School of War Ep 261: Behnam Ben Taleblu on the (Next!) Iran-Israel War
18 snips
Dec 30, 2025 
Behnam Ben Taleblu, a Senior Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies specializing in Iran's missile and security programs, joins the discussion. He delves into Iran's missile advancements and the implications for U.S. and Israeli defense strategies. The conversation covers Iran's reliance on China for missile components, the risks posed by its ballistic missile capabilities, and the balancing act of regional power between Israel, Iran, and Turkey. Ben Taleblu also emphasizes the need for effective U.S. strategies to address the evolving threat landscape.
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China Enables Iran's Missile Precision
- Iran seeks Chinese electronics and dual-use parts to turn quantity into precision in its ballistic missile force.
- Behnam Ben Taleblu warns that guidance and control components are the qualitative threat, not just fuel precursors.
Prioritize Electronics Over Fuel Intercepts
- Prioritize intercepting missile guidance and control parts over bulk fuel precursors when resources are limited.
- Behnam Ben Taleblu argues electronics interdiction yields greater reduction in lethality than stopping oxidizer alone.
Mixers Are A Critical Missile Bottleneck
- Solid propellant uses ammonium perchlorate (AP) as an oxidizer and requires industrial mixers and precise manufacturing.
- Ben Taleblu explains that Israeli strikes targeted mixers to disrupt Iran's solid-fuel missile production chain.