iran primer's Blog

UN Angle on Nuclear Deal

One of the major questions emerging about a nuclear deal with Iran is what role the United Nations might play in endorsing or codifying it in a Security Council Resolution. U.S. officials have suggested that the deal would not exactly be legally binding, referencing the 2013 U.S.-Russian framework…

Obama Renews State of Emergency with Iran

The following is the full text of the White House press release and President Obama’s letter to Congress on the renewal of the national emergency with respect to Iran.   CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO IRAN   On March 15, 1995, by Executive Order 12957, the President…

Photos: Soleimani in Battle for Tikrit

Iran has made no effort to hide its role in the battle against the Islamic State in Iraq, most recently in Tikrit. General Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s elite Qods Force, has been directing and advising a combination of the Iraqi military and Shiite militias.…

GOP Letter and Responses

The following series details the GOP letter to Iran’s leadership on a nuclear deal and responses from Iran, the White House and Democrats. Part I - GOP Letter on IranPart II - Iran Responds to GOP Letter Part III - White House & Democrats Respond to GOP Letter Part IV - Media Roundup on …

Yazdi Elected Assembly of Experts Chairman

On March 10, hardliner Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi (left) was elected chairman of the Assembly of Experts, Iran’s only constitutional body with the authority to appoint and dismiss the supreme leader. Yazdi won 47 out of 73 votes, defeating the more centrist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Former President…

Part I: GOP Letter on Iran

On March 9, a group of 47 Republican senators warned Iran's leaders that a nuclear deal signed during President Barack Obama’s tenure could be revoked by the next president or modified by a future Congress. “We will consider any agreement regarding your nuclear-weapons program that is not approved…

Part II: Iran Responds to GOP Letter

The following are responses by Iranian officials on the GOP letter to Iran’s leadership. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiThe letter is "the collapse of political ethics and the U.S. system's internal disintegration." "American senators officially announced the commitment will be null and void…

Part III: White House and Democrats Respond to GOP Letter

The following are responses by President Obama, administration officials and Democrats on the GOP letter to Iran’s leadership. President Barack Obama   “I’m embarrassed for them. For them to address a letter to the ayatollah... who they claim is our mortal enemy, and their basic…

Part IV: Media Roundup on GOP Letter

The following is a snapshot of editorials from U.S. newspapers and media outlets on the GOP letter to Iran’s leaders.   The Washington Post   “Republicans fumble their chance to focus attention on an Iran deal”   Congressional Republicans are trying to obstruct President Obama from…

Nuke Talks: Latest from Iran, P5+1

On March 2, deputy foreign ministers from Iran and the world’s six major powers – Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States – resumed negotiations over Iran’s controversial nuclear program in Montreux, Switzerland. Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held…