Iran

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – 47 GOP senators sent a letter to Iran on Monday warning that country that any agreement only signed off on by President Obama might not last longer than his last day in office. This intervention of the senate in a foreign policy matter is not, as some observers […]

Constitution

Iran FM Zarif Schools GOP Senators on Int’l Law: This is a UNSC Resolution

contributors

From the web page of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Dr. Zarif’s Response to the Letter of US Senators Asked about the open letter of 47 US Senators to Iranian leaders, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Javad Zarif, responded that “in our view, this letter has no legal value and is mostly a propaganda […]

Education

Bombing Iran: What would Happen if the Hawks got their Way?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Some of those who believe that Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment program is inevitably dual use (that it can be used to produce a nuclear weapon) are alarmed at the prospect of a diplomatic deal between Washington and Tehran that will allow Iran to continue enriching under inspections. After […]

Iran

Some Good News from the Middle East: Obama could end 36-yr U.S.-Iran standoff

contributors

By Chris Toensing | (Foreign Policy in Focus) – There’s not much good news coming out of the Middle East these days. But one reason to take heart is the progress of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West. Even as new conflicts sprout up elsewhere, a three-decade standoff between Tehran and Washington could be […]

Iran

Insulting Netanyahu: How Bibi got Everything Wrong and called you Stupid

contributors

By Farhang Jahanpour | (TFF) After all the huffing and puffing and all the aroused expectations about the speech by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the joint session of US Congress, the speech proved a great disappointment and even an embarrassment. A great deal has already been written about it, and there is […]

Featured

Iraq: 30,000 Sunnis flee as Shiite Militias, Army, approach Tikrit

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) The Iraqi military and allied Shiite militias are mounting a campaign to take the largely Sunni town of Tikrit (original pop. 300,000), which is alleged to have been planned and is being directed by the Jerusalem (Quds) Brigade, the foreign special ops arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps […]

Central Intelligence Agency

Iran and America’s Memory Hole

contributors

By Dr. Arnold J. Oliver | (Informed Comment) Although Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu in his speech to Congress painted Iran as a threat to peace, he left out important details concerning the relationship between Iran and the West. There is considerably more to the story. The uncomfortable fact is that, by any fair measure, Iran […]

Iran

US Gen.: Iran’s Role In Iraq’s Fight Against Islamic State Might be Positive

contributors

By Frud Bezhan | (RFE/RL) The Iraqi government has launched an offensive against Islamic State militants (IS) in the northern city of Tikrit, but Iran appears to be leading the charge. The Islamic republic has officially downplayed its role in the fight against IS in Iraq, saying its involvement was limited to training Iraqi Shi'ite […]

Featured

Iran Reformers – Talks will Succeed: Netanyahu ‘not Influential,’ like Iran Hardliners

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – How did Iranian politicians react to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s anti-Iran speech to the US Congress? Iran’s first woman vice president, who has the Environment portfolio, Masoumeh Ebtekar, is in Paris these days and she spoke with AFP about the Netanyahu address. “I don’t think,” she said, […]