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{
  "authors": [
    "Karim Sadjadpour"
  ],
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  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
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  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
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  "topics": [
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Source: Getty

In The Media

An Increased Threat from Iran?

Despite increased tension between the United States and Iran, it is highly unlikely that Iran would commit an act of terror on U.S. soil because of the devastating repercussions Tehran would face.

Link Copied
By Karim Sadjadpour
Published on Feb 1, 2012

Source: Anderson Cooper 360

Despite increased tension between the United States and Iran, Karim Sadjadpour, appearing on Anderson Cooper 360, stated that he is extremely skeptical that the Iranian regime will commit an act of terror on U.S. soil. Although Supreme Leader Khamenei has always taken a hardline stance against the United States, he is a state actor and knows that any attack from Iran would have significant repercussions. Khamenei is chiefly concerned with the maintenance of his own power and any attack against the nited States could place that in jeopardy.  “The Iranian regime is homicidal, particularly to its own population, but it is not suicidal,” concluded Sadjadpour. 

About the Author

Karim Sadjadpour

Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on Iran and U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.

    Recent Work

  • Q&A
    What’s Keeping the Iranian Regime in Power—for Now

      Aaron David Miller, Karim Sadjadpour, Robin Wright

  • Q&A
    How Washington and Tehran Are Assessing Their Next Steps

      Aaron David Miller, David Petraeus, Karim Sadjadpour

Karim Sadjadpour
Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Karim Sadjadpour
SecurityPolitical ReformNuclear PolicyMiddle EastIranLevant

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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