Engaging Iran: How Broad an Agenda?
By Ellen Laipson – Over the past week, the revelations of a second, secret nuclear enrichment facility in Iran have altered the tone and content of upcoming talks between the Perm-5 (US, China, Russia, France and the UK) plus 1 (Germany) and Iran. The international community has rallied around these reports, reinforced by a defiant […]
As Iran Simmers, the Nuclear Clock Ticks On
By Emile El-Hokayem – As the power struggle in Iran morphs from public unrest and street protests into a more diffuse, opaque and protracted dispute, what are the regional security implications of these profound changes? Much hangs on how Iran’s neighbours and the great powers assess the nature of the system that is emerging from […]
Ellen Laipson with Paul Salem on Bloggingheads.tv
Bloggingheads.tv (6/30/2009) Ellen Laipson and Paul Salem from the Carnegie Middle East Center discuss current events in the Middle East, including the Iranian election Paul sees an “Obama effect” in Iran (04:16) Iran loses its luster in the eyes of Muslims (07:24) Why Ellen is optimistic about Iraq (05:09) Lebanon + Iran + Obama = […]
Cairo: The Perfect Storm?
By Carrie Chomuik – President Obama selected Cairo as the location of his speech to the Muslim world because of its historical importance in the region and close ties to the United States. Despite this underlying symbolism, Egypt is struggling to remain a relevant power in the Arab world. The country is not only competing […]
Gulf-US Relations in 2008: A Year of Transition
This book chapter appeared in the Gulf Yearbook 2008-2009, published by the Gulf Research Center. The year 2008 turned out to be one of relative stability in the Gulf. During its last year in power, the Bush administration focused on stabilizing Iraq, re-calibrating its policy towards Iran and strengthening ties with the countries of the […]
Engaging Iran: Strategic Goal or Means to an End?
By Ellen Laipson – When President Khatami was elected in 1997, the Clinton Administration, in its second term, saw an opportunity to change the tone of US-Iran relations, and hoped to change the content and the outcomes as well. But the failure to achieve a breakthrough in the late 1990s must take into account a […]
Iran’s Stakes In The New Iraq: Dilemmas For The Region And For Washington
Luncheon Roundtable The Century Foundation and the Henry L. Stimson Center are pleased to invite you to a luncheon roundtable on Friday, 1 May 2009, to discuss Iran’s Stakes in the New Iraq: Dilemmas for the Region and for Washington. The U.S. war to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s fiercely Arab nationalist regime in Iraq has opened […]