Coalition of Foreign Policy Experts Outline 8 Recommendations to Deescalate Tensions with Iran

As foreign-policy practitioners with decades of collective experience in national security and diplomacy, we write to warn that U.S.-Iran tensions have entered a dangerous new phase that has put us on the brink of a disastrous and avoidable war. The administration’s decision to violate the Iran nuclear agreement in pursuit of a so-called maximum pressure strategy is damaging the accord and U.S. interests in ways that could be difficult to reverse. There remains a narrow path for the U.S. and Iran to avoid military conflict and resolve ongoing disputes through negotiations. Doing so, however, will require bold action and constructive steps from all sides, as outlined below.

Iranian Officials Deny Losing Drone

In this week’s Iran Unfiltered, Sina Toossi covers Iranian officials denying the loss of a drone, a political prisoner’s letter on prison conditions, and more!

NIAC Statement on Iran Surpassing Enriched Uranium Stockpile Limit

In response to reports that Iran has surpassed the enriched uranium stockpile limit set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal, Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, released the following statement: “The consequences of President Trump’s abandonment of the Iran nuclear deal continue to mount. Less than two weeks after the “maximum pressure” campaign nearly brought the U.S. into war, Iran has now exceeded nuclear stockpile limits that had been in place before Trump took office. President Trump inherited a successful nuclear deal and, with the goading of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton, shredded that agreement with no serious endgame in place besides war.

NIAC Statement on Trump’s Imposition of New Iran Sanctions

WASHINGTON DC – Moments ago President Donald Trump signed off on an executive order imposing a new wave of sanctions on Iran following increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran last week. The sanctions target Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei and senior commanders from the Revolutionary Guard’s Navy, Aerospace, and Ground Forces, and aim to block Iran top leadership’s from accessing the international financial system. 

Japanese PM Travels to Tehran Amid Tanker Sabotage

In this week’s Iran Unfiltered, Sina Toossi covers the meeting between President Rouhani and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Zarif’s reaction to the oil tanker incident in the Gulf of Oman, and more.