Conflict: this was the word that came to mind when I thought of the Jewish state. As a frequent consumer of both American and Pakistani media, I have read my fair share about tensions and negotiations with the Palestinians, but I am far from an expert. This past March, I was preparing to travel with … Read more
In 1976, Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis confidently declared that “Greece belongs to the West,” echoing the sentiments of the Greek political elite since the end of the Second World War. The nation is the birthplace of democracy, land of the great thinkers that inspired the founders of Western democracies millennia after their deaths. The West … Read more
From the chants of “Death to America” during the storming of the U.S. embassy in 1979 to the frequent tweets by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei, Iran has maintained a string of public anti-American rhetoric. However, despite this legacy, and the normally contentious nature of Iranian domestic politics, the recently released framework agreement has received significant … Read more
When news of the historic nuclear deal with Iran broke, it came as no surprise that reactions from politicians on the left and the right were varied. Democrats such as Hillary Clinton applauded the news with restraint, while Republicans have expressed mostly disapproval toward the proposed framework. Yet, surprisingly (or perhaps not), one of the … Read more
This past week, Iran and the United States, along with the United Nations Security Council and Germany, announced a preliminary agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program. The plan calls for inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities and a reduction in the number of Iranian centrifuges, reactors, and stockpiles of uranium and plutonium. It should extend the time necessary … Read more
On April 2, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a potentially historic framework nuclear agreement with Iran. The deal was the product of intense negotiations between the United States, the Islamic Republic, and several other global powers. If the terms are confirmed, Iran will place a series of restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for … Read more
For the first time, it looks like a deal will finally happen (or not, depending on whom you ask) between the P5+1 and Iran. Either way, this preliminary announcement marks a historic turning point in negotiations with conservative Islamist countries like Iran. The United States has been tightening its financial straightjacket on Iran since the fall … Read more
“The doctrine is we will engage, but we preserve all our capabilities.” – President Barack Obama. President Obama has maintained that the recent nuclear deal with Iran is indeed a good deal for the United States, and for now, that seems to be the case. The so-called “Obama Doctrine” for U.S.-Iran negotiations will ensure that the … Read more
From the chants of “Death to America” during the storming of the U.S. embassy in 1979 to the frequent tweets by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei, Iran has maintained a string of public anti-American rhetoric. However, despite this legacy, and the normally contentious nature of Iranian domestic politics, the recently released framework agreement has received significant … Read more
Despite receiving a warm welcome last week in Tehran, the announced framework for a nuclear deal between the United States and Iran has an uncertain fate. Although mainstream media coverage has extensively analyzed the implications for Middle Eastern security, less discussed is the pivotal role of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, described as the “single most powerful institution in Iran,” in the deal’s … Read more