Defending the Assad regime has given Tehran multiple options for expanding its influence and projecting power in the region and beyond. The Syrian civil war is transforming regional geopolitics, and one of its most dramatic effects is Iran’s seemingly expanding foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. While it is too early to know… Keep reading →
The missile strikes on targets in Syria showed unprecedented cooperation between Russia and Iran, but they also serve as a wakeup call to Tehran about Moscow’s expanding military profile in the Caspian. On October 7, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its warships had fired twenty-six cruise missiles from the central Caspian Sea at eleven… Keep reading →
Three experts discuss the need to better inform U.S. and European companies about the continued risks of doing business with Iran, including the particulars of how secondary sanctions will be enforced once the nuclear deal is implemented. On September 16, The Washington Institute held a special one-day conference on the ramifications of the Iran nuclear… 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 →
Potential military action against Iran would be much more risky if the regime does in fact acquire the advanced S-300 antiaircraft missiles, but Moscow and Tehran have significant obstacles to overcome before that occurs. One of the early consequences of the nuclear agreement with Iran has been revived negotiations over the sale of Russian S-300… Keep reading →
The major discovery is good news for Egypt but will likely impede Israel’s much-delayed plans to exploit and export its own offshore reserves. In an August 30 press release, Italian energy company Eni announced that it has found a “supergiant” natural gas field off the coast of Egypt. Discovered more than 13,000 feet below the… Keep reading →
Even after the deal is in effect, the United States can sustain or increase tough barriers on Iran’s trade with other countries, but this fact has not been highlighted by the president or his team. On August 19, in a move designed to address concerns by wavering members of Congress, President Barack Obama sent a… Keep reading →
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 →
Cairo and Washington both see the upcoming dialogue as a means of signaling that political disagreements will not torpedo the core relationship anytime soon. On August 2, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Cairo to begin the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue. The high-level exchange reflects both countries’ desire to emphasize shared regional interests over the political… Keep reading →
President Anastasiades will likely use this week’s summit to build momentum toward the development of offshore gas reserves, with Iran and other issues making the agenda well. On July 28, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu will visit Cyprus for discussions concentrating on natural gas, among other key topics such as Iran, counterterrorism, and the Palestinian… Keep reading →
