Iran

Iran

The US-Iranian relationship has experienced significant challenges over the past forty years. The lack of diplomatic relations, changes in both the US and Iranian administrations, repeated US military interventions in the region as well as Iran’s support for militant groups and increasingly harsh rhetoric on both sides have further undermined chances for reconciliation. Through a balanced approach of engagement and containment, there is a need to push back against Iranian intervention while promoting US interests, regional conflict resolution, and the well-being of the Iranian people.

Slavin: Iran Nuclear Agreement Faces ‘Significant Turbulence’

Dispatches
Mar 6, 2026

How would a Kurdish offensive change the war in Iran?

By
Atlantic Council experts

Our experts explain the goals of the various Kurdish groups the United States is reportedly backing for an attack against Iran and how their involvement could impact the wider war.

Conflict
Defense Policy

Slavin: Iran Nuclear Agreement Faces ‘Significant Turbulence’

Dispatches
Mar 6, 2026

Washington’s limited levers to shape a post-Khamenei Iran

By
Nate Swanson, Ingrid Small

The United States and its allies do have some options to coax change that might result in a more Western-leaning Tehran.

Conflict
Iran

Slavin: Iran Nuclear Agreement Faces ‘Significant Turbulence’

MENASource
Mar 3, 2026

Trump wants Iranians to ‘take back their country’ from the regime. Can they?

By
Alan Pino

To succeed in overthrowing the Iranian regime, an uprising would likely require a unifying leader, an effective organization, and the support of whatever remains of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Conflict
Democratic Transitions

Programs

Middle East Programs

Working with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

EXPLORE THE Atlantic Council’s Middle East PROGRAMs

Content

In the News

Dec 21, 2015

Slavin: Iran Nuclear Agreement Faces ‘Significant Turbulence’

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on how the Iran nuclear agreement is slowly progressing amid the upcoming Iranian election season and pressure against the US State Department from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee:

Iran

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2015

Ending Syria’s War Will Require All Hands on Deck

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States and Russia will have to cooperate, says former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy Nabil Fahmy served as Egypt’s Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2014. In this interview with the New Atlanticist’s Ashish Kumar Sen, Fahmy makes the point that the United States, Russia, the Arab states, Iran and Turkey will all need […]

Iran North Africa

In the News

Dec 18, 2015

Christian Science Monitor Features Atlantic Council Iran Conference

By Atlantic Council

The Christian Science Monitor features a conference hosted by the Atlantic Council on the future of the Iran nuclear deal, quoting Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation Ambassador Stephen D. Mull:

Iran

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2015

Saudi Arabia Must Find Cure for ‘Wahhabi Virus,’ Says Iraqi Lawmaker

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Most important factor in the war on ISIS is theological, says Mowaffak al Rubaie, a former National Security Advisor of Iraq Mowaffak al Rubaie is a former National Security Advisor of Iraq who currently serves as a member of parliament in Baghdad. In this interview with the New Atlanticist’s Ashish Kumar Sen, Rubaie discusses the […]

Iran Iraq

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2015

‘We Need to Keep America Open Even as We Keep America Secure’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Damon Wilson says United States should strengthen the Visa-Waiver Program to bolster security without deterring visitors while consulting with our partners on any changes The Visa-Waiver Program is an “expression of one of the greatest soft powers” of the United States that is underpinned by significant law enforcement cooperation, and it would be […]

European Union France

Event Recap

Dec 17, 2015

US Department of State’s Stephen Mull on Iran Nuclear Deal Implementation

By Kashif Ali

“Success in implementing the Iran deal not only makes the United States and its allies in the region safe but opens a host of other possibilities.”  Speaking at the Atlantic Council and Iran Project Conference, “Implementing the Iran Nuclear Deal: What’s Next?”, The Honorable Stephen Mull, Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation at the US […]

Iran

Event Recap

Dec 17, 2015

United States’ Sanctions Obligations

By Nico Catano

On December 17, as a part of the Atlantic Council and Iran Project’s Conference “What Will Lifting Iran Sanctions Mean for US Firms?”, a panel of experts discussed the United States’ Sanctions Obligations within the JCPOA. The panel consisted of Mr. Kenneth Katzman, Specialist, Middle East Affairs, Congressional Research Service; Ms. Elizabeth Rosenberg, Senior Fellow […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2015

Iran’s Swift Compliance with Nuclear Deal’s Terms Seen Creating a Verification Challenge

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Timing of sanctions relief in Iran’s control, says State Department’s lead coordinator for deal’s implementation Iran is implementing its commitments under a nuclear agreement at such a swift pace that it is creating a challenge for the verification process to keep up, the State Department’s lead coordinator for implementation of the deal said at the […]

Iran

Event Recap

Dec 17, 2015

US Department of the Treasury’s Adam Szubin on Iranian Sanctions

By Ben Polsky

“The ultimate success of any sanctions program is its demise,” stated US Department of the Treasury’s Adam Szubin, arguing that sanctions should not be a product of anger but “a means to an end.” Szubin, the Acting Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, spoke at the Atlantic Council and Iran Project conference, “Implementing the Iran […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2015

What Will Lifting Iran Sanctions Mean for US Firms?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US embargo will, ‘by and large,’ remain in place, says US Treasury official Even after US, EU, and UN sanctions have been lifted, Americans thinking of doing business in Iran will be restrained by other US sanctions and prohibited from dealing with blacklisted Iranian officials and entities, a top Obama administration official said at the […]

Iran
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Experts

Fellow

Simin Kargar

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Fellow

Mark N. Katz

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Geopolitics & Energy Security Iran

Fellow

Mark Klamberg

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English European Union

Staff

Matthew Kroenig

Vice President, Geostrategy and Fellows and Senior Director, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Staff

Andrew L. Peek

Director

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Europe & Eurasia Intelligence

Fellow

Keir Lieber

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy
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