DOCSLIB.ORG

The Strategic Gap : عوﺿوﻣﻟا مﺳا How Does Iran Benefit from the Gulf ﻋﻧوان

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Strategic Gap : عوﺿوﻣﻟا مﺳا How Does Iran Benefit from the Gulf ﻋﻧوان The Strategic Gap : ωϭοϭϣϟ΍ϡγ΍ How does Iran Benefit from the Gulf : ωϭοϭϣϟ΍ϥ΍ϭϧϋ Crisis? 06/07/2017 : έηϧϟ΍ΦϳέΎΗ ϲϓ΍ϭλϟ΍ϥΎϔϠΧΩϣΣϣ : ΏΗΎϛϟ΍ϡγ΍ : ωϭοϭϣϟ΍ With the eruption of any crisis in the Middle East, a state of anticipation reigns over how the Iranian regime will exploit this crisis in its favor. This has happened a lot particularly considering Tehran¶s relation with a number of sectarian organizations in some Arab countries like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi militia in Yemen. However, the situation seems different in terms of the current crisis between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on one hand, and Qatar on another. This time the crisis is on the state-level, rather than an organization or a militia like previous times. Therefore, the expected repercussions will be more severe and different on the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is considered the most coherent system in the Arab world on the level of confronting Iran¶s regional ambitions.One must note that Iran and Qatar practice the same policy, which is the ³game of contradictions.´Therefore, both of them cannot trust each other. This indicates that any agreement between them remains tactical, and would only serves them for a short period, rather than having a long-term strategic agreement. Iran¶s Pragmatism There are two remarks to consider regarding the layout of Iranian-Arab relations. The first one is that Iran always seeks to exploit any disagreements that occur in the region either among countries or within groups in a single country. That is a result of Iranian intransigence and refusal to consider Arab national security.The history of Arab-Iranian relations clarifies the second point that Iran is not a state, which provides services (even humanitarian ones) without anything in return. Many times, what it gets in return has a high price that is usually paid by the society, rather than the government, it resorts to. For example, American troops sought Iranian assistance to topple the regime of late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. However, the result was security chaos in the entire region with the exception of Tehran. Therefore, Iranian pragmatism may burn the other party if that is what it takes to achieve its political interests. This is why Qatar may be deceived by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif¶s June 14 statements that ³Iran will provide Qatar with all the necessary humanitarian aid it needs.´Tehran¶s ChanceIran has, over the course of three decades, attempted to weaken the Gulf Cooperation Council. The current Gulf crisis represents an opportunity to resume these attempts. What helps it do so is Qatar¶s rapprochement. Doha has adopted this approach, even though it is aware of the threats posed by resorting to Tehran against its neighbors in the Gulf and the region.What is odd about Qatar¶s rapprochement with Tehran is that it came after Gulf diplomacy, represented in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, convinced the international community, and primarily the American administration during the Riyadh summits, that Iranian interferences in Arab and Gulf affairs pose a threat. They also succeeded in convincing them that Iran¶s policies are the direct reason of terrorism and extremism in the region.Qatar¶s emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani¶s statements in support of Iran came as a ³mercy bullet´against all Gulf efforts, as he said ³Iran represents a regional and Islamic power that cannot be ignored, and it is unwise to face up against it.´Thus, his statements broke the siege, which was supposed to be imposed on Tehran and gave Iran a chance to benefit from the current Gulf crisis.Tehran sees in tense relations between Qatar and the Gulf a chance to improve its political relations with Doha, distance the latter from its Gulf neighbors and achieve economic and commercial gains. After boycotting countries closed air routes with Qatar, Iranian authorities announced that Qatari flights, which go through Iranian airspace increased to between 100 and 150 flights a day. This is according to the CEO of Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company Rahmatollah Mah-Abadi, as reported by the official Iranian news agency. Mohammad Lahouti, the head of Iran Export Confederation, said on June 6 that the crisis between Qatar and some Arab countries represents an important economic opportunity for Iran, noting that Qatar annually imports food products worth around USD 5 billion from neighboring countries and these needs ³can be met by Iran.´Doha¶s GapQatar¶s policies and actions in the Middle East, including its political wraglings and media debates, have been on for years. These policies propose a suitable opportunity for Iran to infiltrate the Arabs¶ranks, especially after Emir Tamim¶s May statements that confirmed everything the Qatari regime has planned for the region.Those following up with the developments of the current Gulf crisis will realize that uncertainty is a Qatari behavior that may last for a long time. This is why Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Qarqash suggested establishing a monitoring system over Qatar¶s activities. If the current crisis resumes amid Qatar¶s clear stubbornness, Doha will attract the Iranian regime to fill the strategic ³gap´which Iran can use to enter and negatively affect the Gulf system. To confront Gulf pressures, Tehran will defend Qatar¶s policies under the pretext of strategic interests. Iran will, thus, find an opportunity to deepen the current crisis and may even work to internationalize it to further complicate it and make sure it is not resolved via traditional methods and within the context of the GCC.One can say that the Qatari government¶s services to Iranian policies represent an exceptional situation in the history of the Gulf. It cannot be compared to the policy of any other country because Tehran has contradictory interests with Arab Gulf countries and it will not rest until it divides them. Iran is dedicating all its political, media and military efforts to attain this goal and the current crisis is proof to that.As a reaction, on July 2, 2017, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Abdallah Al-Mouallim, accused Qatar of sharing Iran¶s orientation that aims to create chaos in the region. He said: ³Qatar chose Iran as its ally and it supported terrorist groups for 20 years although it knew 9/30/2021 12:22:56 AM 1 / 2 what they schemed against the region¶s countries.´A ³Half Open´DoorIn order for Iran to completely benefit from the current Gulf crisis, Tehran may leave the door ³half open´to benefit from both parties. If Qatar finds itself in real trouble, it will make concessions to Iran and if Qatar quits its intransigence, Tehran would have lost nothing.Iran looks at this crisis as a ³case study´for a scenario that can be implemented later if things go as planned in ³the Riyadh summits.´The expected negative repercussions on Tehran¶s domestic situation will be much more than what Qatar is currently going through. This appeared in Iran¶s initial reactions to the Gulf boycott of Qatar as Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, said on Twitter: ³What happened is the first crack in the alliance against Iran and the preliminary result of the sword dance in Riyadh.´Point of No ReturnIt¶s strange for Qatar to resort to Iran to confront its Gulf brothers. When it comes down to this, this does not only mean there¶s an agreement to threaten stability in the region, but it means we are also about to witness new developments that may change a lot in the region. Instead of the Qatari regime restoring its balance, benefitting from the chances it was granted, reconciling with its ordinary surrounding and maintaining its relations with the region¶s people, it¶s practicing the policy of ³wasting opportunities.´The fear is that Qataris reach a point where they cannot stop cooperating with Iran.What strengthen these fears are the statements of Qatar¶s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on June 27. He implicitly said that his country rejects the demands of the boycotting countries and confirmed that the demands will be null when the deadline ends. He also voiced the importance of having constructive and positive relations with Iran.In brief, it¶s expected for Iran to provide more support to Qatar in its current crises as it desires to prolong the crisis in a way that achieves its political interests of dividing the Gulf front and expanding further in the region. Iran aims to secure further and economic interests by increasing the number of Qatari flights in its airspace and sending food exports to Doha. Meanwhile, Gulf countries will not stand idly by while Doha resumes this behavior and approach while dealing with the crisis. The developments in the relation between Qatar and Iran harm Arab and Gulf security. Thus, it is urgent to deal with this problem in a way that protects Arab and Gulf interests, and prevents granting Tehran a chance to harm Gulf countries or move forward in its scheme that targets the GCC. 9/30/2021 12:22:56 AM 2 / 2.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Jcc Iran Bg Final
    31ST ANNUAL HORACE MANN MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE OCTOBER 22, 2016 JCC: IRAN IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS JAMES CHANG & MEHR SURI GEORGE LOEWENSON CHAIR MODERATORS TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE SECRETARIAT 3 LETTER FROM THE CHAIR 4 COMMITTEE BACKGROUND 5 COMMITTEE PROCEDURE 6 THE IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS 9 OVERVIEW OF THE TOPIC 9 HISTORY 9 CURRENT SITUATION 14 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS 17 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER 18 POSITIONS 18 SOURCES 25 Horace Mann Model United Nations Conference 2 LETTER FROM THE SECRETARIAT Dahlia Krutkovich DEAR DELEGATES, Isabella Muti Henry Shapiro Secretaries-General Welcome to Horace Mann's 31st annual Model United Nations Daniel Frackman conference, HoMMUNC XXXI! Since 1985, HoMMUNC has Maya Klaris engaged the future leaders of the world in a day full of learning, Noah Shapiro Directors-General debate, and compromise. The conference brings together intellectually curious high school and middle school students to Charles Gay Zachary Gaynor contemplate and discuss serious global concerns. We are honored Ananya Kumar-Banarjee to have inherited the responsibility of preparing this event for Livia Mann over 1000 students that will participate in HoMMUNC XXXI. William Scherr Audrey Shapiro Benjamin Shapiro Regardless of your age or experience in Model UN, we challenge Senior Executive Board you to remain engaged in the discourse of your committees and Joshua Doolan truly involve yourself in the negotiation process. Each committee Jenna Freidus Samuel Harris is comprised of an eclectic group of delegates and will address Charles Hayman and important global concern. Take this opportunity to delve deep Valerie Maier Radhika Mehta into that problem: educate yourself think innovatively to create Evan Megibow the best solutions, and lead the committee to a resolution that Jada Yang Under-Secretaries- could better the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Antarctica a Dream Destination Opposition Calls for Elected Govt
    NEWS SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2014 Iran not considering alternative UN pick Continued from Page 1 Obama’s desk on Thursday. Carney did the nomination, but Araqchi’s comments not say whether Obama would eventual- yesterday appeared to indicate that such Mohammad Javad Zarif to write to UN ly sign it, but he added: “We certainly a step is not a palatable option for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to fight share the intent of the bill passed by President Hassan Rouhani’s government. the US decision. Congress.” Aboutalebi, who currently heads The visa row poses a challenge to US The bill amends a section of the exist- Rouhani’s political affairs bureau, has President Barack Obama’s drive for a ing Foreign Relations Authorisations Act insisted he was not part of the hostage- diplomatic breakthrough and a global to allow Washington to withhold visas for taking in Nov 1979, when an Islamist stu- deal over Iran’s disputed nuclear pro- individuals who have “engaged in a ter- dent group seized the US embassy nine gram. Aboutalebi is a former ambassador rorist activity against the United States”. months after the overthrow of the pro- to Australia, Italy and Belgium. As the Carney said there was no reason to Western shah. host government, the United States is expect that the row between Tehran and Some of the former hostage takers are obliged to issue visas to diplomats who Washington over the envoy would now moderates or reformers, including serve at the United Nations. It is believed impact progress in talks between Iran Vice President for Environmental Affairs that Washington has never previously and world powers, including the United Massoumeh Ebtekar, one of three denied a visa for a UN ambassador, States, over Tehran’s nuclear activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Did Economic Sanctions Cause Inequality in the US-Iran Relations?
    Did Economic Sanctions Cause Inequality in the US-Iran Relations? Agnese Macaluso 2015 Abstract Over the last three decades, relations between Iran and the United States have been dominated by hostility and economic restrictions. In the autumn of 2013, however, Iran and the P5+1 began negotiating over what was welcomed as an historical nuclear deal. After almost two years of difficult negotiations, a comprehensive agreement has now been reached, though it has not yet been ratified. The announcement triggered new optimism over the future of their relations but also doubts on the sustainability and durability of such an agreement. This paper both explores the extent to which the inequality that has characterized the relations between Iran and the US has been the cause of the deadlock, and discusses the way in which the lack of both procedural and distributive justice has hindered negotiations. The paper also discusses the implications, for the concept and perception of equality and durable peace, of pursuing an agreement by imposing economic sanctions. Did Economic Sanctions Cause Inequality in the US-Iran Relations? Agnese Macaluso Abou t the Au th or Agnese Macaluso is a Researcher in the Conflict Prevention Program of The Hague institute for Global Justice. She focuses on economic sanctions and conflict prevention and is currently involved in research projects in the field of institutions and governance and education. Ackl ow ed gem ents The author thanks Dr. Andrew Futter and Rens de Man for insightful discussions and for taking the time to provide feedback on earlier versions of this paper. The author is also grateful to Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Implementing the Iran Nuclear Deal: a Status Report
    Implementing the Iran Nuclear Deal: A Status Report Middle East Report N°173 | 16 January 2017 Headquarters International Crisis Group Avenue Louise 149 • 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 • Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. So Far, so Good? ............................................................................................................... 3 A. Nuclear Commitments ............................................................................................... 3 B. Sanctions Relief Commitments ................................................................................. 5 C. Transactional, not Transformational ........................................................................ 10 III. If it Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix it ............................................................................................. 12 IV. Sustaining and Improving the JCPOA ............................................................................. 17 V. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 21 APPENDICES A. Map of Iran ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Official Journal C 81 Volume 39 of the European Communities 19 March 1996
    ISSN 0378-6986 Official Journal C 81 Volume 39 of the European Communities 19 March 1996 English edition Information and Notices Notice No Contents Page I Information Council and Commission 96/C 81 /01 Mission of third countries 1 Commission 96/C 81 /02 Ecu 5 96/C 81 /03 List of documents forwarded by the Commission to the Council during the period 4 to 8 . 3 . 1996 6 96/C 81 /04 Authorization for State aid pursuant to Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections 8 96/C 81 /05 Appointment of the members for the fifth term of office of the Scientific Advisory Committee to examine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of chemical compounds 12 96/C 81 /06 Prior notification of a concentration ( Case No IV/M.722 — Teneo/Merill Lynch/ Bankers Trust) ( x ) 13 EN i (') Text with EEA relevance (Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page II Preparatory Acts Commission 96/C 81 /07 Amended proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 85 /337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment O 14 III Notices Commission 96/C 81 /08 Outcome of the invitation to tender (Community food aid) 18 96/C 81 /09 European economic interest grouping — Notices published pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2137/ 85 of 25 July 1985 — Formation 19 96/C 81 / 10 Study on the free movement of goods — Post-information notice 19 96/C 81 / 11 Purchase of an armour-plated all-roads vehicle for patrol duty — Restricted procedure 20 96/C 81 / 12 Revision , maintenance and
    [Show full text]
  • Senate Commerce Committee Republican Members: Democratic Members: Thune, John (SD), Chairman Nelson, Bill (FL), Ranking Member Wicker, Roger F
    Senate Commerce Committee Republican Members: Democratic Members: Thune, John (SD), Chairman Nelson, Bill (FL), Ranking Member Wicker, Roger F. (MS) Cantwell, Maria (WA) Blunt, Roy (MO) Klobuchar, Amy (MN) Cruz, Ted (TX) Blumenthal, Richard (CT) Fischer, Deb (NE) Schatz, Brian (HI) Moran, Jerry (KS) Markey, Edward J. (MA) Sullivan, Dan (AK) Udall, Tom (NM) Heller, Dean (NV) Peters, Gary C. (MI) Inhofe, James M. (OK) Baldwin, Tammy (WI) Lee, Mike (UT) Duckworth, Tammy (IL) Johnson, Ron (WI) Hassan, Margaret Wood (NH) CaPito, Shelley Moore (WV) Cortez Masto, Catherine (NV) Gardner, Cory (CO) Tester, Jon (Montana) Young, Todd (IN) John Thune CHAIRMAN (56) R-SD elected 2004 United States Senate SD-511 Phone: (202) 224-2321 Director of Scheduling: [email protected] [email protected] Chief of Staff: Brendon Plack [email protected] Telecommunications Legislative Aide: [email protected] Health Legislative Correspondent: [email protected] Senior Policy Advisor Agriculture, Environment [email protected] Committees and Subcommittees: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Senate Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade Senate Subcommittee on Livestock, Marketing and Agriculture Security Senate Subcommittee on Rural DeveloPment and Energy Bios Senate Commerce Committee – 115th Congress 1 Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Subcommittee on Aviation OPerations, Safety, and Security Senate Subcommittee on Communications,
    [Show full text]
  • The Obama Administration and the Puzzle of the Iranian Nuclear Program Kaitlin E
    Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont Scripps Senior Theses Scripps Student Scholarship 2014 Keeping Iran from the Bomb: The Obama Administration and the Puzzle of the Iranian Nuclear Program Kaitlin E. Marshall Scripps College Recommended Citation Marshall, Kaitlin E., "Keeping Iran from the Bomb: The Obama Administration and the Puzzle of the Iranian Nuclear Program" (2014). Scripps Senior Theses. Paper 387. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/387 This Open Access Senior Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Scripps Student Scholarship at Scholarship @ Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in Scripps Senior Theses by an authorized administrator of Scholarship @ Claremont. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ! ! ! KEEPING IRAN FROM THE BOMB: THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND THE PUZZLE OF THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR !PROGRAM ! ! ! ! by! KAITLIN E. MARSHALL! ! ! SUBMITTED TO SCRIPPS COLLEGE IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR! OF ARTS ! ! ! PROFESSOR ANDREWS PROFESSOR BODUSZYNSKI! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! APRIL 25, 2014 !1 Table of Contents! Foreword Page 4 Chapter One: A Historic Phone Call Introduction Page 6 Literature Review: Politics Page 11 Literature Review: The Evolution of Stereotypes Page 14 Method Page 17 Chapter Organization Page 18 Conclusion Page 20 Chapter Two: The Hostage Crisis and the Origins of American-Iranian Hostility Build-Up to Revolution Page 22 The United States’ Fears and President Carter’s Mistake Page 25 Imagery of the Great Satan
    [Show full text]
  • The Strategic Gap : عوﺿوﻣﻟا مﺳا How Does Iran Benefit from the Gulf ﻋﻧوان
    The Strategic Gap : ωϭοϭϣϟ΍ϡγ΍ How does Iran Benefit from the Gulf : ωϭοϭϣϟ΍ϥ΍ϭϧϋ Crisis? 06/07/2017 : έηϧϟ΍ΦϳέΎΗ ϲϓ΍ϭλϟ΍ϥΎϔϠΧΩϣΣϣ : ΏΗΎϛϟ΍ϡγ΍ : ωϭοϭϣϟ΍ With the eruption of any crisis in the Middle East, a state of anticipation reigns over how the Iranian regime will exploit this crisis in its favor. This has happened a lot particularly considering Tehran¶s relation with a number of sectarian organizations in some Arab countries like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi militia in Yemen. However, the situation seems different in terms of the current crisis between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on one hand, and Qatar on another. This time the crisis is on the state-level, rather than an organization or a militia like previous times. Therefore, the expected repercussions will be more severe and different on the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is considered the most coherent system in the Arab world on the level of confronting Iran¶s regional ambitions.One must note that Iran and Qatar practice the same policy, which is the ³game of contradictions.´Therefore, both of them cannot trust each other. This indicates that any agreement between them remains tactical, and would only serves them for a short period, rather than having a long-term strategic agreement. Iran¶s Pragmatism There are two remarks to consider regarding the layout of Iranian-Arab relations. The first one is that Iran always seeks to exploit any disagreements that occur in the region either among countries or within groups in a single country.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 113 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 160 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014 No. 52 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was Federal minimum wage and to amend the In- I am beginning to think April Fools’ called to order by the President pro ternal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend in- Day arrived 1 day early. See, it is a tempore (Mr. LEAHY). creased expensing limitations and the treat- fool’s errand for the Koch brothers to ment of certain real property as section 179 property. think they can use their money to PRAYER frighten me or to brainwash Nevadans SCHEDULE The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- or the rest of the country. They are Mr. REID. Mr. President, following fered the following prayer: my remarks and those of the Repub- spending lots of money to try to do Let us pray. lican leader, the Senate will be in a pe- that. People of this Nation trace their Holy God, all Your works do praise riod of morning business for 1 hour, freedom of speech back to the Con- Your Name on the Earth, in the sky, with the majority controlling the first stitution, not a bank account which and on the sea. Great is Your faithful- half and the Republicans the final half. has lots and lots of zeros at the end. ness. Stir Your edifying spirit among Following morning business, the Sen- The Koch brothers are trying to use our Senators, liberating them from ate will resume consideration of H.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Iran and the Nuclear Deal April 29, 2015 Contents
    POMEPS STUDIES 13 Iran and the Nuclear Deal April 29, 2015 Contents Iran’s Domestic Politics Where Iran’s hard-liners diverge from the moderates . 5 By Shervin Malekzadeh, Swarthmore College Iran’s grass-roots politics and the nuclear deal . 8 By Mohammad Ali Kadivar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Ali Honari, VU University Amsterdam Iran’s political economy under and after the sanctions . 10 By Kevan Harris, Princeton University How Iranians are debating the nuclear deal . 12 By Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Texas A&M University Iran’s conservative consensus on the nuclear deal . 15 By Farzan Sabet, Graduate Institute, Geneva and Georgetown University Understanding Iran’s supreme leader on the nuclear deal . .. 18 By Eric Lob, Florida International University and Amir Hossein Mahdavi, Brandeis University Will Iran’s parliament block the nuclear deal? . 20 By Paasha Mahdavi, University of California, Los Angeles The Negotiations and Nonproliferation If you really want to bomb Iran, take the deal . 23 By Austin Long, Columbia University Why the Iran deal is a logical extension of U .S . nonproliferation policy . 24 By Nick Miller, Brown University and Or Rabinowitz, Tel Aviv University Why U .S . intelligence is right about Iran . 26 By Joshua Rovner, Southern Methodist University What Americans really think about an Iran deal . .. 28 By Steven Kull and Shibley Telhami, University of Maryland Iranian scientists and the nuclear deal . 31 By Alexander H. Montgomery, Reed College The Iranian nuclear controversy is also about saving face . 33 By Thomas E. Doyle, II, Texas State University The real vs . the surreal options on Iran .
    [Show full text]
  • Iran: Internal Politics and U.S
    Iran: Internal Politics and U.S. Policy and Options Updated March 6, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL32048 Iran: Internal Politics and U.S. Policy and Options Summary Ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the United States and Iran have been at odds, although to varying degrees of intensity. During the 1980s and 1990s, U.S. officials identified Iran’s support for militant Middle East groups as the primary threat posed by Iran to U.S. interests and allies. Iran’s nuclear program took precedence in U.S. policy after 2002 as the potential for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon increased. In 2010, the Obama Administration orchestrated broad international economic pressure on Iran to persuade it to agree to strict limits on the program. The pressure contributed to the June 2013 election of the relatively moderate Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran and the July 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement—the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPOA). That agreement exchanged sanctions relief for limits on Iran’s nuclear program, but did not contain binding limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program or any curbs on its regional influence or its human rights abuses. The Trump Administration cited these deficiencies of the JCPOA in its May 8, 2018, announcement that the United States would exit the JCPOA and re-impose all U.S. secondary sanctions by November 4, 2018. The stated intent of Trump Administration policy is to apply maximum economic pressure on Iran to compel it to change its behavior on the various issues of concern to the United States, particularly its support for pro-Iranian regimes and armed factions.
    [Show full text]
  • CHAPTER 1 Nationality, Citizenship, and Immigration
    Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Nationality, Citizenship, and Immigration ................................................................................. 1 A. NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP ................................................................................ 1 1. Hizam: Proof of Citizenship Issued Erroneously ................................................................. 1 2. Gonzalez: Lack of Derivative Citizenship for Child Without Legal Status......................... 3 3. Chacoty: Definition of Residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act ............... 10 4. Policy Change Regarding Children Born Abroad Through Assisted Reproductive Technology (“ART”) ......................................................................................................... 17 5. Passports as Proof of Citizenship ....................................................................................... 19 B. PASSPORTS ........................................................................................................................ 19 1. Corrected Opinion in Edwards relating to Passport as Proof of Citizenship ..................... 19 2. Tuaua: Notation on Passports Issued to Non-Citizen U.S. Nationals................................ 22 C. IMMIGRATION AND VISAS ........................................................................................... 26 1. De Osorio: Status of “Aged-Out” Child
    [Show full text]