Areas of Expertise: Nuclear nonproliferation, Iran's security strategy and nuclear policy, deterrence and escalation dynamics
Dr. Mahsa Rouhi is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), National Defense University. Her research and expertise focuses on nuclear policy and security strategy in the Middle East, particularly Iran. Her work examines how regional geopolitical competition, nuclear decisionmaking, and escalation dynamics shape state behavior and strategic adaptation. She analyzes the emergence and trajectories of critical security threats and assesses risks, challenges, and opportunities for mitigation across the region.
Prior to joining INSS, Dr. Rouhi was a Research Fellow in the Non-proliferation and Nuclear Policy Program at at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), where she co-directed a Track 1.5 project on Geopolitics and Nuclear Issues in the Middle East. She continues to engage as an associate with the Strategy, Technology and Arms Control at IISS. Dr. Rouhi was a postdoctoral fellow with the Managing the Atom project at the Belfer Center from 2016-2018.
Her research informs policy analysis, strategic assessment, and scenario-based discussions on Iran's nuclear strategy, regional security architecture, and nonproliferation challenges. Dr. Rouhi designs and supports tabletop exercises and war-gaming initiatives focused on escalation dynamics, force posture, and risk management in the Middle East.
Dr. Rouhi's analysis and commentary has appeared in Foreign Policy, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Boston Globe, The National Interest, among other outlets. Her analysis supports senior defense leaders and contributes to joint planning and professional military education.
She received her Ph.D. from King's College, University of Cambridge, UK, an M.A. in Political Theory from the University of Sheffield, UK, and a B.A. in Economics from Shahid Beheshty University in Tehran, Iran.
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Selected Publications
- Mahsa Rouhi, "Iran’s Strategic Crossroads: Options Beyond the Axis?," The Washington Quarterly, 48 (2), 29-42, 7 July 2025.
- Mahsa Rouhi, "What Would a Military Strike on Iran Mean for the Middle East?," Foreign Policy, 27 March 2025.
- Mahsa Rouhi, “Will Iran Follow North Korea’s Path and Ditch the NPT?,” Foreign Policy, 16 March 2020.
- Mahsa Rouhi and Michael Elleman, “The IRGC gets into the space-launch business,” IISS Blog, 1 May 2020.
- Mahsa Rouhi and Jonathan Snow, “Decision-Making in Revolutionary States: Beyond the Whims of Charismatic Leaders,” Journal of Global Security Studies, 2019, No 4, pp. 448-463.
- Mahsa Rouhi, “How to Make a Lasting Deal with Iran,” Foreign Policy, 7 September 2019.
- Mahsa Rouhi, “Iran After Khamenei,” Strategic Survey 2019, October 2019.
- Mahsa Rouhi, “US-Iran Tensions and the Oil Factor,” Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, September 2018, Vol. 60, Edition 5, pp. 33-40.