US International Trade Statistics on Iran Trade Misleading

by Siamak Namazi The United States Treasury has issued a new explanation for the shortage of medical drugs and equipment in Iran. They claim the Iranian government is intentionally trying to exploit the problem for political purposes. A senior US… Continue Reading

Consider the human costs of using the “military option” on Iran’s nuclear facilities

I’ve been meaning to write about this report on the multifold human costs of militarily striking Iran’s nuclear facilities and am happy to find that it’s already been noted by Golnaz Esfandiari as well as Gordon Lubold, among others. (Marsha Cohen’s… Continue Reading

Current Economic Unrest Unlikely to Alter Iran’s Nuclear Calculus

via IPS News As Iran faces economic unrest, discussion is intensifying over the impact sanctions are having on Iran’s economy. But experts doubt that the current situation portends the end of the Iranian regime or Iranian capitulation to Israeli and… Continue Reading

U.S. Public Satisfied With Less Militarised Global Role

via IPS News Disillusioned by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. public is becoming increasingly comfortable with a more modest and less militarised global role for the nation, according to the latest in a biennial series of major surveys. That… Continue Reading

Why Engagement’s Failed So Far; What’s next?

Columbia professor and Iran expert Gary Sick offers a simple reason why U.S. President Barack Obama’s engagement plan with Iran has thus far failed: “It has yet to be tried.” In our IPS piece, Jim Lobe and I quoted much… Continue Reading