Iran Has No Good Options in Responding to American Pressures

by Shireen T. Hunter     With the failure of the latest mediation efforts between Iran and the United States by the prime minister of Japan, followed by attacks on two tankers in the Gulf  of Oman, Iran has decided to… Continue Reading

MEK Impunity Undermining America’s Democracy

by Massoud Khodabandeh Even before its inception, the Trump administration was accused of foreign interference and repeated counter allegations that such charges are fake news. Now, even as House Democrats are squeezing whatever advantage they can from the Mueller investigation… Continue Reading

As U.S. Weighs War, Iraqis Prepare a Carnival for Peace

by Laura Gottesdiener There’s a dark joke going around Baghdad these days. Noof Assi, a 30-year-old Iraqi peace activist and humanitarian worker, told it to me by phone. Our conversation takes place in late May just after the Trump administration… Continue Reading

The Maximum Pressure Campaign Presses Toward War

by Paul R. Pillar The statement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the latest incident involving tankers in the Gulf of Oman is questionable on multiple counts, beginning with his immediate, semi-automatic attribution of responsibility to Iran. The origin… Continue Reading

Can Mediation Efforts Between US and Iran Succeed?

by Shireen T. Hunter     Tehran these days has been witnessing a lot of diplomatic visitors. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas just ended a visit to Iran and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo  Abe will be in Tehran in mid-June. The… Continue Reading