US Foreign Policy

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

Iran

180 Frmr Israeli Security Officials to PM Netanyahu: Cancel US Speech, which pushes Iran toward Bomb

contributors

RT | – More than 180 former leaders from Israel’s security apparatus urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his planned speech to Congress on Tuesday, fearing it may bring Iran closer to developing a nuclear weapon and damage US-Israeli relations. The group of senior commanders from the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, and the Israeli […]

Iran

Iranian Cleric Says ‘Final Steps’ Being Taken In Nuclear Talks

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari | (RFE/RL) Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers leader says the “final steps” are being taken in Iran’s talks with six global powers aimed at reaching an agreement curbing Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. Speaking to worshippers in the Iranian capital, Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi praised President Hassan Rohani for his management of the talks. Friday […]

Barack Obama

Frmr Israeli Intel Head: Netanyahu’s Clash w/ Obama ‘Intolerable’, Risks end of US UN Veto

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Meir Dagan, the former head of Israeli intelligence, has long been on the outs with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Now he is actively campaigning for the Israeli electorate to dump him as prime minister in the upcoming elections. Soon after leaving office four years ago, he broke longstanding […]

Iran

Iran Nuclear Talks: They said it Couldn’t be Done

contributors

By Carlyn Meyer | (Informed Comment) – According to sources familiar with negotiations between the international P5+1 group and Iran, the Obama Administration is optimistic that a deal can be reached over Iran’s nuclear program. A recent article in Al-Monitor reports that the chances of a successful deal have increased considerably in the past week […]

Barack Obama

When you’ve Lost Bernie Sanders: How Netanyahu destroyed the Israel Lobby

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Senator Bernie Sanders, the most consistent and prominent progressive in the US Senate, has decided to skip the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to Congress on March 3, which was orchestrated by Israel’s ambassador to the US Ron Dermer and Speaker of the House John Boehner […]

Featured

Iran’s Khamenei throws support to a Practical Nuclear Deal with West

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s clerical leader, gave a speech on Sunday in which he said he supports an agreement with the West on Iran’s nuclear enrichment program that is practical and can be achieved, but added, “I will not accept a bad deal.” The speech is being seen […]