Articles – Page 21 – Seyed Hossein Mousavian

US-Iran talks are an opportunity for reconciliation that must not be wasted

Posted on September 18, 2013

The recent exchange of letters between Iranian and American presidents, coupled with positive statements from two capitals have created hopes for a possible breakthrough in Iran-US relations. Iran is ready to “build trust” with the United States, Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, stated and White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said: “We remain ready to engage with the Rouhani government on the basis of mutual respect to achieve a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue.”

“US-Iran talks are an opportunity for reconciliation that must not be wasted,” Hossein Mousavian, the Guardian, September 18, 2013.

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The US with Iran in Syria

Posted on September 12, 2013

Both Iran and the US consider the use of weapons of mass destruction a grave crime. Indeed, Iran was a major victim of chemical-weapons attacks during its 1980-1988 war with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Iran can be a major partner to halt proliferation of WMDs in Syria, the Middle East, and beyond.

Iran maintains that the Security Council is the only body legally authorized to verify allegations concerning the use of such deadly weapons and to decide on the appropriate response. One promising avenue for US-Iran cooperation on Syria could be joint support for a fact-finding mission by the Security Council to identify the perpetrators. Obama has his “red line” on the use of chemical weapons. So does Ayatollah Khamenei.

“The US with Iran in Syria,” Hossein Mousavian, Project Syndicate, September 11, 2013.

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Hope From Iran, but Not If There’s an Attack

Posted on September 5, 2013

In the aftermath of 9/11 terrorist attacks, Iran and the United States engaged and cooperated directly in the war on terror. This partnership in Afghanistan resulted in the fall of the Taliban and Al Qaeda there, forming a representative government based on democratic principles. This experience can serve as a blueprint for a new collaboration on Syria.

The implications of this cooperation will not be limited to the Syrian crisis and instead would be vital for the security and stability of the whole region. Multiple crisis in the Middle East require broader management for the time, and therefore, crisis management of this and other crises would be a useful path for regional collaboration between Tehran and Washington under the United Nation’s charter.

“Hope From Iran, but Not If There’s an Attack,” Hossein Mousavian, the New York Times, September 4, 2013.

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Eight Reasons Why US, Iran Must Manage Syria Crisis

Posted on August 29, 2013

The collaboration should take place in the framework of the UN Security Council. Iran and the United States can have a constructive and purposeful collaboration within the boundaries of a new plan orchestrated by the UN Security Council in order to save the Middle East from falling into the abyss of civil and sectarian war. Needless to say, Moscow, Beijing, the European Union and the powerful countries in the Middle East must have constructive and efficient roles and presence in this collaboration. This path will facilitate resolving the nuclear crisis of Iran and will open a new door in ending the 33 years of hostilities between Iran and the United States.

“Eight Reasons Why US, Iran Must Manage Syria Crisis,” Hossein Mousavian, Al-Monitor, August 28, 2013.

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Sectarian War, the Major Threat to the Middle East

Posted on August 10, 2013

In the coming years, one of the most important security challenges for the Middle East will be the emerging sectarian and civil war in Syria spilling over into Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. While a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear file is a must, the UN Security Council and regional countries should consider “sectarian war” the most imminent threat to the peace and security of the Middle East, with potentially disastrous consequences for the world. No country in the Middle East would be safe from the repercussions of a sectarian war. Delaying measures to mitigate the sectarian crisis facing the region will risk making its resolution impossible in the future.

“Sectarian War, the Major Threat to the Middle East,” Hossein Mousavian, Asharq Al Awsat, August 10, 2013.

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با اظهار ندامت فاطمه رجبی، موسویان گذشت کرد

Posted on August 3, 2013

با اظهار ندامت فاطمه رجبی، موسویان گذشت کرد – الف – ۱۲ مرداد ۱۳۹۲

ادامه مطلب

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Netanyahu’s Threats Undermine Possible Nuclear Deal With Iran

Posted on July 22, 2013

Regrettably, Iran and its European counterparts failed to reach a final agreement because President George W. Bush continued to deny the legitimate rights of Iran under the NPT, altering the balance of forces in Iran toward those in favor of radicalism. Once again, with President-elect Rouhani, there is a golden opportunity for the US to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.

Netanyahu needs to know that Rouhani is neither wolf nor sheep. He is a pragmatic politician who has already proved his sincerity to realize a peaceful, sustainable and realistic solution to the nuclear dilemma. The US should not miss or dismiss this unique opportunity. President Obama should be brave and invest political capital to pursue a direct and broad deal with Iran and end over three decades of hostilities. Such historical achievements require Netanyahu to recognize a fact: US-Iran rapprochement is the only way to decrease tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

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False claims by Taghizadeh’s article in Roozonline

Posted on July 19, 2013

Mr. Taghizadeh’s inaccurate piece in Roozonline on July 13, 2013, aims to stir controversy surrounding Dr. Mousavian’s initial arrival in the US and work at Princeton University. The piece falsely claims that Dr. Haleh Esfandiari worked with and was instrumental in bringing Dr. Mousavian to Princeton University. Mr. Taghizadeh made the mistake in confusing the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC, where Dr. Esfandiari is Director of Middle East Program, with the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, where Dr. Mousavian is currently Associate Research Scholar. Dr. Esfandiari response to the editor of Roozonline stated that she has met Dr. Mousavian once briefly at his book launch. Moreover, Mr. Taghizadeh claims Dr. Mousavian’s work at Princeton University is funded by the Alavi Foundation. This assertion is also false, particularly since the foundation’s finances have for years been under the control of the US judicial system and any financial allocations are made public. There have been no funds from Alavi Foundation earmarked for Dr. Mousavian.

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Rouhani’s Nuclear Options

Posted on July 10, 2013

[Author’s note: The views in this paper were presented prior to the Iranian presidential election at the NPT Prepcom on April 25 and publicly at Global Zero event at University of California-Irvine on May 23, 2013 respectively. This paper does not reflect in anyway the official position of the Iranian government.]

The Iranian nuclear dilemma is centered on the legitimate rights of Iran to enrichment under the NPT, and is not about building a nuclear bomb. Iran has signed onto every Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) convention, such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1997, the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in 1996, and the NPT in 1970. Such conventions entail rights and obligations for all signatories. The West, however, has chosen, in contravention of international law, to carry out a coercive policy whereby Iran is pressed on obligations while its rights are denied.

“Rouhani’s Nuclear Options,” Hossein Mousavian, Asharq Al-Awsat, July 10, 2013.

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Nuclear Options for Iran’s New President (Arabic)

Posted on July 9, 2013

ستكون هناك فرصة أكبر لتحقيق انفراجة دبلوماسية في الجمود بشأن البرنامج النووي الإيراني خلال الولاية الثانية للرئيس الأميركي باراك أوباما، الذي طالب القادة الإيرانيين، في خطاب حالة الاتحاد لعام 2013، بـ«الاعتراف بأن هذا هو الوقت المناسب للتوصل إلى حل دبلوماسي». وعلاوة على ذلك، يأتي فوز كبير المفاوضين النوويين الإيرانيين حسن روحاني بانتخابات الرئاسة الإيرانية الشهر الماضي ليقدم آفاقا جديدة للمفاوضات.

“Nuclear Options for Iran’s New President,” Hossein Mousavian, Asharq Al-Awsat, July 9, 2013. (Arabic)