Deputy Director, Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research. Associate Editor, Pakistan Politico. Former VF, Stimson Center. Alum: Wilson Center and CNS. Bylines: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, National Interest, The Diplomat, Atlantic Councilhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mlnthtf45c2cI have penned a few pieces on Iran and the ongoing RevCon. The first one, just published by @thebulletin.org , looks at Iran's positions on core issues at the RevCon. It argues that they are rational, necessitating engagement, not confrontation. https://thebulletin.org/2026/05/irans-positions-at-the-npt-review-conference-are-rational-ignoring-them-would-weaken-the-treaty/12 May 2026 12:54 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnthtf45c2chttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mkxt43xri22jMy latest Substack. on the ongoing NPT RevCon. https://open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992/p/why-the-11th-revcon-must-not-fail?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7w8n803 May 2026 18:48 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxt43xri22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mj5ynv273s2mI wrote this a while back: Read the full Substack here: open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992…10 Apr 2026 18:53 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj5ynv273s2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mj2pbxl5ms2cMy take for @PoliticoPak "First, by stepping up as a facilitator and a mediator in the midst of a multi-party, intricate war, Pakistan demonstrated that it is becoming a much more confident middle power..." pakistanpolitico.com/mdtn/ https://pakistanpolitico.com/mdtn/09 Apr 2026 11:28 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj2pbxl5ms2chttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3miq3bavac22fTrump might start thinking that ground operations, if carried out, would be successful. He could also say one of the primary objectives of the war was to rescue the pilot, and we achieved that with flying colors.05 Apr 2026 06:03 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3miq3bavac22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mio7fc7tc22vComing soon.04 Apr 2026 12:11 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mio7fc7tc22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3minqdmv2hc2eAbsolutely, Netanyahu wants state collapse. [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Apr 2026 07:42 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3minqdmv2hc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3minq72zvt22eNegotiations are a big no-no when one of the parties is looking for every opportunity to kill the other side's negotiators. Therefore, the U.S. needs to take significant steps to assuage Iran's concerns. So far, the U.S. is in no mood to do that.04 Apr 2026 07:39 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3minq72zvt22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mijm2suvrc2bThis is what Prof. Vali said about Iran's Mosaic Strategy on our program yesterday:02 Apr 2026 16:15 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mijm2suvrc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mih4eaoins2fOut Now on the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research , Ejaz Haider and Prof. Dr. Vali Nasr discuss the ongoing Iran war, Iran's retaliatory strategy, Trump's options, and the prospect of de-escalation. https://youtu.be/j7xT5AAnjKo?si=H07EWpk1bTp5tJMd01 Apr 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mih4eaoins2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3midgnu2sm22v"The literature on coercion also informs us that states refuse to comply when coercers put too many demands on the table." My take for The Friday Times https://www.thefridaytimes.com/30-Mar-2026/unreasonableness-washington-s-15-point-proposal31 Mar 2026 05:22 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3midgnu2sm22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mib5ziwxu22rThe partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz is being wrongly framed as a cause despite the fact that it is a consequence of the war imposed on Iran.30 Mar 2026 07:42 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mib5ziwxu22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhnsgeilhs23What should be worrying for the West is that at no rung has Iran allowed the U.S. and Israel to achieve escalation dominance. This partly explains why it doesn't feel the need to de-escalate.22 Mar 2026 14:54 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhnsgeilhs23https://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhi7db5flc2yI take stock of the Iran war. https://open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992/p/the-iran-war-three-weeks-on?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7w8n820 Mar 2026 09:29 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhi7db5flc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhe7ybc3f22oToday, Israel and the U.S. ignored what Schelling called the focal point. Now, it will be curtains, unfortunately.18 Mar 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhe7ybc3f22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhdzqljt3c2jIn a piece for the @BulletinAtomic last year, I argued why John Finer's remarks about our imaginary long-range ballistic missiles, as well as the sanctions that followed, will be counterproductive. Tulsi Gabbard has made similar remarks a while back! https://thebulletin.org/2025/01/why-us-sanctions-against-pakistans-ballistic-missile-program-might-backfire/#post-heading18 Mar 2026 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhdzqljt3c2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhduaj2jys2vAn important, timely conversation between Drs. Christopher Clary and Asfandyar Mir. Force without assurance doesn't engender coercive effects. [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Mar 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhduaj2jys2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhdtsjklps26The attack on Iran's Pars gas facility is a serious escalatory step.18 Mar 2026 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhdtsjklps26https://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhdrgdaui22zThe use of brute force by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran means that they don't seek to coerce that country. If anything, they aim to obliterate it. For coercion to be effective, assurances of non-action upon compliance are also necessary. No such assurances have been given to Iran.18 Mar 2026 15:10 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhdrgdaui22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhd3tacw5c2aAre the U.S. and Israel really hoping that by killing every important leader, they will find someone palatable and acceptable to take over the reins in Iran?18 Mar 2026 08:43 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhd3tacw5c2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhbfg4csnc23In this short Stack, I argue why killing leaders is deadly dangerous. https://open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992/p/killing-leaders-wont-cut-it?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7w8n817 Mar 2026 16:29 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhbfg4csnc23https://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhb6pf53q22fWhen leaders are abducted and killed, one can kiss goodbye to negotiations and diplomacy. A very dangerous precedent is being set.17 Mar 2026 14:29 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhb6pf53q22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mhaekwehu22xThe U.S. being surprised at Iran's retaliation is particularly surprising! Iran had literally informed everyone about its targeting strategy.17 Mar 2026 06:41 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhaekwehu22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/alizia1992.bsky.social/post/3mh6uagxmak2nWith the leadership factor quite pronounced in the Iran war, it is a good time to replug our conversation with @profsaunders.bsky.social on her book, "The Insiders' Game." https://youtu.be/ECpZxf0FJck?si=IK0c_y6-rsTeT4SG16 Mar 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:haprmlzjptxf2pf4645sbsse/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh6uagxmak2n