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Source: https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/the-state-of-the-axis-of-resistance
The State of the Axis of Resistance
(American Enterprise Institute) Nicholas Carl and Brian Carter - Iran has suffered repeated defeats across the Middle East since the beginning of 2024. Tehran has thus become more vulnerable and lost much of its regional influence and ability to project force, bringing it to its weakest in decades. These defeats have reduced the threat to U.S. interests, personnel, and partners in the Middle East. There is no guarantee, however, that these victories will last. Iran and its Axis of Resistance remain hostile to the U.S. and its partners. They will spend the coming years rebuilding their strength and collaborating with major U.S. adversaries, such as China, North Korea, and Russia, to erode U.S. global influence and undermine the U.S.-led international order. The U.S. should therefore capitalize on the moment of relative weakness affecting Iran and its Axis of Resistance to make lasting gains and prevent them from rebuilding. That means using the positive momentum to further constrain Iranian and Iranian-backed forces across the Middle East. Pressing this advantage could reduce the medium- and long-term threats to U.S. interests, personnel, and partners and help stabilize the region. To contain the Iranian threat and promote Middle Eastern stability, the U.S. must remain prepared to use force - as it has already to tremendous effect - to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. The U.S. should seek to render the Houthis unwilling to attack international shipping and U.S. partners. The U.S. cannot tolerate a future wherein transit through the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman is under the constant threat of Houthi attack. The U.S. should be prepared to support local partners in conducting offensive ground operations against the Houthis. A committed U.S. effort to back partners in challenging Houthi political control is the most straightforward - and perhaps only - path to render the Houthis unwilling to conduct attacks outside Yemen. Nicholas Carl is assistant director of the Critical Threats Project at AEI, where Brian Carter is research manager of the project.