Our Publications
Policy Briefs
March 18, 2015
Last week, negotiators in the ongoing nuclear talks grappled with how quickly to lift United Nations sanctions on Iran if a deal is reached. Reuters reported on March 12 that negotiators were discussing a U.N. Security Council resolution to lift these existing sanctions. The sanctions underpin the economically taxing energy and financial...
Policy Briefs
March 10, 2015
In a ceremony on March 8, Iran’s defense minister unveiled what he called a new, indigenously developed cruise missile, the Soumar, and announced the delivery of two medium-range ballistic missile systems to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Policy Briefs
March 4, 2015
Yesterday in Washington, the showdown between the White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Iranian nuclear talks came to a head.
International Enforcement Actions
February 25, 2015
German authorities sentenced four men to punishments ranging from four years in prison to 18 months’ probation for illegally supplying Iran with over one thousand valves for its Arak heavy water reactor. The case began in 2007, when Iranian national Hossein Tanideh contacted Rudolf Mayer, the owner of a German custom fittings company called MIT-...
Policy Briefs
February 24, 2015
There was not much news in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s latest report on Iran, which was distributed on February 19: Iran continues to respect the restrictions of an interim nuclear deal struck with the United States and its partners; Iran also continues to stonewall the Agency’s long-standing investigation of “possible military...
International Enforcement Actions
February 20, 2015
Pennsylvania businessman Helmut Oertmann pleaded guilty to attempting to ship a horizontal lathe, or “peeler” to Iran via Dubai without obtaining a necessary license from the U.S. Commerce Department. These machines are used, among other things, in the production of high-grade steel for aircraft. Oertmann is the CEO of Hetran, Inc., an...
Policy Briefs
February 18, 2015
In the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, the P5+1 appear to have coalesced around one main objective: ensuring that Iran would need at least one year to produce enough fuel for a nuclear weapon using its declared facilities and material in a “breakout” scenario. But when did this objective become the P5+1’s “key red line”? What does a one year...
Policy Briefs
February 10, 2015
President Barack Obama publicly ruled out another extension of the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran if no agreement on the principles of an accord is reached by late March. Meanwhile, the outlines of the deal now being discussed were reported by the Associated Press on February 3.
Policy Briefs
February 3, 2015
Iran conducted a successful satellite launch on February 2, sending the Fajr satellite into orbit aboard the Safir rocket. The launch marks Iran’s fourth successful attempt to place a satellite into orbit, but the first since the Joint Plan of Action was signed in November 2013. This latest launch once again raises the issue of Iran’s ballistic...
Policy Briefs
January 27, 2015
The Obama administration sent two top officials to Congress twice in the past week, to defend ongoing nuclear talks with Iran and to argue against two Iran-related bills gaining ground in the Senate. The lobbying effort was partially successful, as Senate Democrats today announced plans to delay a vote on new sanctions until after a late March...