What Happens If Iran Loses Control of Its Terror Network? | Dr. Colin P. Clarke

What happens if Iran loses control of its global network of proxy groups?

In this episode of At the Water’s Edge, Scott sits down with Dr. Colin P. Clarke, Executive Director of the Soufan Center, to break down how terrorism is evolving—and why the next phase may be more dangerous than the last.

They explore Iran’s strategy of using proxy organizations like Hezbollah and the Houthis, and why dismantling centralized control could actually increase the risk of more fragmented, unpredictable, and violent terrorist activity.

The conversation also covers:

• Why today’s terrorism threat is more decentralized and complex than during the Global War on Terror
• How terrorist groups are funding themselves through organized crime and global networks
• The role of private military companies like the Wagner Group in fueling instability
• Why ISIS and its affiliates remain a persistent global threat
• How great power competition is intersecting with terrorism in places like the Middle East and Africa
• The risk of escalation between nuclear-armed states like India and Pakistan

This is a practitioner-focused discussion on where terrorism stands today—and what policymakers, operators, and analysts may be missing about what comes next.

Colin P. Clarke X/Twitter: @ColinPCarke

Soufan Center Intel Brief: https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief/