Boys Go to Baghdad, Real Men Go to Tehran

by Shervin Malekzadeh The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was as much a domestic initiative as it was a foreign policy endeavor, as analysts such as Reza Marashi and Ariane Tabatabai have been saying. It’s a way for the… Continue Reading

European Parliament Calls for Sanctions against Bahrain

by Eldar Mamedov On June 14, the European Parliament has adopted, with an overwhelming majority, a strongly worded resolution condemning Bahrain for human rights violations. The immediate trigger for the resolution was the sentencing of Nabeel Rajab, a prominent Bahraini… Continue Reading

Dollar-Clearing Battle: First Step to Killing Iran Nuclear Deal

by Ryan Costello Lawmakers and advocacy groups undertook many steps to weaken the Iran nuclear deal during the Obama era to set up President Trump’s unilateral termination. Last week, Republicans on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a 50-page report delving into… Continue Reading

Saudi-Iranian Rivalry in the European Parliament

by Eldar Mamedov Saudi-Iranian rivalry is not limited to the Middle East but also plays out in the ministries and parliaments outside the region. Such was the case this week in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament adopted two human-rights-related resolutions:… Continue Reading