Iran Deal Still Works Despite Iran’s Aggression
Last week, President Donald Trump announced he would not certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal and would terminate the agreement entirely if its “many […] More
Adverse
Confronting Iran Doesn’t Have to Mean Scrapping Nuclear Deal
President Donald Trump’s non-certification of Iranian compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal has shaken the diplomatic firmament, infuriated the deal’s […] More
Beijing Tightens Party Discipline as Xi Rises
China’s 19th Party Congress begins Wednesday in Beijing. The Congress occurs every five years, and is an opportunity to understand the Chinese leadership’s vision for […] More
Fear and Loyalty at China’s 19th Communist Party Congress
China, in all probability, will be even more belligerent after its historic 19th Communist Party Congress, which starts today, Wednesday, in Beijing. At the Congress, […] More
Chinese Communist Party Conference: Certain Present, Uncertain Future
All eyes are on Beijing Wednesday as the 19th Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) begins. Carefully choreographed by the most central players […] More
Tougher Line on Iran Could ‘Fatally Undermine’ Fight Against ISIS
President Donald Trump’s threatened de-certification of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement is sure to damage not just the deal itself, but the ultimate credibility of […] More
Could Trump’s Hardline on Iran Do More Harm than Good?
The White House is expected to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group as part of the White House’s tough new tact on Tehran, according […] More
Hezbollah Calls the Shots in Iran’s Syria Policy
President Donald Trump is reportedly about to extend a terrorism designation to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in its entirety. The IRGC is both […] More
White House Seeks Leverage in Decertification of Iran Deal
President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated decertification of the Iran nuclear deal would hand the problem off to Congress, setting off a 60-day countdown for lawmakers to […] More
North Korea’s Dictator is ‘Bent on Survival’
President Donald Trump has called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un suicidal, but the CIA’s top Asia analysts said Wednesday that he’s a “rational actor” bent […] More
Gen. Dunford’s Clear-Eyed Take on Koreas Crisis
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford set out his views on key national security issues last Tuesday during the Senate Armed Services Committee’s confirmation hearing […] More
Trump Calls Tillerson’s Talks with North Korea a Waste of Time
President Donald Trump called negotiations with North Korea a waste of time Sunday morning, directly contradicting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement only one day […] More
What’s Next for Afghanistan and Iran? Water Wars
Multiple challenges face Iran-Afghanistan relations, chief among them are security and resource issues. Tehran seeks a stable government in Kabul, but one that does not […] More
Afghan Opium Trade Sticks a Thorn in Iran’s Side
As Afghanistan’s neighbor to the west, Iran has significant security and economic interests vis-à-vis Afghanistan. Relations between the two countries have been complicated for centuries, […] More
How the U.S. and Iran Play the Afghan ‘Great Game’
As Afghanistan’s western neighbor, Iran maintains a vested interest in prodding war-torn Afghanistan towards achieving political and economic stability. Burdened by Afghan refugees and a […] More
Staying with Iran Nuclear Deal is Trump’s ‘Only Real Option’
Donald Trump’s address to assembled world leaders at the United Nations last week raised new doubts about his willingness to renew waivers for Iran and […] More
Reset Ahead for Iran and U.S. in Iraq after ISIS Fall
Until 2003, Iraq and Saddam Hussein posed perhaps the most direct military threat to Iran in the region. Haunted by the memory of bitter trench […] More
Tehran Seeks to Consolidate Power in Iraq in 2018
Iran’s principal regional nemesis was removed when Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown by the United States in 2003. The new Iraq quickly fell under the […] More