Hill Update on Iran Policy

by Lara Friedman It is now clear (and it was indeed predictable/predicted) that 2016 will see a continued and even redoubled campaign of pressure on Iran from Congress. For some members of Congress, this campaign will genuinely be about legitimate… Continue Reading

Cardin Finally Introduces Still-Weaker Iran Oversight Bill

by Jim Lobe After a couple of weeks of negotiations with fellow Democrats and (indirectly) with the White House, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) has finally introduced the latest version of his “Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015.” It is co-sponsored… Continue Reading

Now Comes the Hard Part on Iran

by Diana Ohlbaum The painful spectacle of congressional disapproval of the Iran nuclear deal, followed by a presidential veto and an override vote, has been averted. It’s a big win for the White House, whose skillful political work—aided by a… Continue Reading

The Odd American View of Negotiation

by Paul R. Pillar One of the unfortunate corollaries of American exceptionalism is a warped and highly asymmetric conception of negotiation. This conception can become a major impediment to the effective exercise of U.S. diplomacy. Although the attitudes that are… Continue Reading