New Articles
President Rouhani’s New Rights Charter
Hadi Ghaemi On November 26, 2013, President Rouhani’s government published a draft Citizens’ Rights Charter and solicited public reaction. The publication of this draft within the first 100 days of his presidency was widely seen as a major step by his administration to address…
Iran’s Tumultuous Revolution: 35 Years Later
The following article was originally published as Viewpoints No. 52 by the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Shaul Bakhash The Iranian revolution, resulting in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the Islamic Republic…
Khamenei on Revolution’s Achievements
Iran’s supreme leader celebrated the 1979 revolution on his Facebook page, even though the site is banned in the Islamic Republic. The following are images Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s account posted in early February to mark the revolution’s 35th anniversary. Each one heralds what Iran…
Event: Iran's Revolution 35 Years Later
On February 10, the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace convened a panel of experts to discuss Iran’s revolution on its 35th anniversary. The following is a recorded video of the event moderated by Dr. Haleh Esfandiari featuring…
Iran and U.N. Watchdog Agree on Next Steps
On February 8 and 9, the U.N. nuclear watchdog and Iran reached groundbreaking agreement on seven measures to be implemented by May 15, 2014. The measures are based on the interim nuclear deal’s framework brokered in November 2013. For the first time, Iran has agreed to deal with U.N.…
President Rouhani’s Interview Delayed
On February 5, President Hassan Rouhani did a live interview that sparked controversy before it even started. Some Iranian media outlets reported that there had been a disagreement between state television and Rouhani’s office, which preferred different journalists for the interview. The…
Treasury Exempts Sanctions on Technology
On February 7, the U.S. Treasury issued a general license allowing Iranians to purchase computers, cell phones, software, mobile applications and Internet services. “We are committed to promoting the free exchange of information in Iran and to enabling individuals in Iran to communicate…
Treasury Targets Sanctions Evaders
On February 6, the Treasury announced sanctions targeting entities and individuals across Europe and the Middle East for evading U.S. sanctions on Iran. Some allegedly aided Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs or supported terrorism. “The global targets designated today play key roles…
Nasser Hadian: Reasons Iran Wants Peace in Syria
Nasser Hadian Iran has turned the corner on Syria, its longstanding ally in the Arab world. It still wants close ties to a country that is the strategic center of the Arab world. But after three years of war, Tehran is also increasingly concerned that Syria may not hold together if President…
Nasser Hadian: Revolution at 35
Nasser Hadian On the 35th anniversary of its revolution, Iran has found often novel compromises in blending Islam and modernity—politically, economically and socially. The government and most Iranians today share three goals: honoring the great Persian past and retaining an Islamic identity…
State Dept Outlines Terms for Enduring Nuke Deal
On February 4, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on implementing the interim nuclear deal between Iran and the world’s six major powers − Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. The…
Treasury Dept: Sanctions Far from Being Lifted
On February 4, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the limited sanctions relief for Iran included in the interim nuclear deal. The following are excerpts from his statement. …
Kerry and Zarif: Meeting in Munich
On February 2, Secretary of State John Kerry discussed upcoming nuclear negotiations with his Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. After the bilateral meeting, Zarif told conference attendees Tehran realizes it is at a “…
Western Countries Flood Tehran
More than two dozen delegations of lawmakers, officials and businesspeople have visited Iran since the interim nuclear agreement was brokered in November 2013. Many Western countries and South Korea are particularly hopeful that Iran and the world’s six major powers – Britain, China,…
Hillary Clinton on Iran: Give Talks a Chance
Hillary Clinton reportedly wrote a letter opposing new sanctions in response to an inquiry from her former Senate colleague, Carl Levin. Levin had written to Clinton in January, asking for her insight as former Secretary of State, on whether new sanctions would help diplomatic efforts to…
US Intel Assessment
On January 29, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Iran’s nuclear program and regional aspirations. Clapper warned that new sanctions could “undermine prospects of a successful comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran.”…
Iran and Asia 2: Japan Is Torn, Oil Hungry But Anti-Nuke
Garrett Nada
As an oil- hungry island nation, Japan’s position on Iran is fraught with inherent tensions. It has to balance an existential thirst for oil — to fuel industries, cars and homes — against a moral abhorrence of nuclear weapons, especially as the only country devastated by the world’s…
Iran and Asia 1: China Is The Quiet Giant
Yun Sun
China is the quiet giant in the latest diplomatic campaign to prevent Iran from getting a bomb. As Tehran’s largest trading partner, Beijing has enormous political and economic leverage over the Islamic Republic. As a veto-wielding member of the United Nations, its position can also…
Erdogan in Tehran : Iran is Second Home
On January 29, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Iran to strengthen bilateral economic ties and ease tensions over the Syrian crisis. Erdogan made the trip amidst a sweeping corruption probe that has led to the arrest of dozens of businessmen and politicians allegedly…
State of the Union: Obama on Iran
On January 28, President Barack Obama warned Congress that he would veto a new sanctions bill that could jeopardize diplomacy with Iran. In his State of the Union address, Obama attributed the halting of Iran's controversial nuclear program to “American diplomacy, backed by pressure,” …
Thousands Suffer from Chemical Weapons Quarter Century Later
The following article first appeared in Time magazine.Robin Wright Hassan Hassani Sa’di has been dying from chemical weapons for almost 30 years. The Iranian still remembers the moment he realized Iraqi warplanes were dropping more than regular bombs. “I knew,” he says, “…
The Elders in Tehran: To Advance Dialogue
On January 27, the independent group of global leaders called The Elders began a three-day visit to Iran to “encourage and advance the new spirit of openness and dialogue between Iran and the international community.” The delegation, led by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan,…
Polls: Americans Support Nuclear Deal
The majority of Americans support the interim agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, according to two new polls. An AP-GfK survey found that 60 percent of participants approve of the agreement. But 47 percent are not confident that it will lead to a more comprehensive plan to ensure Iran…
Kerry at Davos: Addresses Iran Issues
Secretary of State John Kerry spoke extensively about Iran at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The first excerpt below is from his January 24 address to the gathering. The second excerpt is from a January 23 interview with Al Arabiya. Today, we believe that there are…
Rouhani at Davos: Invites Oil Execs, Speech in Tweets
On January 23, President Hassan Rouhani invited oil companies to invest in Iran in an address to some 30 executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Without international engagement, objectives such as growth, creativity and quality are unattainable,” Rouhani said. “…
Rouhani at Davos: "Nothing Impossible" on US Relations
On January 22, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would respond positively to U.S. actions that help “eradicate animosity” between the two countries. He acknowledged the difficulty in improving U.S.-Iran relations but added that “nothing is impossible” in an interview with Swiss…
Rouhani Tweet Streak on Syria Peace Talks
On January 22, President Hassan Rouhani said that Syria peace conference in Geneva “has already failed before it has started” because of the “lack of influential players in the meeting.” He criticized the gathering for inviting “states which sponsor terrorism and those responsible for…
Iran Disinvited from Syria Peace Talks
On January 20, the United Nations revoked its invitation to Iran to attend the peace talks on Syria. The following are statements by the United Nations, the State Department and Iran. Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on developments related to…
Day 1 of Nuke Deal: US, IAEA, EU Remarks
The nuclear deal between Iran and the world’s six major powers went into effect on January 20. The following are comments by the United States, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, and the European Union. As part of the deal, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced it will double…
Iran to Attend Syria Peace Talks
On January 19, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon announced that Iran had been invited to join the peace talks on Syria. The following is his statement, followed by a comment from the State Department. U.N. Secretary General's Press Stakeout Ladies and Gentlemen, Good…