Rentierism and Rivalry Between Riyadh and Tehran

by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj In response to the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the United States has long pursued a strategy of counterbalancing, extending its security umbrella to cover the kingdom and the GCC states. But as promises of security… Continue Reading →

Iran Sanctions Policy Increasingly Throttles Free Trade in Ideas

by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj In 1988, as legislators were creating the legal basis for the modern use of economic sanctions as a tool of American foreign policy, an important amendment was added to two laws, the Trading With the Enemy Act… Continue Reading →

Majority of Business Leaders Blame Trump for Slow Iran Investments

by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj As President Donald Trump threatens to de-certify Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA, the political environment around post-sanctions trade and investment has grown more contentious. Yet, at the same time, after extensive negotiations with leading multinational companies, Iran… Continue Reading →

Only Political Imagination Can Save the Iran Deal

by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj On Monday, Ambassador Nikki Haley gave a speech on Iran and the nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a Washington D.C. think tank. Her speech was remarkable for… Continue Reading →