New Articles
Impact of Sanctions Relief on Iran
Sanctions relief is “unlikely to greatly empower the Iranian regime at home or abroad,” according to RAND Corporation analyst Alireza Nader. The following are excerpts from his November 5 testimony presented before the House Oversight and Governmental Reform Committee, Subcommittee on National…
In Pictures: Iran Marks Anniversary of US Embassy Seizure
On November 4, Iran marked the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover in massive street rallies across the country. As in previous years, effigies of President Obama were burned along with American flags. The slogan “Death to America,” or “Down with the USA,” was chanted loudly and featured…
Anti-Americanism Grows in Iran — Again
Garrett Nada
The nuclear deal, announced in July, has not changed the anti-American rhetoric in Iran. Indeed, the pace of vitriol has noticeably increased. “US officials seek negotiation with Irannegotiation is means of infiltration and imposition of their wills,” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali…
US Eases Medical Sanctions on Iran
On November 2, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) expanded its list of medical supplies approved for export or re-export to Iran. Under a general license issued in 2012, export of basic medical supplies to Iran has been permitted even while Washington tightened economic and…
Final Communique on Syria Talks
On October 30, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and a delegation of Iranians participated in the Syria peace talks in Vienna. Representatives from 17 countries, the United Nations, and the European Union joined the talks. The decision to include Iran, backed by the United States, marks…
American Businessman Detained in Iran
Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi was reportedly arrested on or around October 15, according to Iranian and U.S. media reports. The Dubai-based consultant, who is in his early 40s, is at least the fourth Iranian-American to be detained by Iranian authorities in recent years. His arrest is…
UN Human Rights Report: Execution Rate Up
Iran’s human rights situation remains “deeply concerning, and in some cases, quite alarming,” according to Ahmed Shaheed, the U.N. special rapporteur on Iran. In his annual report, Shaheed noted that Iran executed at least 694 people between January 1 and September 15, 2015, likely putting the…
World Bank on Iran’s Economy and Business Regulations
Iran’s economy is projected to grow by 1.7 percent in 2015 and 6.1 percent in 2016, according to a new World Bank report. “The medium-term outlook is positive though risks remain from oil prices and geopolitical considerations,” according to the October edition of the Middle East and North Africa…
Iran Attends Syria Peace Talks in Vienna
On October 29, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Vienna with a delegation of Iranians to participate in peace talks on Syria. Zarif met bilaterally with Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss implementation of the nuclear deal. Kerry also used the meeting to raise the case…
Rising Iran-Saudi Tensions
Iran and Saudi Arabia are regional rivals, with both countries falling on different sides of Middle Eastern conflicts. In Syria, Iran backs President Bashar al Assad, while Saudi Arabia supports Sunni rebels. In Yemen, Iran is widely believed to support the Houthis, a Zaydi Shiite movement that has…
Iran’s Growing Toll in Syria
Garrett NadaIran’s involvement in Syria is growing. So is the Iranian death toll. For decades, the Islamic Republic has been a pivotal ally of the Assad dynasty and a source of arms, military advisers, and billions in financial aid. But it stepped up support after the uprising began in 2011. It…
Khamenei Approves Nuclear Deal
On October 21, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved the nuclear deal between Iran and the world’s six major powers. In a letter to President Hassan Rouhani, he laid out conditions for implementing the deal, warning that that any new sanctions would be considered a violation of the…
Adoption Day: Iran and P5+1 Comment
October 18 marked Adoption Day for the nuclear deal between Iran and the world’s six major powers —Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. The day signaled the starting point for the so-called P5+1 countries and Iran to begin preparing to implement their commitments under the…
Adoption Day: US Officials Comment
U.S. officials welcomed the nuclear deal’s Adoption Day on October 18. "This is an important day for all of us and a critical first step in the process of ensuring that Iran’s nuclear program will be exclusively for peaceful purposes," said Secretary of State John Kerry. Following Adoption Day,…
Adoption Day: State Department Briefing
On October 17, senior State Department officials answered questions about implementation of the nuclear deal with Iran. The following are excerpts from the background briefing, which was held one day before Adoption Day, the point at which the agreement came into effect. MODERATOR: The…
US Report: Iran's Religious Freedom Abuses
Iran’s government reportedly continued to imprison, harass, intimidate and discriminate against people based on religious beliefs in 2014, according to an annual report by the U.S. State Department. It also notes that non-Muslims faced “substantial societal discrimination, aided by official support…
Rouhani on Economy, Parliament Vote
In a live television interview, President Hassan Rouhani applauded parliament's approval of the nuclear deal. On October 13, the parliament passed a bill to support implementing the deal, with a vote of 161-59. Rouhani discussed the agreement and its implications for Iran's economy in the interview…
Parliament Approves Nuclear Deal
Iran’s parliament voted to approve a resolution permitting the government to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). On October 11, 139 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill’s general provisions, with 100 lawmakers against and 12 abstaining. And on October 13, Parliament approved…
Iran Convicts Jason Rezaian
Tehran's Revolutionary Court has convicted Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, who has been held in Iran for 14 months on charges including espionage. In a press conference on October 11, Judiciary spokesman Mohseni Ejei confirmed that Rezaian had been found guilty but did not provide details…
Zarif Interview on Russia & Peace in Syria
Robin Wright (for The New Yorker)Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, is in demand these days. On the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, he shook hands with President Obama and met twice with Secretary of State John Kerry. … Zarif hosted both Republican and Democratic officials from…
Khamenei: Negotiations with US Forbidden
On October 7, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that further negotiations with the United States are “forbidden." In an address to Revolutionary Guards commanders, he claimed that talks expose Iran to U.S. influence and harm Iran’s national interests. The following are excerpted remarks…
Javad Zarif on Syria Peace Plan
In New York, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said prospects for progress on the Syrian crisis grew after meetings around the U.N. General Assembly. “I think it is important that everybody is coming around to the same concept that we need to focus on procedures and institutions rather…
Parliament Moves to Approve Nuclear Deal
On October 4, the Iranian parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the nuclear deal presented its preliminary report to the Parliament. It highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but emphasized the harmful effects some provisions could…
Assad Interview with Iranian Television
On October 4, Syrian President Bashar al Assad said that he was optimistic about the new cooperation between Iran, Iraq, Russia and Syria in the fight against ISIS. The other week, Iraq announced that the four countries would share intelligence. The “coalition has great chances of success,” he told…
Economic Trends: August and September
Cameron Glenn In August and September, Iran’s leaders tried to manage high expectations that the final nuclear deal will carry immediate economic benefits. The deal’s “Implementation Day,” when certain U.S., E.U., and U.N. sanctions will be lifted, will likely not occur until mid-2016.…
Regional Leaders at UNGA: On Iran
Top officials from across the Middle East and South Asia discussed Iran during their visits to New York for the U.N. General Assembly. Some leaders welcomed the nuclear deal or proposed new dialogue with Iran while others accused Tehran of meddling in the region. The following are excerpted remarks…
Iranian Officials on Syria, Possible Solutions
Iranian officials have long expressed their unwavering support for Syria and President Bashar al Assad. But while some officials have said it is Iran’s duty to support the Syrian government militarily, others have stressed the importance of a political solution to the conflict. In interviews and…
Netanyahu at UNGA: On Iran, Syria
On October 1, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the nuclear deal with Iran during his address to the U.N. General Assembly. “By fueling Iran’s aggressions with billions of dollars in sanctions relief, it makes war more likely,” he said. He also spoke at length about Iran’s…
Iran & Saudi Arabia: New Tensions on Hajj
Tensions began escalating between Iran and Saudi Arabia after a stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, killed and injured pilgrims completing a hajj ritual. Saudi officials reported that 769 people had been killed, but Iranian officials estimate the death toll could be as high as 4,700 – including some…
Obama & Zarif: Controversial Handshake
On September 28, President Barack Obama shook hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The exchange, confirmed by U.S. and Iranian officials, lasted less than minute. But it caused a firestorm among hardliners in Iran.…