The “Maximum Pressure” Policy is the Illegitimate Child of Diplomacy

by Bahman Fozouni The September 14 strikes against Saudi Arabia’s Khurais oilfield and Abqaiq processing facility, which the U.S. government quickly pinned on Iran, as well as President Trump’s decision to substantially increase sanctions against Iran in response, are sobering… Continue Reading

New Trump Iran Designation Threatens Humanitarian Goods

by Tyler Cullis In July 2019, Brian Hook—the U.S. Special Representative on Iran—released a video addressing the purported “myth” that the U.S. sanctions humanitarian trade with Iran. That wasn’t a “myth” at the time, as the U.S. had historically circumscribed… Continue Reading

The Indispensable Mediator: Europe’s Role in the U.S.-Iran Dispute

by Ellie Geranmayeh Tensions between Iran and the United States have risen to a dangerous new level. Recent attacks on Saudi Arabia – which the US blames on Tehran – severely disrupted global oil supplies, prompting President Donald Trump to consider… Continue Reading

The U.S. Dilemma in the Middle East Isn’t Really a Dilemma

by Lawrence Wilkerson The Persian Gulf and its entryway, the Strait of Hormuz, have been a cockpit of U.S. strategic interest since President Jimmy Carter declared, in his January 1980 State of the Union address, that “An attempt by any… Continue Reading

The Persian Gulf Crisis: Beyond the Carter Doctrine

by Robert E. Hunter On January 23, 1980, President Jimmy Carter stood before the U.S. Congress and presented his annual State of the Union message. Its core analysis: The region which is now threatened by Soviet troops in Afghanistan is… Continue Reading