
U.S.-Iran Talks Will Falter Unless Abdolnaser Hemmati Is at the Table
Unwinding sanctions will be central to reviving the nuclear deal. If the Biden administration wants a lasting solution, it must involve Iran’s central bank governor.

Influence Without Entanglement in the Middle East
How China is outflanking the United States—and staying under the radar.

The Axis of Resistance to Israel Is Breaking Up
Syria has turned against Hamas, and Iran’s efforts to mediate aren't working.

Did Biden Wait Too Long to Engage Iran?
Held back by infighting and hard-liners on the Hill, the administration may have squandered precious time to save the Iran nuclear deal, critics say.

In the Middle East, War Is Going Digital
And that should scare everyone.

Biden Should End U.S. Hypocrisy on Israeli Nukes
For decades, U.S. presidents have pledged not to talk about Israel’s nuclear arsenal despite pushing for nonproliferation in the region. It’s time for Washington to end the double standard.

Signaling a New Willingness to Talk, Biden Scrambles to Save Iran Nuclear Deal
The new administration is looking for an interim road map—but insists it won’t be pressured by Tehran’s deadline to halt inspections next week.

The Increasingly Violent Conflict Between Shiites and Iran’s Proxies
A killing in Lebanon is a symbol of a growing regional backlash against sectarian politics.

Why ‘Hostage Diplomacy’ Works
From China to Iran to the United States, arbitrary detention is an immoral—and often effective—pressure tactic.

Prince of Persia
Tehran is cracking down on elite troublemakers—one influencer at a time.

Reviving the Nuclear Deal Gives the U.S. More Leverage Over Iran
Maintaining maximum pressure to inflict more pain won’t bring Tehran back to the negotiating table or halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Biden Must Not Ignore Iran’s Human Rights Record
The U.S. government has a long history of pursuing multiple policy goals with adversaries and demanding respect for human rights will not derail nuclear negotiations.

Iranians Are Trapped in a Sunni-Shiite Détente
Dissidents seeking refuge in Turkey are getting sacrificed to a newfound friendship between Tehran and Ankara.

Autocrats Increasingly Quashing Dissent Beyond Their Own Borders
Freedom House says transnational repression is on the rise—led by China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

Congress Will Make It Tough for Biden on Iran
Biden’s nominees will face trouble in the Senate unless they prove they learned the lessons of the failed 2015 nuclear agreement.

Biden Taps Obama Administration Diplomat as New Iran Envoy
Robert Malley, who has faced sharp criticisms from Republican lawmakers, will be tasked with trying to get Iran back to the negotiating table on its nuclear program.

What a New Iran Nuclear Deal Really Requires
To get Washington’s Gulf partners on board, Biden needs an actual strategy for protecting them and ways to make them contribute to it.

French Ambassador: EU Working Toward ‘Common Action’ With Biden on Iran, COVID-19
But Philippe Etienne says France won’t surrender its dream of “strategic autonomy.”