New Congressional Sanctions Push Aimed at Killing Iran Diplomacy

by Jamal Abdi The notion that U.S. sanctions on Iran are supposed to act as diplomatic leverage to get a nuclear deal may be dispelled once and for all by a new Congressional action now in the works. The House… Continue Reading

Analysts Respond to Expected US Decision to delist MEK from FTO List

Jim Lobe and I wrote a report yesterday for IPS News about the expected US decision to delist the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (aka MEK, PMOI and NCRI) from its foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) list. Most analysts we interviewed predicted that the removal would only… Continue Reading

U.S. to Take Iran Anti-Regime Group Off Terrorism List

By Jim Lobe and Jasmin Ramsey via IPS News In a move certain to ratchet up already-high tensions with Iran, the administration of President Barack Obama will remove a militant anti-regime group from the State Department’s terrorism list, U.S. officials told… Continue Reading

Iran Diplomacy Runs into Sanctions-Happy U.S. Congress

via IPS News WASHINGTON, Jul 30 2012 (IPS) – Congress’s rush to pass new sanctions against Iran ahead of the August recess comes amidst an intensified drive to pin the Iranian government to deadly acts of international terrorism and amplified moves… Continue Reading

The winners and losers of the U.S.’s latest Iran sanctions

This week saw the furthering of draconian legislation against Iran that may end up benefiting U.S. adversaries more than hurting Iran’s government. On Wednesday the House of Representatives passed the Iran Threat Reductions Act (H.R. 1905) and President Obama is… Continue Reading