Stewarding the Deal: Business Diplomacy and Iran’s Private Sector

by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj It’s no secret that business leaders worldwide are eagerly awaiting the announcement of an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program this month. “Apart from Mars and the Moon, Iran is the only remaining opportunity for [our] clients,” declared Sir… Continue Reading

“The Father of Iran’s Nuclear Programme”

by Peter Jenkins Last week the BBC’s “Today” programme carried an interview with Dr. Akbar Etemad, who was in charge of Iran’s fledgling nuclear program between 1974 and 1978 and who has lived outside Iran since the Revolution. Dr. Etemad… Continue Reading

New BBC Poll: Iran Unloved, But Not Isolated

BBC poll data indicates that 25% percent of Egyptian respondents view Iran favorably, nearly the same number as view U.S. influence as positive (26%). Nearly equal numbers of Turkish respondents approve of the influence of the U.S. (35%) and Iran (36%). Half of those polled, in countries long regarded as the staunchest Middle East allies of both the U.S. and of Israel–50% in Egypt, 49% in Turkey– expressed negativity about U.S. influence, with only 32% of Egyptians and 45% of Turks worried about Iran. Continue Reading

More Disingenuous Fear Mongering from Clarion Fund

The group behind a string of Islamophobic documentaries is at it again: With just 48days to go until the release of “Iranium,” the Clarion Fund has kicked into high gear promoting its film about Iran. One bit of the effort… Continue Reading

The Daily Talking Points

News and views on U.S.-Iran relations for November 24, 2010: The Washington Times: Ben Birnbaum reports that a leaked International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, indicates that Iran’s nuclear program “experienced a one-day shutdown last week, indicating… Continue Reading