The Perfect Storm
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The Coming Iran Nuclear Talks Openings and Obstacles
The Coming Iran Nuclear Talks Openings and Obstacles DENNIS ROSS January 2021 he Middle East will not be a priority in the Biden administration’s approach to foreign policy. But the T Iranian nuclear program will require a response.* With the Iranian parliament having adopted legislation mandating uranium enrichment to 20 percent and suspension of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections if sanctions are not lifted by February 2020 in response to the targeted killing of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh— and with Iran now having accumulated twelve times the low-enriched uranium permitted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—the administration will have to deal with the Iranian challenge.1 To be sure, the nuclear program and its potential to make Iran a nuclear weapons state are not the only challenges the Islamic Republic poses: the regime’s ballistic missile program and destabilizing and aggressive behavior in the region threaten conflicts that can escalate both vertically and horizontally. But it is the nuclear program that is most pressing. *The author would like to thank a number of his Washington Institute colleagues—Katherine Bauer, Patrick Clawson, Michael Eisenstadt, Barbara Leaf, Matthew Levitt, David Makovsky, David Pollock, Robert Satloff, and Michael Singh—for the helpful comments they provided as he prepared this paper. He also wants to give special thanks to several people outside the Institute—Robert Einhorn, Richard Nephew, David Petraeus, Norman Roule, and Karim Sadjadpour—for the thoughtful comments -
General Assembly Distr.: General 14 August 2017
United Nations A/72/322 General Assembly Distr.: General 14 August 2017 Original: English Seventy-second session Item 73 (c) of the provisional agenda* Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Note by the Secretary-General** The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 34/23. * A/72/150. ** The present report was submitted after the deadline as a result of consultations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. 17-13925 (E) 230817 *1713925* A/72/322 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Summary During its thirty-third session, the Human Rights Council appointed Asma Jahangir as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The present report outlines the activities carried out by the Special Rapporteur since the issuance of her first report to the Council (A/HRC/34/65), examines ongoing issues and presents some of the most recent and pressing developments in the area of human rights in the country. Contents Page I. Introduction ................................................................... 3 II. Charter on Citizens’ Rights ....................................................... 4 III. Civil and political rights ......................................................... 4 A. Right to take part in the conduct of public affairs ................................ 4 B. Rights to freedom of expression, opinion, information and the press ................. 6 C. -
The Dangers of Ransom Payments to Iran Hearing
FUELING TERROR: THE DANGERS OF RANSOM PAYMENTS TO IRAN HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 Printed for the use of the Committee on Financial Services Serial No. 114–100 ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 25–944 PDF WASHINGTON : 2018 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Nov 24 2008 21:22 Mar 08, 2018 Jkt 025944 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 K:\DOCS\25944.TXT TERI HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES JEB HENSARLING, Texas, Chairman PATRICK T. MCHENRY, North Carolina, MAXINE WATERS, California, Ranking Vice Chairman Member PETER T. KING, New York CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York EDWARD R. ROYCE, California NYDIA M. VELA´ ZQUEZ, New York FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma BRAD SHERMAN, California SCOTT GARRETT, New Jersey GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas MICHAEL E. CAPUANO, Massachusetts STEVAN PEARCE, New Mexico RUBE´ N HINOJOSA, Texas BILL POSEY, Florida WM. LACY CLAY, Missouri MICHAEL G. FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts LYNN A. WESTMORELAND, Georgia DAVID SCOTT, Georgia BLAINE LUETKEMEYER, Missouri AL GREEN, Texas BILL HUIZENGA, Michigan EMANUEL CLEAVER, Missouri SEAN P. DUFFY, Wisconsin GWEN MOORE, Wisconsin ROBERT HURT, Virginia KEITH ELLISON, Minnesota STEVE STIVERS, Ohio ED PERLMUTTER, Colorado STEPHEN LEE FINCHER, Tennessee JAMES A. HIMES, Connecticut MARLIN A. STUTZMAN, Indiana JOHN C. -
Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2017 No. 125 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was caster with my colleague, Representa- cation and hands-on skills that they called to order by the Speaker pro tem- tive SMUCKER. can use right out of high school in pore (Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana). Thaddeus Stevens College of Tech- skills-based education programs or in f nology provides a bridge out of poverty colleges like Thaddeus Stevens College for some of the poorest citizens of of Technology. By modernizing the DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO Pennsylvania through a high-skill, Federal investment in CTE programs, TEMPORE high-wage technical education. Grad- we will be able to connect more edu- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- uates are filling the skills gap in Amer- cators with industry stakeholders and fore the House the following commu- ica, as there is a 99 percent placement close the skills gap that is in this coun- nication from the Speaker: for graduates of its high-demand pro- try. There are good jobs out there, but WASHINGTON, DC, grams. people need to be qualified to get them. July 25, 2017. Founded in 1905, Thaddeus Stevens I have proudly championed the I hereby appoint the Honorable MIKE JOHN- College of Technology educates Penn- Strengthening Career and Technical SON to act as Speaker pro tempore on this sylvania’s economically and socially Education for the 21st Century Act be- day. -
Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017 No. 203 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was until March. People are already losing He submitted his DACA renewal well called to order by the Speaker pro tem- their DACA coverage on a daily basis. before the application deadline that pore (Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky). So when reporters and politicians say was arbitrarily set for last October. that Congress can stall until March to f But he made a mistake. His check was enact the Dream Act, they are flat for $465, not $495, so he will be deport- DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO wrong. We cannot wait until March. able as of December 22. He has lived his TEMPORE The Dream Act and the protections of entire life in the United States, yet, if The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- the DACA program are not light Republicans and the President have fore the House the following commu- switches we can turn on and off. Every their way, he will be sent back to Hon- nication from the Speaker: day we delay the passage of the Dream duras. His three businesses and those Act, another 122 DACA recipients lose who work there? Who knows what will WASHINGTON, DC, their status. They go from being docu- December 13, 2017. happen to them. I hereby appoint the Honorable HAROLD mented to being undocumented, and Another DACA recipient named Saul ROGERS to act as Speaker pro tempore on their worlds are turned upside down. -
Iran's American and Other Western Hostages
Iran’s American and Other Western Hostages August 2021 11 Table of Contents Background ................................................................................................................................................... 4 American Hostages ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Baquer Namazi ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Emad Shargi .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Karan Vafadari and Afarin Niasari ..................................................................................................... 10 Morad Tahbaz ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Siamak Namazi ................................................................................................................................... 16 Other Western Hostages ............................................................................................................................ 18 Abdolrasoul Dorri-Esfahani ................................................................................................................ 18 Ahmadreza Djalali ............................................................................................................................. -
Why Payments to Iran Always Backfire
Statement before the Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations On “Fueling Terror: The Dangers of Ransom Payments to Iran” Why Payments to Iran Always Backfire Michael Rubin Resident Scholar September 8, 2016 The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational organization and does not take institutional positions on any issues. The views expressed in this testimony are those of the author. Chairman Duffy, Ranking Member Green, and Honorable Members, thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the Obama administration’s decision to settle for a $1.7 billion Iranian claim before the US-Iran Claims Tribunal regarding a frozen $400 million account in the United States established by the shah of Iran in 1979 to fund the purchase of military equipment. The administration delivered the $400 million principle in cash on the same day that Iranian authorities released four American hostages. The episode raises many questions of policy and judgment: Was it necessary to make the payment in January 2016? Was the method of payment legal given existing sanctions? Was it wise to provide Iran with such an amount in cash? The controversy regarding the payment rests in both its irregularity and the suspicion that it was tied directly to Iran’s release of US hostages and was therefore a ransom. Partisan debate may obfuscate any consensus within American political circles about whether to recognize the $400 million as a ransom, but the Iranian officials most involved in the seizure of American and other Western hostages perceive the payment to be a ransom. -
Human Rights Violations Under Iran's National Security Laws – June 2020
In the Name of Security Human rights violations under Iran’s national security laws Drewery Dyke © Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights and Minority Rights Group International June 2020 Cover photo: Military parade in Tehran, September 2008, to commemorate anniversary of This report has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. Iran-Iraq war. The event coincided The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of the publishers and can under with escalating US-Iran tensions. no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. © Behrouz Mehri/AFP via Getty Images This report was edited by Robert Bain and copy-edited by Sophie Richmond. Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights The Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights is a new initiative to develop ‘civilian-led monitoring’ of violations of international humanitarian law or human rights, to pursue legal and political accountability for those responsible for such violations, and to develop the practice of civilian rights. The Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights is registered as a charity and a company limited by guarantee under English law; charity no: 1160083, company no: 9069133. Minority Rights Group International MRG is an NGO working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote cooperation and understanding between communities. MRG works with over 150 partner organizations in nearly 50 countries. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). MRG is registered as a charity and a company limited by guarantee under English law; charity no: 282305, company no: 1544957. -
House of Bribes
1 House of Bribes: How the United States led the way to a Nuclear Iran October 2015 2 House of Bribes: How the United States Led the Way to a Nuclear Iran is a product of the New Coalition of Concerned Citizens: Adina Kutnicki Andrea Shea King Dr. Ashraf Ramelah Benjamin Smith Brent Parrish Charles Ortel Denise Simon Dick Manasseri Gary Kubiak Hannah Szenes Right Side News Marcus Kohan General Paul E. Vallely Regina Thomson Scott Smith Terresa Monroe-Hamilton Colonel Thomas Snodgrass Trevor Loudon Wallace Bruschweiler William Palumbo 3 Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................5 Preface ........................................................................................................................................................................5 Background .................................................................................................................................................................5 The Trailblazers: Namazi & Nemazee .........................................................................................................................6 National Iranian-American Council (NIAC) .................................................................................................................8 The Open (Iranian) Society of George Soros ........................................................................................................... 11 Valerie Jarrett – The -
The Status of American Hostages in Iran Hearing Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives
THE STATUS OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN IRAN HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION MARCH 7, 2019 Serial No. 116–12 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( Available: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/, http://docs.house.gov, or http://www.govinfo.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 35–370PDF WASHINGTON : 2019 COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York, Chairman BRAD SHERMAN, California MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas, Ranking GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York Member ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia STEVE CHABOT, Ohio THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida JOE WILSON, South Carolina KAREN BASS, California SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts TED S. YOHO, Florida DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois AMI BERA, California LEE ZELDIN, New York JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas JIM SENSENBRENNER, Wisconsin DINA TITUS, Nevada ANN WAGNER, Missouri ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York BRIAN MAST, Florida TED LIEU, California FRANCIS ROONEY, Florida SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania BRIAN FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania DEAN PHILLPS, Minnesota JOHN CURTIS, Utah ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota KEN BUCK, Colorado COLIN ALLRED, Texas RON WRIGHT, Texas ANDY LEVIN, Michigan GUY RESCHENTHALER, Pennsylvania ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, Virginia TIM BURCHETT, Tennessee CHRISSY HOULAHAN, Pennsylvania GREG PENCE, Indiana TOM MALINOWSKI, New Jersey STEVE WATKINS, -
Profiles of Iranian Repression Architects of Human Rights Abuse in the Islamic Republic
Profiles of Iranian Repression Architects of Human Rights Abuse in the Islamic Republic Tzvi Kahn October 2018 Forewords by Dr. Ahmed Shaheed & Rose Parris Richter Prof. Irwin Cotler FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES FOUNDATION Profiles of Iranian Repression Architects of Human Rights Abuse in the Islamic Republic Tzvi Kahn Forewords by Dr. Ahmed Shaheed & Rose Parris Richter Prof. Irwin Cotler October 2018 FDD PRESS A division of the FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES Washington, DC Profiles of Iranian Repression: Architects of Human Rights Abuse in the Islamic Republic Table of Contents FOREWORD by Dr. Ahmed Shaheed and Rose Parris Richter...........................................................................6 FOREWORD by Prof. Irwin Cotler ......................................................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................12 U.S. Sanctions Law and Previous Designations ........................................................................................................ 12 Iran’s Human Rights Abuses and the Trump Administration ................................................................................ 14 EBRAHIM RAISI, Former Presidential Candidate, Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi ........................................16 MAHMOUD ALAVI, Minister of Intelligence ....................................................................................................19 -
December 3, 2018 an Open Letter to World Leaders, Rights
December 3, 2018 An Open Letter to World Leaders, Rights Organizations and Media Outlets We are the families of political hostages in Iran, and we ask for your urgent action. We come from many countries, with different backgrounds and different perspectives, but we have banded together now to come to you as one voice. We shall remain quiet no longer. In September 2018, at a side event during the United Nations General Assembly, several of our families gathered together for the first time to share stories and struggles about getting our loved ones released. We met again a few weeks ago, this time to share our testimonies with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran. The similarities between our loved ones’ cases is striking. Each story is not just a case of arbitrary detention, but deliberate and tactical moves by the Iranian authorities to secure bargaining chips. - Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian scientist, was invited by Iranian universities to develop training for researchers, and was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran in March 2016. He was kept in solitary confinement for more than 3 months, and without any access to a lawyer for 6 months. During that time, Ahmadreza was harmed physically and tortured psychologically, and falsely led to believe that he would be released if he made a confession as dictated by the intelligence agents. He was forced to do an interview that was later edited and aired on state TV to accuse Ahmadreza of unfounded allegations. Ahmadreza has not received a fair trial since being held for 985 days, despite no evidence ever presented against him and calls by the UN, academics and 75 Nobel laureates for his release.