Iran Sanctions Herald Energy Trouble for Caucasus Nations

by David O’Byrne The resumption of wide-ranging American sanctions on Iran promises economic uncertainty for the Islamic Republic’s neighbors in the Caucasus: Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Washington’s goal of reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero will not directly impact any… Continue Reading

What Do the Midterms Mean for U.S. Mideast Policy?

by Mitchell Plitnick There are still a few races to be decided, but the overall results of the 2018 midterms are clear. The hoped-for “blue wave” turned out to be a blue trickle, but Donald Trump’s era of completely unfettered… Continue Reading

Europe’s Iran Dilemma

by Julien Barnes-Dacey & Ellie Geranmayeh Earlier this week, Denmark’s foreign ministry accused Iran of planning an assassination on Danish soil. According to Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, the plot targeted the leader of Iranian separatist group the Arab Struggle Movement… Continue Reading

Khashoggi Affair: Will US Now Put Its Interests First in Middle East?

by Robert E. Hunter Yesterday, President Donald Trump snapped back all sanctions on Iran that were removed as the U.S. part of the bargain under the July 2015 nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA). That agreement… Continue Reading

Helping Iranians to Lead Normal Lives

by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj “The Iranians have to suffer.” This is the message U.S. officials have relayed to their European counterparts as negotiations stall over Iran sanctions. Despite all the assurances that U.S. sanctions do not target the Iranian people, despite… Continue Reading