
Trump’s Inexplicable Crusade to Help Iran Evade Sanctions
The U.S. president never could grasp that shielding Turkey’s Halkbank for Erdogan would make Iranian sanctions evasion easier.

Why Biden’s Plan to Rejoin the Iran Deal Makes No Sense
This week’s escalation of tensions by Tehran looks like blackmail to force Biden to abandon sanctions—and give up leverage over the regime.

Iran: Maximum Pressure, Minimum Gain
In 2020, the Trump administration sought to bury the Iran nuclear deal for good. Biden is poised to breathe new life into the pact.

How Biden Can Stop Iran’s Conservatives From Undermining the Nuclear Deal
Insisting that Iran must abandon its missile program could fall into the hardliners’ trap and make a new agreement impossible.

Biden Shouldn’t Rush to Restore the Iran Nuclear Deal
Moving quickly to resurrect the JCPOA, as Biden seems set to do, would start his presidency with a hugely divisive controversy.

China Won’t Rescue Iran
Despite reports of a major Chinese-Iranian trade deal, Beijing won’t jeopardize the possibility of better relations with Washington in order to cozy up to Tehran.

Biden Needs to Move Fast if He Wants a New Deal With Iran
Moderates will lose the June 2021 presidential election in Iran unless there is a new agreement and sanctions relief—and the United States can forget diplomacy if hardliners win.

U.S. Fears Syria’s Assad Meddling in Fragile Lebanon
A State Department assessment warned the Syrian regime is worsening Lebanon’s economic collapse.

How Israel Should Prepare for Biden’s New Approach to Iran
Israeli officials should urge the new administration to maintain U.S. economic leverage over Iran while avoiding the personal vendettas and public policy feuds of the Obama era.

U.S. Isolated at U.N. as Push to Ramp Up Pressure on Iran Fails
“We don’t need a cheering section,” said Trump’s U.N ambassador. But Washington does need international compliance to make snapback sanctions work.

Trump’s Policies Have Convinced Iran to Build a More Advanced Nuclear Program Before Negotiating
Washington’s reliance on sanctions and maximum pressure will make it harder to strike a new deal constraining Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Sanctions Are Driving Iran and Venezuela Into Each Other’s Arms
Maximum pressure has not destroyed the Iranian economy, and Tehran is now sharing its lessons in resilience with Nicolás Maduro’s beleaguered regime in Caracas.

Trump Can’t Have His Cake and Eat It Too on Iran Sanctions
Washington has no right to impose snapback sanctions on Tehran because it is no longer a participant in the Iran nuclear deal.

Europe Can Preserve the Iran Nuclear Deal Until November
After a humiliating defeat at the U.N. Security Council, Washington will seek snapback sanctions to sabotage what’s left of the nuclear deal. Britain, France, and Germany can still keep it alive until after the U.S. election.

Maximum Pressure May Bring Iran Back to the Table After All
Combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is struggling to stay afloat.

Trump Misses Being Part of the Iran Deal
His administration wants to trigger the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism, but he probably can’t do that from the outside.

Iran’s Pact With China Is Bad News for the West
Tehran’s new strategic partnership with Beijing will give the Chinese a strategic foothold and strengthen Iran’s economy and regional clout.

Despite U.S. Sanctions, Iran Expands Its Nuclear Stockpile
Two years after Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, Tehran has cut in half the time it would need to produce enough weapons-grade fuel for a nuclear bomb.

Why Hassan Rouhani Ended Iran’s Lockdown
The Islamic Republic could face a devastating second wave of coronavirus infections, but keeping the economy closed down without a safety net would have likely led to unrest and collapse.