Ellen Laipson's Blog

Iran & South Asia #3: After US Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Ellen LaipsonRelations between Iran and Afghanistan have gyrated since the 1979 revolution. How might the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2014 affect opportunities or challenges facing the neighboring countries?             All of Afghanistan’s neighbors will be affected when international troops…

The Arab Spring’s Impact on U.S.-Iran Rivalry

Ellen Laipson How has the Arab spring changed the strategic environment for U.S.-Iran relations?Turbulence in Arab politics will have both direct and indirect effects on U.S.-Iran relations.  The uncertain outcomes–specifically which countries other than Tunisia, Egypt and possibly Yemen undergo…

A New Channel for U.S.-Iran Communication

Ellen Laipson        The State Department's recent naming of a Persian-speaking press spokesman, Alan Eyre, opens a potentially important channel in the long-stagnant U.S.-Iran relationship. The absence of contact or inability to communicate at official levels means that American diplomats are…

Primer on Dec. 6-7 talks between Iran and the world’s major powers

Ellen LaipsonWhy are the upcoming talks between Iran and the world’s six major powers important?The talks are the most important opportunity in more than one year for the international community to vet differences with Iran over its nuclear activities.  The mere resumption of talks--which include…