The Biden administration has announced a fresh round of Iran-related sanctions amid continuing diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.
The new measures, revealed on Wednesday, target “an international network of individuals and entities” that the Department of the Treasury said facilitated the sale of US-sanctioned Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products to East Asia.
The sanctions come days after American and Iranian diplomats held a round of indirect talks in Qatar to try to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the multilateral agreement that saw Iran scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions against its economy.
(Aljazeera)
AIC’s President Dr. Amirahmadi presents his perspective on creating peace in the Middle East.
After a long break, Iran Chat is back and we felt this year’s series should begin with a deep dive into the current state of US-Iran relations, focusing on the very real and growing possibility of war with Iran.
To help sort through all the recent news and issues concerning US-Iran relations, we spoke with journalist Jim Lobe. He served as chief of the Washington DC bureau of Inter Press Service from 1980 to 1985 and again from 1989 to 2016. Currently he is an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies where he directs LobeLog, an award-winning web blog focused on foreign policy, featuring posts by expert contributors on a variety of global issues, with an emphasis on US policy towards the Middle East.
Recently, he co-wrote an article for Lobelog entitled War Against Iran Becoming Ever More Likely. We discuss his rationale for this assessment during our conversation.
Listen here or on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/americaniranians-podcast/id1152417924
By Samuel Howell, AIC Research Associate
In 2022, the death of Jina (Mahsa) Amini in Tehran created a chain reaction of social unrest that culminated in months of widespread protests in Iran. These protests championed a number of causes, including improved economic conditions, the removal of certain government leaders, and, above all, equality and justice for women. Results of these demands have been mixed: while they have inspired many women to act in solidarity and refuse to obey the laws that control their personal lives, no official government policies have changed.
With this in mind, it is a good time now to reflect, not just on the most recent protests that made news in the West, but on a much broader history of the fight for women’s rights in Iran, neighboring Iraq, and the regions of Kurdish territory within their borders. While these places have been at odds with each other for much of recent history, the story of their efforts regarding women’s rights share similar foundations and headwinds within the broader struggle for social change. This article will focus on recent women's rights developments within Iran, Iraq, and Kurdistan, what their struggles mean for the progress of the region, and the international implications of these events.
By AIC Research Associate Nika Mobed
MYTH: Iran is an ostracized nation whose economy and diplomatic relations have little direct impact on the lives of people living in the United States.
FACT: Strained relations with Iran do impact the lives of everyday Americans by virtue of lost business opportunities, increased oil prices, and diminished economic and geopolitical power. Increased engagement with Iran could unlock a surprisingly wide range of economic opportunities for people in the West.
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As President Donald Trump is poised to take office for a second time, many are predicting a difficult and turbulent future for US-Iran relations. While it is true that Trump's rhetoric has been confrontational at times, we believe this moment presents a unique opportunity to improve relations between the two nations.
1. Trump’s Deal-Making Approach
At his core, President Trump is a dealmaker. His approach to foreign policy has been driven by the desire to secure favorable agreements, often by challenging the status quo and pushing for new terms that benefit the United States. This pragmatism, which focuses on the bottom line, could open the door for a redefined relationship with Iran. In the past, negotiations with Iran have often been bogged down by entrenched positions. Trump's business-oriented mindset could provide the flexibility needed to craft new deals that address mutual interests—whether they be in trade, security, or regional stability.