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World Powers Seek Early Results from Nuke Talks
On March 5, the six world powers called for “tangible” and early results from their negotiations with Iran. The United States, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom had a joint statement read to the U.N. nuclear watchdog board of governors. The world powers…
Three Already Running for President
Garrett Nada Three individuals have already declared their candidacy for president. On March 4, the Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council, Mohsen Rezaei, added his name to the list of candidates. Elections are scheduled for mid-June. Candidates must be vetted by the Guardian Council, an…
Kerry: Nuke talks cannot go on forever
On March 4, Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal warned that the window for diplomacy cannot remain open indefinitely for Iran. Talks on the controversial nuclear program “cannot become an instrument for delay that in the end make the situation…
Iran and Syria Condemn U.S. Aid to Rebels
On March 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Syrian counterpart, Walid Mouallem, condemned the recent U.S. move to provide non-lethal aid to rebels for the first time. “Double standards were being applied by certain countries that serve to prolong and deepen the Syrian…
Former Officials Debate Iran-U.S. Relations
On February 23, former senior officials debated prospects for a real deal on the nuclear issue at the 2013 Camden Conference. Seyed Hossein Mousavian opened with remarks on Iran-U.S. relations. He served as spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the European Union from 2003…
Iran’s Statement after Nuke Talks
On February 27, Iran's mission to the United Nations issued the following statement on the Almaty talks. In the name of God, In Moscow, the Islamic Republic of Iran presented a comprehensive proposal for the talks. The proposal included five pillars for cooperation and…
Iran Talks: Is New Momentum Enough?
Patrick Clawson Diplomats from Iran and the world’s six major powers met in Almaty, Kazakhstan on February 26. What did the talks produce? The talks between Iran and the world’s six major powers — the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, also known as P5…
Iran TV Interviews Ben Affleck about Argo
Garrett Nada Iran’s official media dismissed the film “Argo” as “an advertisement for the CIA” and its Oscar win as politically motivated. “The film is against Iran” and “lacks artistic value,” Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini said on February 25,…
Khamenei Comments: U.S.-Iran Talks Won’t Solve Any Problems
In two major speeches in February, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei focused on the nuclear program, Iran-U.S. relations and domestic infighting. In a speech on February 7, Khamenei rejected U.S. overtures for direct talks on the nuclear issue. He also criticized the…
Khazaee Welcomes U.S. Calls for Direct Talks
On February 20, Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee welcomed recent U.S. calls for direct talks in remarks to the Asia Society. He claimed that the Obama administration has taken measures against Iran that could be considered “tantamount to war.” But negotiations are “not a red line for Iran,…
Report: Arabs Divided on Iran
Arabs hold complex and sometimes conflicting views of Iran, according to a new report by the United States Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars. Attitudes toward Iran in countries with large Shiite populations such as Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain tend…
Iran Expects New Offer at Upcoming Talks
Iranian officials expect the world’s six powers to make a new offer at the fourth round of nuclear talks scheduled for February 26. Iran will negotiate with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States—the so-called P5+1— in Almaty, Kazakhstan. “We will just be…
U.N. Report: Iran Upgrading Nuclear Capabilities
Iran has begun installing new centrifuges for enriching uranium at the Natanz nuclear facility, according to a new report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Tehran had informed the United Nations in January 2013 that it would install the advanced models, which can enrich uranium two or three…
Nukes, Negotiations and “Argo”
John Limbert What is the lesson of “Argo” when it comes to dealing with Iran? The historical thriller has swept the awards season. “Argo” probably has a better chance of winning an Oscar on February 24 than the negotiators have of breaking their long deadlock. The film’s real…
Report: Iran Nuke May Not Trigger Arms Race
Saudi Arabia would probably not rush to acquire a nuclear weapon if Iran builds one, according to a new report by the Center for a New American Security. It is widely assumed that Riyadh would rush to develop its own bomb or acquire weapons from Pakistan. But the report argues that “…
U.S. Poll: 83 Percent See Iran as Top Threat
About 83 percent of Americans ranked Iranian and North Korean nuclear ambitions as the greatest threats to U.S. interests, according to a new poll by Gallup. The development of nuclear weapons by the two nations tied for the top spot on a list of nine potential threats. …
Khamenei: Iran Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons
On February 16, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed Iran has no intention to build nuclear weapons. But he warned that if Tehran decided to build them, the United States could not stop it. The Supreme Leader called Washington hypocritical on nuclear proliferation,…
Democrats Propose Posting U.S. Diplomat in Iran
On February 15, Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced legislation that would reestablish a new diplomatic envoy to Iran. The high level envoy would be responsible for pursuing direct, sustained, bilateral and multilateral negotiations with Tehran to prevent it from…
U.S. Condemns Imprisonment of Opposition
On February 14, the United States condemned Iran's continued imprisonment of former presidential candidates and opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and his wife, women’s rights activist Zahra Rahnavard. They have been under house arrest for two years without being…
Iran Responds to U.N. on Nuclear Program
Tehran is serious about upcoming talks with the six world powers, and expects them to be forthcoming, according to a statement from the Iranian Mission to the United Nations. Iran is scheduled to discuss its controversial nuclear program with China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and…
Obama: Time for a Diplomatic Solution
On February 12, President Obama said Iran’s leaders “must recognize that now is the time for a diplomatic solution” to the nuclear issue, during his State of the Union address. He warned that the United States will do “what is necessary” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.…
Khamenei: U.S. Policies Have Failed in Mideast
On February 7, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that U.S. Middle East policies have failed. He condemned the U.S. response to the Arab uprisings in a speech to Iranian Air Force commanders and personnel. “You suppress the nations who have risen in revolt as much as you can,…
U.S. Sanctions Chinese Firms for Proliferation
On February 11, the U.S. State Department imposed new nonproliferation sanctions on entities and individuals from Belarus, China, Iran, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela. Credible information indicated that they had transferred to, or acquired from, Iran, North Korea, or Syria, equipment and…
Iran Reacts to Obama’s New Team
Tehran has sent mixed messages on President Obama’s secretary of state nominee John Kerry and defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel. Two Foreign Ministry officials said they hoped Kerry and Hagel would revise U.S. foreign policy towards Iran. But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei…
Iran’s Successes and Failures - 34 Years Later
Daniel Brumberg
On February 11, Iran will mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. What are Iran’s successes?
The Islamic Republic is now a regional power, thanks to three decades of social, economic, diplomatic, and military advancements. But not all of these…
New Human Rights Watch Report on Iran
In 2012, Iran put opposition leaders under house arrest, harassed and arrested civil society activists, and prevented opposition candidates from running for parliament, according to the new World Report by Human Rights Watch. The following are excerpts from the Iran chapter with a link…
Nuclear Issue: Why is Iran Negotiating?
The Islamic Republic is under increasing domestic and international pressure to be more flexible on its nuclear program, according to according to a new report by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Iran is scheduled to meet with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia…
Gallup: Most Iranians Support Nuclear Program Despite Sanctions
Nearly half of Iranians said international sanctions have hurt their personal livelihoods a great deal, according to a new Gallup survey. Another 35 percent said sanctions have somewhat affected their livelihoods. Despite the impact of sanctions, 63 percent of surveyed Iranians said…
Supreme Leader Rejects U.S. Overture
On February 7, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected an offer by Vice President Joe Biden for direct talks. “Some naïve people like the idea of negotiating with America. However, negotiations will not solve the problem,” he said in a speech to Iranian Air Force commanders…
Treasury Sanctions Oil Revenues and Targets Human Rights Abusers
On February 6, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran and other financial institutions to restrict Tehran’s ability to spend oil revenues. The Treasury Department also designated one individual and four entities for involvement in censorship…