Iran

Iran Debate Event Transcript

Iran Debate Event Speakers: Frederick Kempe, President and CEO, Atlantic Council David Ignatius, Columnist, Washington Post Michael Ledeen, Freedom Scholar, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Flynt Leverett, Senior Research Fellow, New American Foundation

Iranian Westernization a Western Pipe Dream

By Don Snow

The ability of Americans to believe that Iran secretly wants to be just like us but is repressed by unrepresentative political candidates never ceases to amaze me. The dynamic is at work once again surrounding the funueral of “dissident” Grand Ayatollah Mir Hussein Montazeri.

Iran Problems Go Beyond Nukes

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

“It will be just like Syria,” said the strategic scholar just back from Israel and speculating about the much-debated question of whether Israel will eventually bomb Iran’s nuclear installations.

Iran’s Government is in a Corner

By Nazenin Ansari and Jonathan Paris

On Wednesday, the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, the streets of Iran were filled with ordinary citizens demonstrating not for the humiliation of the United States but for peaceful political change in their country.

An Al Qaeda ‘Foothold in Iran’?

By Brendan Boundy

As the U.S. and its European counterparts pursue engagement amid the post-election strife in Iran, continued violence between the Iranian government and Jundullah threatens to further inflame regional tensions and provide an outlet for extremist forces seeking respite from U.S. and Pakistani operations in the tribal areas.

Dealing With Iran

By Don Snow

With the dispute over the fairness of the recent Iranian presidential resolved–if not to everyone’s satisfaction–and the Iranian government’s response to demonstrators against the outcome repressed–once again not to everyone’s satisfaction–news about Afghanistan has pushed Iran off the front pages of American concern in the Middle East. But Iran is still there, and it is […]

There Is a Military Option on Iran

By Chuck Wald

In a policy address at the Council on Foreign Relations last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said of Iran, “We cannot be afraid or unwilling to engage.” But the Iranian government has yet to accept President Obama’s outstretched hand. Even if Tehran suddenly acceded to talks, U.S. policy makers must prepare for the eventuality […]

Mixed U.S. Reaction to Iran

By Brendan Boundy

Yesterday Mahmoud Ahmadinejad formally began his second term as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. But for Ahmadinejad, what should be a celebratory moment of transition now serves as yet another reminder of the turmoil that engulfed Iran following the disputed June 12 elections.

The French & Iranian Revolutions

By Andrew Kessinger

We have recently celebrated the anniversaries of the American and French Revolutions, both violent civil uprisings that changed the course of their nation’s history.  A similar storm seems to be brewing – this time in Iran.

Protests in Iran Continue

By Brendan Boundy

On Thursday, Iranians took to the streets in stirring defiance of a regime that has killed at least 20 and arrested thousands in stifling protests that began over a reputedly rigged presidential election but have now become demands for fundamental political reform.