Iran Primer's Blog
Rouhani Op-ed on “Moderation and Common Sense”
The Daily Star, a Lebanese English-language daily published the following op-ed by President Hassan Rouhani on December 31, 2013. When I campaigned to become president of Iran, I promised to balance…
Mohammed Chatah’s Open Letter to President Rouhani
Mohammed Chatah, a former Lebanese finance minister, wrote the following open letter to President Hassan Rouhani in late December 2013. But Chatah was killed by a car bomb on December 27 before he could gather signatures from…
Iran's Christmas Greetings
May Jesus Christ, Prophet of love & peace, bless us all on this day. Wishing Merry #Christmas to those celebrating, esp Iranian Christians.— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) December 24, 2013 No doubt that Jesus #Christ has no less value among Muslims than [he has] among the pious Christians. 27…
Obama Warns Congress Against New Sanctions
On December 20, President Barack Obama urged Congress to hold off on new Iran sanctions while the Geneva nuclear agreement is being implemented. In response to a newly proposed sanctions bill in the Senate, Obama said that if the United States is “serious about…
Zarif: Talks Not Dead, Iran Committed to Nuclear Deal
On December 15, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that talks on implementing the Geneva nuclear deal were “derailed” but not dead. Iranian officials had slammed Washington for blacklisting 17 companies and individuals for…
Iran Slams US Sanctions Enforcement
On December 13, Iran’s foreign ministry slammed Washington for blacklisting more than a dozen companies and individuals for sanctions evasion. “The U.S. administration is fully responsible for the consequences of these indiscrete…
US Sanctions Networks Linked to Nuclear Program
On December 12, the U.S. Treasury and State Department targeted 17 companies and individuals for evading international sanctions on Iran or supporting its nuclear program. Four companies and one person allegedly violated oil sanctions. The other twelve companies…
Treasury: Sanctions Relief Limited, Temporary and Reversible
On December 12, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen outlined Iran’s relief package from the Geneva nuclear deal. Tehran committed to roll back its nuclear program and allow increased monitoring “…
GCC Annual Summit: Communique on Iran
On December 11, the Gulf Cooperation Council issued a communique welcoming Tehran’s new efforts to engage with member states. The group -- which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates --…
Iran & South Asia #2: India Readjusts Ties
Sunil Dasgupta What is the status of relations between India and Iran? New Delhi has had relatively close ties to Tehran since the mid-1980s, but India has recalibrated relations over the last few years as Iran became the…