(Institute for the Study of War)
US-Iran Talks: The United States and Iran will hold a new round of talks sometime early in the week of February 8. Neither the United States nor Iran has changed their negotiating position, which makes a diplomatic breakthrough unlikely if their respective positions do not change. Recent statements by Iranian officials indicate that Iran is unlikely to compromise on limits to its ballistic missile program, support for its proxies and partners in the region, and enrichment levels.
Iranian Digital Repression: The Iranian regime is reportedly continuing to develop plans to restrict international internet access to only trusted regime supporters, which indicates that the regime continues to fear the spontaneous outbreak of new protests. A US media outlet reported on February 6 that the regime was planning since at least August 2025 to overhaul Iran’s digital ecosystem by blocking foreign platforms, banning circumvention tools, and enforcing reliance on state-approved technology “at every level.” These plans suggest that the regime believes that the protests could reemerge and therefore must continue its efforts to securitize Iran’s digital ecosystem.
US Transfer of ISIS Detainees: Iraq has received 2,250 Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) detainees from Syria since January 21 as part of US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) operation to transfer detainees from Syrian prisons to Iraqi custody. US forces began to transfer ISIS detainees to Iraq on January 21 after several uncoordinated handovers of ISIS detention centers to the Syrian government by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) resulted in the escape of detainees.
