How the coronavirus is cementing Iran’s tilt towards China

New Atlanticist Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.
Economic Sanctions Iran
How the coronavirus is cementing Iran’s tilt towards China

New Atlanticist Jun 26, 2025

What really happened to Fordow? Three possible futures for Iran’s nuclear program after US strikes.

By Amir Asmar

The condition of Fordow will have a direct impact on the likelihood of Iran giving up its nuclear program versus resuming its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iran Middle East
How the coronavirus is cementing Iran’s tilt towards China

Fast Thinking Jun 24, 2025

The big lessons from 12 days of war with Iran

By Atlantic Council

A tentative cease-fire is underway in the war between Iran and Israel. But where did the conflict leave Iran, Israel, and the United States?
Conflict Iran

In-depth research & reports

Report

Oct 8, 2024

A bipartisan Iran strategy for the next US administration—and the next two decades

As tensions spike in the Middle East, how should the next US president approach Iran and its network of proxies including Hezbollah and Hamas? With a strategy that can be maintained for decades, by administrations of either party. A bipartisan, expert working group lays out the details.

Iran Middle East

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IranSource

May 7, 2020

How the coronavirus is cementing Iran’s tilt towards China

By Ali Dadpay

Tehran cannot do without China, but Beijing can do without Iran.

China
Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2020

Coronavirus will not bring Iran sanctions relief

By Kirsten Fontenrose

The US administration is proving unmoved by arguments that the severity of the coronavirus in Iran merits a lifting of sanctions. This is for two reasons. Washington believes that the regime in Tehran is leveraging the virus for its own power consolidation, and there is no US political disincentive, domestically or internationally, for keeping sanctions pressure on.

Conflict
Coronavirus

IranSource

May 4, 2020

Even a coronavirus pandemic can’t save religion in Iran

By Raz Zimmt

41 years after the Islamic Revolution, the public’s confidence in the religious establishment, which is perceived by many Iranians as responsible for their hardships, has eroded.

Coronavirus
Iran

IranSource

Apr 29, 2020

US-EU tensions set to escalate over Iran’s coronavirus crisis

By Giorgio Cafiero and Maysam Behravesh

On top of strong disagreements with President Donald Trump’s decision to pull Washington out of the 2015 nuclear deal and re-impose stifling sanctions on the Islamic Republic in May 2018, America’s longstanding partners in Europe also oppose the Trump administration ramping up “maximum pressure” on Tehran amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Iran
Middle East

In the News

Apr 28, 2020

Dagres joins BBC to discuss coronavirus in Iran

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus
Iran

IranSource

Apr 28, 2020

Iran’s satellite launch carries more political weight than military significance

By Sina Azodi

The IRGC’s move should be analyzed more in terms of Tehran’s political posturing instead of as a strategic leap toward developing ICBMs.

Iran
Middle East

In the News

Apr 24, 2020

Slavin joins Al-Jazeera (Arabic) to discuss US oil policy and US-Iran relations

By Atlantic Council

Arabic
Iran
IRGCN Vessels Conduct Unsafe, Unprofessional Interaction with U.S. Naval Forces in Arabian Gulf

IranSource

Apr 23, 2020

Trump’s Twitter threat to destroy Iranian boats isn’t guidance

By John W. Miller

In a tweet on April 22, US President Donald Trump announced that he ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boats harassing US warships. While the tweet may seem like new and escalatory guidance from the Commander in Chief to his forces in the region and an indication of a substantial increase in tensions between the United States and Iran, it is neither.

Iran
Maritime Security

IranSource

Apr 20, 2020

The Supreme Leader doesn’t want détente with the United States—ever

By Shahir Shahidsaless

Iran’s Supreme Leader has cemented no talks and no relations with the United States as the grand strategy guiding Tehran’s foreign policy. He offers some arguments behind this strategic thinking and they are all flawed.

Iran
Middle East

IranSource

Apr 15, 2020

COVID-19: The last nail in the coffin of Iran’s tourism industry?

By Giorgio Cafiero

While global tourism is suffering worldwide amid this terrifying pandemic, Iranians dependent on tourism will continue to suffer for the foreseeable future.

Coronavirus
Iran
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Experts

Fellow

Alan Pino

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Iran

Fellow

Nicholas Hopton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Iran

Fellow

Colin Brooks

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Iran Middle East

Fellow

Anthony J. Ruggiero

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

Arms Control Defense Policy

Expert

Nathanael Swanson

Resident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Iran Middle East

Staff

Britt Gronemeyer

Assistant Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Human Rights International Organizations
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