On March 26, 2013, the South Asia Center hosted a briefing with Bijan Khajehpour, cofounder and managing partner at Atieh Internationa; Reza Marashi, research director, National Iranian American Council; and Trita Parsi, founder and president, National Iranian American Council on “The Impact of Sanctions on Tehran’s Nuclear Calculations.”

This briefing was in conjunction with the release of the National Iranian American Council’s new report “Never Give In and Never Give Up: the Impact of Sanctions on Tehran’s Nuclear Calculations.” The panelists discussed the changes in the Iranian economic system allowing it to bend rather than break in the face of the current sanctions. They also emphasized that while there is no doubt that the Iranian economy is suffering, this is not translating into pressure against the government to capitulate. The panel concluded that, for the moment, elite dissatisfied elements do not believe capitulation will bring about a positive change in their situation.