Research & Commentary Results

Iran’s Judiciary Chief Sadegh Larijani has called for the creation of special courts where individuals and government officials can file lawsuits against U.S. sanctions and “adventurous moves” in the region, the Iranian media reported. Speaking to Judiciary officials in Tehran, Larijani praised the Iranian Parliament for passing a bill to counter U.S. actions in the region in response to the latest U.S. sanctions on Iranian entities involved in the country’s missile program and support for terrorism.

Do a series of recent diplomatic moves by Saudi Arabia signal an opportunity for de-escalation of regional conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen? MEI scholars Gerald Feierstein, Randa Slim, and Charles Lister join Paul Salem to discuss the dynamics playing out between Riyadh and Tehran as the war against ISIS enters its final phase.

On Wednesday, the chief of the Iranian Armed Forces met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli in Ankara to discuss ways

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned that Tehran would restart the country’s nuclear program within hours if the U.S. government imposes additional sanctions on the Islamic Republic, the Iranian media reported. “America’s new statesmen should know that the failed experience of sanction and coercion brought their previous administrations to the negotiating table.

Iran has set up 10 new rapid reaction brigades and plans to create more units to bolster its counterterrorism efforts, President Hassan Rouhani’s defense minister nominee has told the country’s parliament. Introducing his plans for the Defense Ministry, Brigadier General Amir Hatami added that five of the new brigades have been established within the country’s Artesh (regular army), whereas the remainder consisted Islamic Revolution Guards Force (I.R.G.C.) Ground Force units.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) rejected U.S. claim that an Iranian drone came dangerously close to a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, and stressed that it will continue its “routine” air patrol in the region despite U.S. warnings.

The commander of the Iranian Navy announced today that the country will unveil new home-made vessels and a missile launching warship, Fars News Agency reported. “New equipment, including surface and subsurface vessels units, and other equipment made in the country will be unveiled in the Northern and Southern parts (waters) of the country,” Rear Admiral Sayyari said, addressing a ceremony in the Northern port city of Bandar Anzali.

In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Paul Salem, Gonul Tol, Alex Vatanka, and Jonathan M. Winer provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic engagements in the region, Turkey’s consideration of military operations in northern Syria, Iranian President Rouhani’s centrist cabinet nominations, and Libyan leaders’ decision between greater cooperation or renewed confrontation.

Read the full article on Foreign Affairs.

Iranian media outlets, analysts and politicians warn that Saudi Arabia and its regional allies are cultivating close ties with Muqtada al-Sadr and other Iraqi Shiite clerics and political leaders to roll back Iran’s influence in post-Islamic State Iraq and the broader region. While some suggest that Riyadh’s outreach to Iraqi Shiites is part of the kingdom’s efforts to defuse tension with Tehran, others see it as a plot to isolate Iran. At the center of this debate is al-Sadr, who recently visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and is scheduled to travel to Egypt soon.

Iran sent another drone close to a U.S. Navy aircraft carried in the Persian Gulf on Sunday, the media reported today. Last week, an Iranian drone had an “unsafe” encounter with a U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet as it was landing aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz in the Persian Gulf. Navy Lt.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed ways to expand bilateral relations between the two countries in a telephone call today, the Iranian and Russia

From Tehran’s view, Hezbollah’s military operation against Nusra Front militants on the outskirts of the Lebanese town of Arsal near the Syrian border signifies Hezbollah’s growing political and military influence in Lebanon and the broader region.  “There was more cooperation between Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army in the battle of Arsal than at any time in the past. And this cooperation signifies fundamental changes in Lebanon’s political sphere.

Iranian leaders have reacted angrily to the beheading of an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) officer by the Islamic State in Syria. Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, condemned the “savage act” and vowed revenge.

Senior Iranian clerics today blasted the latest U.S. sanctions against Tehran and called on the Rouhani government to take strong retaliatory measures against Washington.