New US Demands Complicate Iran Talks

by Eldar Mamedov On June 5-7, a cross-party group of members of the European Parliament visited Iran as a confidence-building measure ahead of the June 30 deadline for a final deal on Iran´s nuclear program. The fact that both sides took this… Continue Reading

Obama in the Middle East: Condominium Or Equilibrium?

by Jim Lobe In the last 48 or so hours, U.S. warplanes began bombing Islamic State (ISIS or IS) targets in and around Tikrit in support of the Iran-backed and Shi’a-led Iraqi government. At the same time, Washington provided unspecified… Continue Reading

Too Clever by Half: Netanyahu Strengthens Obama’s Hand

by Robert E. Hunter When the British say that someone is “too clever by half,” they are not paying a compliment. This week, that expression can be applied to the thrice-and-future prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. He will almost… Continue Reading

Iraq War Motives, Ten Years Later

by Daniel Luban This week, as you’ve probably heard, marks the ten year anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. Most people who have commented on the milestone have agreed that the war was a catastrophic mistake. But why, exactly,… Continue Reading

The Daily Talking Points

News and views on U.S.-Iran relations for March 1-2: The Wall Street Journal: The WSJ’s editorial board catalogs newspaper and blog commentary on “The ‘Israel First’ Myth: Obsessed with the Jewish state, Mideast ‘experts’ got the region all wrong.” The… Continue Reading