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.

Content

New Atlanticist

Jan 27, 2012

Deterring Iran: The Return to American Statecraft

By Julian Lindley-French

On the tomb of Tamburlaine, King of Persia, there is a dread inscription, “When I rise, the world will tremble”. Faced with Tehran’s seeming determination to develop nuclear weapons the march towards confrontation this week quickened. After threats from Iran to close the oil-vital Straits of Hormuz an American aircraft carrier was joined in the […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2012

What to do about Iran

By R. Nicholas Burns

What to do about an increasingly truculent and threatening Iran is now the most important foreign policy challenge of 2012.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jan 20, 2012

Empathy with the Ayatollah

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

“Empathize with your enemy.” It is the first of eleven lessons offered by the former US Secretary of Defense Robert MacNamara in the award-winning 2002 documentary “Fog of War.”

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2012

On Iran, Emulate TR

By R. James Woolsey and Robert MacFarlane

In the first week of 2012, President Obama finally approved tough sanctions on Iran’s central bank, aiming to cripple Iran’s oil trade and thwart its advanced efforts to possess a nuclear weapon. Iran’s armed-forces commander, Gen. Ataollah Salehi, threatened military action against the USS John C. Stennis, an aircraft carrier operating in international waters: “We […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jan 17, 2012

Analyzing the Great Game Between the West and Iran

By Sarwar Kashmeri

Hardly a day goes by without Iran featuring in media headlines. In his latest New Atlanticist Podcast, Atlantic Council senior fellow Sarwar Kashmeri spoke with Boston University Professor of International Relations and History Andrew Bacecvich on the great game between the West and Iran.Download the PDF

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jan 3, 2012

Winning the Iran Debate

By James Joyner

National War College professor Bernard Finel makes an excellent point about why the hawks have the upper hand in the “war with Iran” debate. While he’s specifically taking to task recent columns by Stephen Walt, the argument applies equally to those, like myself, who have been arguing the folly of military action against Iran’s nukes: [T]he […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Dec 16, 2011

Iran Hedges Its Bets on Syria

By Barbara Slavin

Iran is courting the opposition to Syrian President Bashar al- Assad, seeking to maintain a crucial alliance in the event that Assad falls. So far, Iranian officials have met at least twice with members of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC). The Damascus-based group opposes foreign intervention in Syria and advocates reform to resolve the nine-month-old […]

Iran Syria
Iran

Event Recap

Dec 14, 2011

Iran’s Hand in the Levant

By Adrienne Chuck

The Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force and Rafik Hariri Center, held a joint public briefing on Iran’s influence in the Levant on December 14.

Iran Syria

New Atlanticist

Dec 13, 2011

Saudi Arabia Nuclear Hedging

By Yoel Guzansky

Saudi Arabia’s announcement last week that it plans to build 16 nuclear reactors with a budget of more than $100 billion raises doubts about its nuclear ambitions.

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Dec 2, 2011

Iran’s Growing Isolation a Dubious Win for the West

By Barbara Slavin

Scenes from Tehran Tuesday of bearded Iranian youth swarming over the walls of the British embassy evoked memories of the 1979-81 hostage crisis that created the image of Iran as a pariah state.

Iran

Experts