Yossi Mansharof, PhD
Israel
English, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew
His praised PhD dissertation examined Khomeini’s and the Islamic Republic’s ties with Shi‘a communities in the Persian Gulf, including interviews with former senior Iranian officials. Currently a researcher on Iran and Shi‘a militias at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy. Formerly with MEMRI, he published extensive studies on Iranian affairs and assisted in preparing legal cases against Iran at MM-LAW on behalf of terror victims’ families. Fluent in Persian and Arabic.
Iran and October 7: Tehran’s Role in Advancing the Vision of Israel’s Destruction
This lecture uncovers little-known aspects of Iran’s long-standing efforts to enable Israel’s destruction, drawing on material published over the years in Iranian media. We will assess the extent to which Iran was surprised by Hamas’s attack and examine the annihilation plan the IRGC had devised. The lecture will also explore Iran’s post–October 7 planning for a multi-front offensive against Israel and discuss the steps Israel must take in response to Iran’s strategy.
Iran: From Terror to the Nuclear Ambition
The lecture explores Iran’s terror networks and its nuclear aspirations. We will review several Iranian-backed terror operations against Israel to illustrate the severity of the threat Iran poses. We will then examine Iran’s nuclear goals and the motivations behind them, and conclude by assessing the strategic approach Israel should adopt in response.
Hezbollah: Between Iran and Lebanon, and the Shifts in Syria
This lecture offers an in-depth look at the relationship between Hezbollah and Iran. We will examine the profound changes the organization is undergoing following Israel’s heavy blows during the war, Iran’s weakening during Operation Rising Lion, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. We will explore Iran’s response to the Lebanese government’s U.S.-backed initiative to disarm Hezbollah, its conduct in post-Assad Syria, and the strategy Israel should pursue to maximize the opportunities created by these developments.