qom, has become a focus of global military attention following the most recent Israeli airstrikes. It is one of the most heavily fortified military sites in the world, and its resilience highlights a broader pattern: nations around the world have built underground bases to shield key military infrastructure from attack. Fordow is dug half a mile underground, lined with reinforced concrete, and surrounded by air defenses. It was built to survive a direct air strike and keep functioning. "Fordow is the be-all and end-all of Iran's nuclear operation," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Financial Times. The site could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for nine nuclear bombs in about three weeks, according to estimates by the Institute for Science and International Security. PlanetScope image of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant captured on June 14, 2025. PlanetScope image of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant captured on June 14, 2025. Planet Labs PBC Iran said the facility was attacked last week, though damage was limited. Most military analysts believe the site could only be heavily damaged or destroyed with an American-made bunker-buster bomb and the B-2 stealth fighter configured to drop it. And even then, it is far from a certainty. Danny Citrinowicz, an analyst at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, told Vijesti, "Without U.S. help, Fordow will be a big challenge. It's heavily fortified and deep in the mountain. I'm not sure how much damage we can do there." Fordow is one of many such facilities. Most major military powers have built underground bunkers—some dating back to the Cold War, others still active. While estimates suggest there could be over 10,000 of these sites worldwide, only a handful are widely known. U.S. Sites In the United States, Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania—also known as the "Underground Pentagon"—connects to Mount Weather in Virginia and Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. These sites are built to maintain government operations in a crisis. Satellite view of the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, known as the "Underground Pentagon." The facility includes multiple tunnel entrances and surface structures supporting one of the United States' primary Continuity of Government sites. Satellite view of the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, known as the "Underground Pentagon." The facility includes multiple tunnel entrances and surface structures supporting one of the United States' primary Continuity of Government sites. Google Earth Cheyenne Mountain houses NORAD operations and was built to withstand a 30-megaton nuclear blast. In North Dakota, Minot Air Force Base hosts a network of underground silos for nuclear missiles. Texas's West Fort Hood once stored nuclear weapons in tunnels carved into the hillside. During the Cold War, Project Iceworm in Greenland housed nuclear equipment in ice tunnels at Camp Century. At the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex headquarters for NORAD two military personnel wait to board a bus May 11, 2004 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex headquarters for NORAD two military personnel wait to board a bus May 11, 2004 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Getty Images Russia and China Russia's secretive underground transport system Metro-2 system, or D-6, is thought to link key command posts beneath Moscow to facilities such as Vnukovo-2 airport. Meanwhile, the mysterious Mount Yamantau in the southern Urals is believed to conceal a vast nuclear weapons storage or command facility. The Kremlin has never confirmed its purpose. Mount Yamantau, another secretive site in the Urals, is widely believed to be a command hub for nuclear operations. Mount Yamantau, another secretive site in the Urals, is widely believed to be a command hub for nuclear operations. Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Generic China's Longpo Naval Base, located on Hainan Island, includes a sophisticated tunnel system that enables submarines to discreetly enter and exit from the South China Sea. The facility is believed to play a critical role in supporting China's second-strike nuclear capability. It features an underground complex designed to shield nuclear submarines from aerial surveillance and potential attack. The base includes six wharves—each approximately 755 feet long—capable of accommodating up to 12 submarines. Longpo is part of the larger Yulin Naval Base complex, which serves as a strategic hub for the People's Liberation Army Navy's South Sea Fleet. Satellite view of the Longpo Naval Base on China's Yalong Peninsula. Hidden beneath the dense forest, this strategic facility is believed to house underground tunnels connecting directly to the South China Sea, allowing nuclear submarines... Satellite view of the Longpo Naval Base on China's Yalong Peninsula. Hidden beneath the dense forest, this strategic facility is believed to house underground tunnels connecting directly to the South China Sea, allowing nuclear submarines to enter and exit covertly. More Google Earth Project 131 in Hubei was another Cold War-era command site, though it has since been decommissioned. North Korea North Korea has built extensive underground missile bases, including the Kumchang-ri facility discovered in 1989. While Pyongyang claimed it was a food storage site, U.S. intelligence suspected it was used for nuclear work. These bases are carved into mountains and designed to survive strikes. Satellite imagery of the Kumchang-ri underground facility in North Korea. Discovered in the late 1990s, the site was originally claimed to be agricultural, but U.S. intelligence identified it as a suspected nuclear-related complex hidden beneath... Satellite imagery of the Kumchang-ri underground facility in North Korea. Discovered in the late 1990s, the site was originally claimed to be agricultural, but U.S. intelligence identified it as a suspected nuclear-related complex hidden beneath mountainous terrain. Its exact purpose remains classified. More Google Earth Iran's Expansion Fordow is not Iran's only secure site. Tehran is believed to be is building an even more protected facility at Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La—also known as Pickaxe Mountain—south of Natanz. This site is planned to be even deeper underground, with at least four tunnel entrances and larger internal space. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been allowed to inspect it. Fordow was built in secret and revealed publicly in 2009 when U.S., British and French officials declassified intelligence on its existence. The disclosure led to increased sanctions and was central to the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration and known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. After Trump withdrew from that agreement during his first term in 2018, Iran resumed higher levels of uranium enrichment by restarting operations at Fordow.
