As part of its renewed effort to export the Islamic Revolution through armed proxies, Tehran has been recruiting and training Afghan and Pakistani fighters for Syria’s battlefields, thereby giving them invaluable experience for potential future campaigns in other regional countries. Iran has a long history of building up militant ethnic groups across the Middle East… Keep reading →
Washington will be pleased to see Riyadh bolstering another key regional ally, but the potential development of Jordan’s nuclear sector could cause headaches, and the political costs for Amman remain unclear. In early April, Saudi Arabia agreed to provide Egypt with a financial aid package reportedly worth $22 billion. Less publicized, but perhaps equally significant,… Keep reading →
A new Israeli diplomatic office in the UAE is a rare public indication of a broader trend. Last week, the United Arab Emirates gave Israel formal permission to establish a diplomatic office in Abu Dhabi under the auspices of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a multilateral body with 144 member states. Although officials from… Keep reading →
Following their latest visit to Egypt, the former congressman and White House counsel who constitute an Institute task force shared their views on the country’s leadership, economy, and prospects for better ties with Washington. On November 5, 2015, Vin Weber and Gregory B. Craig addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute covering their recent… Keep reading →
Before the nuclear deal was signed, the freezing of Iranian assets was incomplete, so the loosening of restrictions on these assets will have less impact than implied by past and current arguments. The Obama administration has long overstated the extent to which economic sanctions froze Iranian assets and the impact these actions had on the… Keep reading →
“The announcement between the P5+1 and Iran is a historic accomplishment. Building on the Lausanne framework, it will ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is – and will remain – a peaceful one, or that the international community will have more than enough time to respond if Iran’s program proves otherwise. This deal will extend the… Keep reading →
President Rouhani speaks of conciliation with the United States, but the differing bilateral descriptions of the parameters have some Iranians worried that a deal is by no means certain. Debate is raging inside Iran about the meaning of what happened in Lausanne last week. Two of the biggest questions center on why the U.S. and… Keep reading →
Last week, Secretary Moniz released the following statement regarding the P5+1 nuclear negotiations: “The key parameters established lay the groundwork for achieving the P5+1’s objective of blocking Iran’s four pathways to nuclear weapons: the two uranium pathways through Iran’s Natanz and Fordow enrichment facilities, the plutonium pathway at the Arak reactor, and the covert pathway.… Keep reading →
A tough UNSC resolution could help boost the long-term viability and strength of a nuclear agreement, but only if said resolution avoids some of the errors seemingly present in the current negotiations with Iran. For the United States and its partners to carry out the provisions of any nuclear agreement with Iran, the UN Security… Keep reading →
The down surge in U.S. gasoline prices following the fall in global oil prices may finally be abating, according to Lundberg Survey Inc. “Prices are $1.2422 lower than a year ago, according to the survey, which is based on information obtained at about 2,500 filling stations during the two weeks ended Jan. 23 by the… Keep reading →
