Archive
Matthew Levitt On Nov. 28, a U.S. District court issued a little-noticed ruling that effectively links Iran to al Qaeda on terrorism. It specifically named both Iran and Sudan for an indirect supporting role in the 1998 twin bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, acts long… Read More
On Dec. 13, the United States sanctioned two senior Iranian military officials for being responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Iran: Hassan Firouzabadi is chairman of Iran’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and Abdollah Araqi is deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard… Read More
The following is a letter to the U.N Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, from Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, sent on Dec. 8. In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful… Read More
On Dec. 6, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman gave a briefing about the launch of the “virtual embassy Tehran” to provide a means for the United States to communicate directly to Iranians. The following are excerpts. This initiative is designed to enhance our outreach to the… Read More
On Dec. 1, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The following are two excerpts, with links to their full statements below. Wendy… Read More
Interview with Yasmin Alem What is Iran’s parliamentary election schedule until the March poll? Election activities began in December as Iran’s Election Commission announced that the Ministry of Interior established election headquarters in all 31 provinces. The key… Read More
The following is an interview by the Council on Foreign Relations with USIP fellow and Iran Primer editor Robin Wright:
The attack on the UK embassy in Tehran (BBC) on November 28 reportedly by Iran's Basij militia, a volunteer paramilitary wing, has led to heightened tensions between Iran and the… Read More
According to a 2011 Gallup poll, the U.K., U.S., and EU did not enjoy much approval in Iran even before they tightened sanctions there, escalating tensions. Nine percent of Iranians approved of U.K. and U.S. leadership when Gallup surveyed in February and March 2011 and not many more approved… Read More
On Dec. 2, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta made extensive remarks about Iran to the Brookings Institution’s Saban Center. The following are excerpts. Iran’s continued drive to develop nuclear capabilities, including troubling enrichment activities and past work on weaponization that… Read More
The Stimson Center project, “Iran and America: A Dialogue about Disability,” held in partnership with the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, BlueLaw International LLP, and several Iranian organizations was a cross-cultural dialogue on disability law and rights. Funded by USIP,… Read More
On Dec. 1, the European Union issued the following statement to explain its new sanctions on Iran: The Council adopted the following conclusions:1. "The Council reiterates its serious and deepening concerns over the nature of Iran's nuclearprogramme, and in particular over the findings on Iranian… Read More
Annika Folkeson After the Iranians stormed the British embassy in Tehran on Nov. 29, Britain closed the Iranian embassy in London and expelled all Iranian diplomats. Britain also evacuated its diplomats in Tehran. The new tensions followed London’s new sanctions on all Iranian banks… Read More
Mark N. Katz What role is Russia playing - helper or hinderer – in international diplomatic efforts on Iran, and why? The major Western powers now view Moscow as hindering their efforts to squeeze Iran. Between 2006 and 2011, Russia agreed to six U.N. Security Council resolutions against Iran… Read More
Annika Folkeson The Republican candidates for president outlined their positions on Iran during two foreign policy debates on Nov. 12 and Nov. 22, 2011. In alphabetical order, the following are excerpts of their statements on issues such as sanctions, military action, and support for the… Read More
The following are excerpts from National Security Advisor Tom Donilon’s speech about U.S. policy on Iran at the Brookings Institution on Nov. 22, 2011. In January 2009, Tehran believed, and many in the region believed, that Iran was ascendant. Internally, the Iranian regime faced no significant… Read More
President Obama’s Statement on New Iran SanctionsToday, my Administration has taken yet another step to further isolate and penalize Iran for its refusal to live up to its international obligations regarding its nuclear program. For years, the Iranian government has failed to abide by its… Read More
On Nov. 21, the Obama administration announced new sanctions designed to target Iran’s controversial nuclear and missile programs. The moves came on the same day that Britain cut all ties with Iranian banks and Canada announced a ban on exports for use in Iran’s petrochemical, oil and gas… Read More
On Nov. 21, the Obama administration announced new sanctions designed to target Iran’s controversial nuclear and missile programs. The moves came on the same day that Britain cut all ties with Iranian banks and Canada announced a ban on exports for use in Iran’s petrochemical, oil and gas… Read More
On Nov. 18, 2011, a resolution by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency expressed concern about Iran’s controversial nuclear program based on the latest report. Specifically, the IAEA Board of Governors:1. Expresses deep and increasing concern about the unresolved issues regarding the Iranian nuclear… Read More
The following are excerpts from Congressional testimony at a Nov. 15 hearing on the Obama Administration’s policy toward Iran. The three officials appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations Subcommittee… Read More
The following are excerpts from Congressional testimony at a Nov. 15 hearing on the Obama Administration’s policy toward Iran. The three analysts appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. Dr… Read More
In response to a draft resolution against Iran, its mission at the United Nations issued the following letter refuting U.S. allegations about an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington as "circumstantial and unsubstantiated." In the name of God, the Compassionate, the… Read More
The following is an excerpt from a new assessment by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) about Russian scientist Vycheslav Danilenko, who worked in Iran from 1996 until 2002 and reportedly may have provided assistance to Iran on explosive technology that could be used in… Read More
The following is an excerpt from a CBS News poll on what Americans favor on U.S. policy preferences on Iran. "Most Americans support a diplomatic approach when it comes to dealing with Iran; 55% think Iran is a threat to the U.S. that can be contained with diplomacy. Only 15% say Iran is… Read More
The Atlantic Council has issued a new report entitled “Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions.” The following is an excerpt, with a link to the entire survey at the bottom. The big story of the last decade for Iranian trade has been that of increasing reliance on China. Since 2001… Read More
Annika Folkeson Iranian leaders reacted angrily and swiftly to the new U.N. report on its controversial nuclear program. They denied all suggestions that it had secret activities. And they warned that any military action against the Islamic Republic would be countered with full force. The… Read More
Annika Folkeson The major powers involved in diplomacy with Iran had diverse reactions to the new U.N. report on Tehran’s controversial nuclear program. Russia and China indicated strong opposition to tough new sanctions or other actions that might lead to regime change. Britain, France… Read More
Michael Adler What is new in the latest report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency about Iran’s controversial nuclear program? The report takes the U.N. nuclear watchdog's accounting of Iran's nuclear program to a whole new level. It is the first time the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)… Read More
The following is an excerpt of the conclusions from a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency – the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency – in November 2011. While the Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material at the nuclear facilities and LOFs declared by… Read More
The following are some key statistics on development in Iran from the 2011 Human Development Report that was published on Nov. 2. Overall, Iran ranked number 88 out of 187 countries. Economics: · Population: 74.8 millions· GDP per capita (PPP*): $11,558· GNI per capita (… Read More