Abstract Soleimani’s assassination, increased tensions vis-à-vis the United States, and the fluidity of the geopolitics of the Middle East, have brought into the open questions in Iran about the long-term costs, benefits, and risks of a forward defense strategy that relies on Tehran’s ability to continue to defy the growing pressures on its economy from U.S. sanctions and fund proxy groups. This report examines the historical development of Iran’s proxy warfare strategy under Soleimani, the sustainability of the strategy today, and draws lessons from the clash between Iranian proxy strategy and America’s new hard power approach.