This open letter has been signed by members of the European Leadership Network, board members of the International Crisis Group, and council members of the European Council on Foreign Relations
Tehran and Washington are close to a deal – but both sides need to give and take to achieve the wider benefits of a renewed Joint Comprehensive plan of Action (JCPOA)
In an unstable world, Western policymakers need a new approach to Iran. They should think beyond non-proliferation to account for the country’s attempts at strategic balancing.
China’s economic support for Iran in recent years encouraged Tehran to come back to the negotiating table. Instability in the Middle East is as little in Beijing’s interests as it is in the West’s.
The United States and Iran may finally be converging on a shared commitment to a new nuclear deal. This agreement would not be perfect, but the alternatives are far worse.
How can Europeans more effectively advance their human rights agenda as part of, and while maintaining, their broader relationships with regional states?
European states face accusations of neglecting the matter of human rights in their southern neighbourhood, and even of being complicit. Yet they are failing to maximise the influence they could bring to bear.
It would be a mistake for the parties to the Iran nuclear deal to see the issue of guarantees in terms of economic targets. Instead, they should focus on how to normalise their economic relationship in the long term.
Iran was more economically dependent on Afghanistan than many people realise. The change of regime will impact on Tehran in four main ways.
ECFR’s policy experts examine what the Taliban takeover means for countries and regions around the world: Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the Sahel
ECFR’s policy experts examine what the Taliban takeover means for countries and regions around the world: Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the Sahel
An Iraq that has diverse regional relationships is more likely to be stable and secure, in line with European interests in the Middle East
The arrival of the Biden administration in Washington, and the perception of US disengagement from the region, offers an opportunity for Europeans to help de-escalate tensions between GCC states and Iran
Europeans wish to persuade Iran to compromise on strategic issues – but, unless they understand the dynamics of domestic Iranian politics, they will not get far
France sees the MENA region as a state for foreign policy and great power politics and an opportunity to shape global politics and punch above its weight
Europe must salvage the nuclear deal with Iran and step-up robust diplomacy with Teran on regional issues
Joint military operations in Syria have brought Russia and Iran relations closer than at any point since World War II
Iran deal should be a catalyst to end decade-long stand off with Tehran and lead to engagement on regional security
Framing concerns and assessing risks
EUROPE MUST ACT TO ENSURE AN IRANIAN NUCLEAR DEAL Europe should be more active in optimising the chances of reaching and implementing…
This open letter has been signed by members of the European Leadership Network, board members of the International Crisis Group, and council members of the European Council on Foreign Relations
Tehran and Washington are close to a deal – but both sides need to give and take to achieve the wider benefits of a renewed Joint Comprehensive plan of Action (JCPOA)
In an unstable world, Western policymakers need a new approach to Iran. They should think beyond non-proliferation to account for the country’s attempts at strategic balancing.
China’s economic support for Iran in recent years encouraged Tehran to come back to the negotiating table. Instability in the Middle East is as little in Beijing’s interests as it is in the West’s.
The United States and Iran may finally be converging on a shared commitment to a new nuclear deal. This agreement would not be perfect, but the alternatives are far worse.
It would be a mistake for the parties to the Iran nuclear deal to see the issue of guarantees in terms of economic targets. Instead, they should focus on how to normalise their economic relationship in the long term.
Iran was more economically dependent on Afghanistan than many people realise. The change of regime will impact on Tehran in four main ways.
The new Iranian administration may agree on a revised JCPOA with the US. But if the economic benefits are paltry, political support will drain away.
Raisi’s election victory will not make Iranian politics any less volatile. Instead, it signals another of the cyclical changes in Iran’s politics that have taken place since 1979.
Iran’s presidential election will do little to boost frontrunner Ebrahim Raisi’s popular legitimacy
European states face accusations of neglecting the matter of human rights in their southern neighbourhood, and even of being complicit. Yet they are failing to maximise the influence they could bring to bear.
An ECFR guide to the key disputes threatening to spark a wider Middle Eastern war
Does the election of Raisi represent a significant change of direction following the term of President Rouhani?
Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro predict ten bright and bold policy projections for the year to come
To what extent can and will Iran policy be a priority of the incoming administration? What can Europeans do to bolster transatlantic diplomacy on Iran?
How can Europeans more effectively advance their human rights agenda as part of, and while maintaining, their broader relationships with regional states?
Il recente insediamento dell’amministrazione Biden a Washington e il percepito disimpegno degli Stati Uniti nella regione offrono agli europei l’opportunità di contribuire ad allentare le tensioni tra gli Stati del Consiglio di Cooperazione del Golfo (CCG) e l’Iran
We invite you to join us for a fruitful discussion on the EUs relations with Iran in light of the US sanctions policy
How can the EU demonstrate resolve and respond to the interests of Russia, Turkey, Iran and Saudi-Arabia?
Discussing US secondary sanctions
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une table ronde avec Nicholas Westcott, Directeur la Royal African Society de Londres, Gurvan Le Bras, Chargé de mission au CAPS, Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, Directeur du bureau de Paris de l’ECFR, et Claude Guibal, grand reporter à France Inter
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un évènement en partenariat avec l’Institut d’études de sécurité de l’Union européenne (EUISS) avec Nicu Popescu, Stanislav Secrieru, Julien Barnes-Dacey et Timofey Borisov
A closed door discussion on the future of EU-Iran relations
A closed door discussion on the future of EU-Iran relations
How far will the White House double down on this confrontational rhetoric? Will the US undertake measures targeting Iran that could threaten US security interests in the region?
Biden must seriously consider the costs of his passivity vis-a-vis Iran and find a way forward — or we may find ourselves in another conflict that no one asked for
ECFR Board Members Carl Bildt and Javier Solana remind that we should not forget about Iran and its expanding nuclear program
[An Iran deal] is going to receive major political blowback for any U.S. president.
Ellie Geranmayeh says the Biden administration’s reluctance to rescind the designation is largely a matter of politics, not policy
A successful outcome of the nuclear negotiations would be a strong signal that Iran’s long-term interests lie in a balanced foreign policy
For the West, the nuclear talks with Iran are primarily about political concerns, writes Esfandyar Batmanghelidj
It is one of the ways that Iran is able to demonstrate that it wants to turn the page after several years of very significant tension with the West
Esfandyar Batmanghelidj comments on the potential for dissolving tension between Iran and the West