Now that the nuclear deal is off, Iran’s next steps will be shaped at least in part by the technical capabilities of its enrichment program and related efforts. Amid President Trump’s announced withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran has threatened to expand its nuclear program beyond the restraints mandated in that agreement.… Keep reading →
A former U.S. Army commander and a distinguished diplomat discuss how the nuclear deal could compromise longstanding U.S. interests in the Middle East if Washington does not do a better job of countering Iran’s destabilizing ambitions. DAVID PETRAEUS Although it is far too soon to assess the nuclear deal’s impact on the Middle East, it… Keep reading →
We are half way through a busy September, and Congress will focus much of the rest of the month on a continuing resolution.
If the Supreme Leader is able to continue his strategy of purposeful ambiguity by manipulating the media and parliament, the current deal could fall apart just as easily as past nuclear agreements. In a televised speech delivered August 17, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commented on the P5+1 nuclear agreement in skeptical terms, noting that the decision… Keep reading →
The UN atomic energy agency has received documents from Iran on its proposed nuclear programme initiating the country’s anticipated international clearance. [UN News Center] The recent Gold King accident has heightened a debate here over the future of the Mountain Region’s old mines, amid the risk of toxic demise that could occur at any of… Keep reading →
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has announced her plans to install more than half a billion solar panels across the U.S. by the end of her first term if elected, outlining an expansive clean energy strategy. [CBS] Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has defended the Iran nuclear deal, stating that 24-day waiting periods for international inspectors would… Keep reading →
China views Iran as a central element in its much-touted Silk Road Economic Belt, which aims to extend Beijing’s influence overland through Central Asia to the Persian Gulf and Europe. Although China has long been Iran’s largest oil customer, international sanctions recently relegated the Islamic Republic from third to sixth place among Beijing’s suppliers —… Keep reading →
Given Tehran and Hezbollah’s long history of targeting Saudi interests, their recent implicit threats to the kingdom should be taken seriously. On April 27, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, lashed out at Saudi Arabia and its recent military intervention in Yemen, accusing the “treacherous Saudis” of… Keep reading →
As Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s proactive approach to regional affairs becomes clearer, the novice defense minister could lead the kingdom to overreach in Yemen. Earlier today, Saudi Arabia announced that it has ended its airstrikes in Yemen because the heavy weapons and ballistic missiles threatening the kingdom have been destroyed. The fighting had appeared to… Keep reading →
