Author Archives: khalijefars

Former Iranian Official, Pro-Tehran Lobbyist Hosted at Obama White House Dozens of Times

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BY: Adam Kredo

Iran backers met more than 30 times with senior Obama admin official

Two high-level Iranian government backers, including a former Islamic Republic official and another accused of lobbying on Tehran’s behalf, were hosted at the Obama White House for more than 30 meetings with top officials at key junctures in the former administration’s contested diplomacy with Iran, according to White House visitor logs that provide a window into the former administration’s outreach to leading pro-Iran advocates. Read More »

Why Coercion Is a Recipe for Failure with Iran

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by Tytti Erasto

Opponents of the 2015 Iran nuclear accord have criticized the deal because it did not end uranium enrichment or limit missile development by Iran. With the Trump administration, some see an opportunity to undermine the agreement by imposing more non-nuclear sanctions on Iran. The assumption is that this could provoke Tehran to withdraw from the deal, snapping back the ‘crippling’ sanctions, which-according to common wisdom-brought the country to the negotiating table in 2013. Indeed, if such sanctions worked so well before, why could they not extract an even ‘better deal’ from Iran now? Others, such as the nominee for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, seem to want to go back to the previous policy of “no uranium enrichment in Iran,” at least after the deal expires. Read More »

Implementing the Iran Nuclear Deal: A Status Report

NEW REPORT FROM CRISIS GROUP

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Executive Summary

One year since its “implementation day”, 16 January 2016, the July 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (the P5+1) – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – is both a success and in jeopardy. It has delivered so far on its narrow objective: effectively and verifiably blocking all potential pathways for Iran to race toward nuclear weapons, while opening the door to the country’s international rehabilitation and economic recovery. But in its transactional nature lies the accord’s vulnerability: it has not begun to transform the enmity between Iran and the U.S., leaving it exposed to an unstable political environment. If Iran still deems the deal in its national interest, it should not only adhere to its letter and spirit, but also move away from regional zero-sum pursuits. The Trump administration will face a starker choice. It could scuttle the deal, deliberately or by neglect; it should seek to make it stronger for all by a better-for-better bargain. Read More »

The Iran nuclear deal is a success – and the whole world is safer for it

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By: Federica Mogherini

One year on, brave leadership and hard work have paid off. Iran is adhering to its obligations, to the huge benefit of the region and beyond. The critics are wrong

One year ago this week, the European Union, China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, the US and Iran began to implement the joint comprehensive plan of action on Iran’s nuclear programme. This agreement was the result of brave choices, political leadership, collective determination and hard work. A year on, we can clearly say that the Iran deal is working and we need to maintain it. Read More »

In Iran, Part of the Revolution Passes On

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Stratfor JANUARY 8, 2017

Summary

Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who ruled from 1989 to 1997, passed away on Jan. 8 at the age of 82. For the past four decades, Rafsanjani has been one of the most powerful figures in Iranian politics, surpassed only by Iran’s first leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His passing comes at a critical time in Iranian politics as the country prepares for an important presidential election in May. Read More »

Iran Nuclear Deal — Alive or Dead?

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By Patrick J. Buchanan

Though every Republican in Congress voted against the Iran nuclear deal, “Tearing it up … is not going to happen,” says Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Read More »