Iran Primer's Blog
Iran Ratchets Up Tensions over Gulf Islands
Ted Wynne Longstanding tensions between Iran and its Arab neighbors are intensifying because of rival territorial claims over three strategic islands in the Persian Gulf--Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb. Three high-profile visits since mid-April—by President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad,…
Court Mandates U.S. Decision on Iran Opposition Group
On June 1, a U.S. District Appeals Court ruled that the Obama administration must finally decide within four months whether or not to remove the Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK) from the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist groups. The decision was a partial victory for the controversial Iranian…
Washington and Tehran on Iran’s role in Syria
Ted WynneOn May 29, the United States charged that Iran played a role in the weekend massacre of more than 100 Syrians, including dozens of children, in the northern city of Houla. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said a commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force was “bragging” about its…
Iran Hit by New Cyber Virus
Following a report by Russian experts, Iran confirmed on May 28 that a new cyber virus codenamed “Flame” had penetrated Iran’s computer system. The new virus is unlike earlier worms because it was designed to steal information rather than to destroy systems, according to the first report…
New IAEA Report on Iran’s Nuclear Program
On May 25, 2012, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency issued a new report about Iran’s non-compliance with U.N. resolutions on its controversial nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that it is “unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear…
U.S. Report on Iran Human Rights Abuses
On May 24, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released the annual U.S. report on worldwide human rights violations. The following is an excerpt from the section on Iran, with a link to the full report at the bottom. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Islamic Republic of Iran is a constitutional,…
Bipartisan Letter from Congress Supports Diplomacy
May 21, 2012 The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Obama, We write to convey our strong support for the prevention of a nuclear weapons-capable Iran through diplomacy. We share your…
Quotes on Round 2 of Iran Nuke Talks
The following is a collection of comments from senior officials in Iran, the United States, Israel, the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations, and Russia about the diplomatic initiatives to resolve disputes over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program. The world’s six major powers—the United States…
Pew: A Global “No” To a Nuclear-Armed Iran
The following is a survey of attitudes about Iran’s controversial nuclear program in 21 countries. The poll by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project was released on May 18, 2012, just days before the second round of talks between the world’s six major power and Iran in Baghdad.…
Biden on Iran
The following are excerpts from a speech by Vice President Joe Biden to the Rabbinical Assembly convention in Atlanta on May 8, 2012: "We will prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon by whatever means we need..." “There remains space for diplomacy. The window has not closed in terms of the…