RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, November 04, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Three decades after Iran seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, igniting a 14-month hostage crisis, Suzanne Maloney examines the current state of power in the Islamic Republic. Maloney says that the recent demonstrations in Iran are an extension of the country's unanswered conversation of legitimate ruling authority, and that responses by hard-liners indicate a belief that any reform would beget revolution. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kenneth M. Pollack, October 02, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Kenneth Pollack says recent discussions between the P5-plus-one and Iran were not earth-shaking, with several questions remaining unanswered in the aftermath. However, Pollack does find it interesting that the Iranians demonstrated some willingness to compromise on small interests and there was no attempt to grandstand at the meeting. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, October 01, 2009, PBS' NewsHour
Iran has agreed to a second round of discussions over its disputed nuclear program following a meeting in Geneva with diplomats from the United States and other world powers. Suzanne Maloney joined PBS' NewsHour to discuss how this week's talks were a positive step and what to expect from future engagement between the United States and Iran. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Djavad Salehi-Isfahani , September 30, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Iranian officials agreed in principle with the United States and five other international powers in Geneva to export their uranium enrichment program in exchange for a halt in UN sanctions action. Djavad Salehi-Isfahani argues that sanctions would be the wrong choice anyway. Existing sanctions have had no discernible effect on Iran's nuclear policy, and harsher sanctions may actually strengthen President Ahmadinejad's populist control of the economy. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, September 25, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Suzanne Maloney writes that Friday’s announcement by President Barack Obama and his French and British counterparts about Iran’s covert nuclear activities had all the ingredients of a blockbuster. Maloney explores the likelihood that the announcement will force Iran's hand and outlines the potential impact on the stances of Russia and China. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Strobe Talbott, September 20, 2009, Financial Times
President Obama's decision to rethink and revamp the plan for Poland-based defenses against Iranian missiles was met with some criticism at home and in Eastern Europe for giving too much to Russia. However, argues Brookings President Strobe Talbott, the new strategy is a pragmatic step to counter Iran's real short-range missile threat, strengthens the transatlantic alliance, and better serves the goals of U.S.-Russian strategic arms reduction. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, September 18, 2009
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
World leaders are now in New York as the United Nations General Assembly opens its 64th session. Last week, Brookings hosted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a speech previewing the U.S. agenda for the assembly, including addressing Iran, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, climate change, and the Middle East peace process. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin S. Indyk, August 05, 2009, MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports
Martin Indyk joined Andrea Mitchell to discuss the inauguration of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to a second term as president of Iran. Indyk and Mitchell also spoke about former President Bill Clinton’s trip to North Korea, in which he secured a pardon for two U.S. journalists being held by the government. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, August 03, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Two months after a landslide election that was widely viewed as fraudulent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will be inaugurated this week for a second term as president of Iran. Suzanne Maloney examines both what has happened in Iran since the election and new questions regarding the stability of the regime moving forward. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Djavad Salehi-Isfahani , July 30, 2009, Marketplace, American Public Media
Following his return from Tehran, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani speaks to NPR’s Marketplace about festering political and economic discontent in Iran following the June elections. Bringing the country’s economy in for a soft landing will pose a significant challenge to the government, he notes, as Iranian citizens struggle to get back to their daily lives. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, July 30, 2009, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Suzanne Maloney testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on recent developments in Iran and the possibility of new sanctions. Maloney noted that while sanctions may be the only effective means of persuading Iran to cooperate, the willingness of the international community is limited and Iran is somewhat insulated because of its already poor economy and extensive petroleum exports. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Erica S. Downs, July 30, 2009, ForeignPolicy.com
Erica Downs examines what is behind the recent Iranian invitation to China to invest $43 billion in Iran's oil industry. Downs argues that Iran is aiming to lessen the impact of additional international sanctions by adding to its meager refining capability, but she also believes there are several reasons China will be unwilling to deliver everything Iran wants. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, July 22, 2009, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Suzanne Maloney testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on recent developments in Iran after the June 12 election and resulting protests across the country. Maloney addressed the current internal political crisis, the efficiency of additional international sanctions against Iran and offered suggestions for U.S. policy going forward. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
to
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Washington, DC
On July 14-15, the Saban Center at Brookings and the United States Central Command partnered for the first time to convene a joint conference. Over one-hundred-and-fifty participants came together to analyze developments in Iran, including Iran’s support of terrorist groups, Iran’s foreign policy, and the Iranian nuclear program. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, July 09, 2009, bitterlemons-international.org
The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq's cities is the beginning of the end of the American part of the war, writes Bruce Riedel. He outlines both the enormous costs already paid by going to war and explains how al-Qaeda and Iran benefited from years of U.S. foreign policy focusing almost entirely on Iraq. Read More