Middle East Roundup: U.S. and Iran Remain at Impasse & Iran Further Reduces Compliance in JCPOA
This week, a key figure in Iran’s security establishment signaled a potential change in the country’s nuclear calculations. Also, Iran further reduced its compliance in the nuclear deal and has detained another U.S. dual national. For a breakdown and analysis of these events, please see below:
Middle East Roundup: Back and Forth on JCPOA & Halting Yemen Operations
This week, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif set out a potential path for a JCPOA return. Also, President Biden plans to halt U.S. support for “offensive operations” in Yemen. Please see a our breakdown below:
Memo: Getting Back into the JCPOA – Dismantling the “Sanctions Wall” Myth
Washington, D.C. – A mutual compliance-for-compliance return to the JCPOA is now the official position of the new Biden administration and has slowly become the consensus position among its allies in Congress. However, proponents of the Trump administration’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign hope that a barrier stands in the way of a clean return to the deal: a “sanctions wall” that the architects of Trump’s Iran policy created explicitly to stymie a JCPOA return. But on closer examination, their efforts created less a “wall,” but more a transparent edifice built on political calculations.
NIAC Applauds Appointment of Rob Malley as Iran Envoy
Washington, D.C. – Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s appointment of Rob Malley as Special Envoy to Iran:
FAQ: Why the U.S. Must Return to the Deal
If the last four years have been a case for anything, it is how not to conduct U.S. policy towards Iran. Since the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal:
NIAC Applauds Biden for Plan to Review Impact of U.S. Sanctions on International COVID Response
Washington D.C. – Ryan Costello, Policy Director with the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s announcement of a review to ensure that existing U.S. sanctions do not unduly hinder responses to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Middle East Roundup: New Administration Officials and Cabinet Nominees Comment on Iran
This week, Iran and the new U.S. administration sent indirect messages to each other on the JCPOA. Also, President Biden’s cabinet nominees were asked about Iran. Please see our breakdown and analysis below:
Pompeo’s Suspect Claims on Iran & Khamenei Greenlights JCPOA Return
This week, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo accused Iran of helping Al-Qaeda set up a “home base” inside Iran with no evidence to substantiate the claim. Also, Iran’s Supreme Leader seemed to green light a JCPOA return. Please see a breakdown and analysis of events below:
NIAC Condemns Khamenei’s Ban on “English and American” COVID Vaccines
“Over 50,000 Iranians have died from COVID-19 according to official figures, and reliable sources say the real figure could be twice or three times as high. Iranians desperately need access to vaccines from as many safe sources as possible. Yet, last week, Ayatollah Khamenei outrageously banned ‘English and American’ vaccines, which could prove fatal to many Iranians.”
50+ Foreign Policy and National Security Experts Call on Biden to Return to Iran Deal
As experts on Iran, international relations and nonproliferation, we write to fully support the incoming Biden administration in its commitment to make a clean break from the Trump Administration’s failed Iran policy and maximum pressure campaign and return the U.S. to the diplomatic path and full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal.
نامه کارشناسان به جو بایدن در مورد بازگشت به توافق هسته‌ای
ما کارشناسان مسائل ایران، روابط بین‌الملل و منع اشاعه سلاح‌های اتمی، بدین وسیله حمایت کامل خود را از تعهد دولت آقای بایدن به کنار گذاشتن سیاست شکست‌خورده دولت ترامپ در قبال ایران و کارزار فشار حداکثری علیه این کشور، و بازگرداندن امریکا به مسیر دیپلماسی و پایبندی کامل به برنامه جامع اقدام مشترک (برجام) یا همان توافق هسته‌ای با ایران اعلام می‌داریم
Middle East Roundup: Iran Enriching Uranium at 20% & Military Buildup in Persian Gulf
This week, Iran restarted enriching uranium at the 20% level after a bill passed by parliament, which forced the move, was finally implemented. Also, a military build up from the U.S. in the Persian Gulf coincided with the one year anniversary of the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Please see our breakdown and analysis of events below: