Garrett Nada's Blog
Soleimani Anniversary in the Middle East
January 5, 2022
The U.S. assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Qods Force, was commemorated across the Middle East on the second anniversary of his death. Soleimani was widely considered the mastermind behind Iranian interventions in the region and support for militant proxies.
Under his…
Soleimani Anniversary in Iran
January 4, 2022
On January 3, Iran marked the second anniversary of the U.S. assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite Qods Force, with official speeches, commemorative rallies, major media coverage, and inflammatory threats. Soleimani, who was considered a military hero for…
IRGC Tests Ballistic Missiles, Drones in War Game
December 28, 2021
Iran tested a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic missiles, drones and tanks, during a war game between December 20 and 24. The Great Prophet 17 exercise was held along the Persian Gulf coast in the southern provinces of Bushehr, Hormozgan and Khuzestan.
Ballistic missiles on mobile…
Iran in 2021: Politics and Foreign Policy
December 15, 2021
For Iran, 2021 was a year of major transitions in both politics and foreign policy. President Hassan Rouhani, a centrist, finished his second term with much of his agenda unfulfilled and the future of his signature policy project, the 2015 nuclear deal, in doubt. Ebrahim Raisi’s victory in the June…
News Digest: Week of December 13
December 15, 2021
December 13
Regional: Iran condemned Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s landmark visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh warned that such moves would strengthen Israel’s “destructive and seditious presence” in the Middle East. Bennett met with…
Polls: American Views on Iran, Nuclear Deal
December 1, 2021
Three public opinion polls probed American attitudes on Iran – both as a threat and in diplomatic efforts.
• The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute found that 46 percent of Americans want the Biden administration to be “more aggressive” toward Iran.
• The Chicago Council on…
The Elders Call for Compromises in JCPOA Talks
November 24, 2021
On November 24, the independent group of global leaders called The Elders urged Iran and the world’s six major powers to “show courageous leadership and a willingness to compromise” in talks on restoring the 2015 nuclear deal. The following is the full text of the press release.
The Elders call…
Profiles: Iran’s New Nuclear Team
November 22, 2021
The Raisi government’s two top officials on nuclear issues reflected Iran’s increasingly assertive stance on both diplomacy with the outworld and developing capabilities at home. Both are known as hardliners. Both have been deeply critical of the United States.
Ebrahim Raisi and Mohammad…
Iran: 42 Years After U.S. Embassy Takeover
November 4, 2021
Demonstrators burn an American flag in TehranOn November 4, thousands of Iranians chanted “Death to America” outside the former U.S. embassy in Tehran on the anniversary of the embassy’s seizure in 1979. Iran held more than 800 rallies where demonstrators burned American and Israeli flags.…
U.S. Blames Iran for Strike on Base in Syria
October 26, 2021
On October 20, the U.S. base at al Tanf in southern Syria was hit by drones and rockets in a “deliberate and coordinated attack,” Central Command said. Iran appeared to be responsible for the attack, which included up to five drones carrying explosives, U.S. officials told the Associated Press. The…