A Study on Iran: Indications and Warnings for a Future Gray Zone Conflict

Abstract

Iran leverages the gray zone environment and conducts political warfare activities to achieve its national objectives. This study asserts that the 'gray zone' term is simply a modern reference to 'political warfare,' which governments and institutions have actively conducted for decades. For the purposes of this study, political warfare activities are categorized into three parts - unconventional warfare, information operations, and sabotage operations. Since its 1979 revolution, Iran has employed political warfare activities at varying levels. By analyzing Iran's gray zone operations in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia, one can determine the trends Iran employs for expanding its power and influence in the region.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 10, 2018
Accession Number
AD1177070

Entities

People

  • Adriana A. Holte

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Department Of Defense
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • Gray Zone
  • Information Operations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Middle East
  • Military Organizations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Public Policy
  • Social Media
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Unconventional Warfare
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Systems Analysis and Design