Targeting Civilians: the Human Cost of U.S. Economic Sanctions
“22 million people {in Afghanistan} are deeply food insecure. Most pockets in the country are either one or two steps away from famine. One million Afghan children are at risk for death,” said Arash Azizzada of Afghans for a Better Tomorrow. Azizzada was underscoring the dire humanitarian impacts of U.S. sanctions during NIAC’s expert […]
Panel Delves Into Risks of U.S.-Iran Diplomatic Deadlock
“The threat is much more urgent and Iran is much closer to a nuclear weapon from a capability perspective,” said Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association. “We are very close to the point where Iran can make the decision to produce enough fissile material for a weapon and international inspectors may not detect that.” […]
In Vienna, U.S. and Iran Working to Beat the Clock
Thousands of miles away from the spin factories in Washington and Tehran, negotiators are working diligently to seal the deal.
Kristol’s Push for Military Strikes Against Iran
William Kristol and Jamie Fly, neoconservatives who were instrumental in orchestrating the War in Iraq, are at it again. While their previous war advocacy shop, the Project for a New American Century, is now defunct (after a job well done), they have reconstituted their pro-war efforts in the form of the Foreign Policy Institute. This […]
If ECI, AIPAC, and Senate hawks think it’s time to launch a war, they should say so
Yesterday, the Emergency Committee for Israel (ECI) released a new ad (see the J Street response, above) rejecting diplomacy and calling for an immediate “action” with regard to Iran, further adding to the list of pro-war efforts to sabotage diplomacy and limit Obama’s maneuverability at the upcoming Moscow sessions. Although they never directly call for […]
In Iran, It’s Fun To Be A Rebel
If one asks the majority of Iranian youths why they want democracy, their immediate answers are surprisingly not freedom of speech, free elections or even a better economy. “Fun” is what most of them desire the most. Having fun without being told their behavior is un-Islamic or an attempt to topple the regime. Since the […]
Hot Dog Diplomacy, Take 2
Last year, just before July 4th and only a few months after Obama took office with his pledge to engage Iran, the State Department sent a cable to every US Embassy around the world. The message: for the first time in decades, Iranian diplomats could attend fourth of July parties. The idea was met with some […]
Of extended hands and slaps to the face
Now that Congress and the UN Security Council have approved “the toughest Iran sanctions ever written,” the Obama administration has some breathing room to go back to its plan for diplomacy. But did the engagement strategy ever really start? If you remember, Obama’s “extended hand” got pretty well chopped off at the wrist on June […]
UN Sanctions Vote Expected Wednesday
Via Laura Rozen, the United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on a new round of Iran sanctions Wednesday. The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on a new Iran sanctions resolution on Wednesday, two diplomatic sources have told POLITICO. “The goal is Wednesday,” one European diplomat said of the anticipated vote […]
Shifting on 20% enrichment?
Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Permanent Envoy to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh relayed seemingly coordinated messages yesterday, hinting that Iran might consider giving up its 20% enrichment work, which is currently the biggest stumbling block for the fuel swap deal. While reiterating the usual assertion that uranium enrichment is allowed under the NPT, […]
Why Rafsanjani is so important for the Greens
Six months ago in Mashad, Iran, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani delivered a speech to a group of Iranian student activists saying: “If people want us, we will govern; and if they don’t, we will have to go.” This might have seemed like nothing new, but it wasn’t coming from just anyone — it was said by […]
White House Statement on the TRR Nuclear Swap
The White House has released a statement on the nuclear fuel swap agreement Brazil and Turkey just reached with Iran: We acknowledge the efforts that have been made by Turkey and Brazil. The proposal announced in Tehran must now be conveyed clearly and authoritatively to the IAEA before it can be considered by the international […]