Publications – Page 16 – Seyed Hossein Mousavian

The New Iranian Parliament Is Loyal to Khamenei but Advocating for Rouhani

Posted on March 4, 2016

On Feb. 26, Iran held its 10th parliamentary election since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and fifth election for its Assembly of Experts, the clerical body that appoints the supreme leader. Members of parliament serve four-year terms, while members of the assembly serve 8-year terms. The elections were relatively competitive; nearly 5,000 candidates vied for 290 seats in parliament and 161 for 88 seats in the Assembly of Experts.

“The New Iranian Parliament Is Loyal to Khamenei but Advocating for Rouhani,” Hossein Mousavian, The Huffington Post, March 2, 2016.

Articles, Publications

The Iran-Saudi Conflict and the End Game

Posted on February 21, 2016

“Iran has to choose whether it wants to live by the rules of the international system, or remain a revolutionary state committed to expansion and to defiance of international law,” Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel al Jubeir stated recently in an op-ed in the New York Times.

“The Iran-Saudi Conflict and the End Game,” Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Mehrdad Saberi, Harvard Belfer Center, February 18, 2016.

Articles, Publications

7 things to consider before sending troops to Syria

Posted on February 15, 2016

Saudi Arabia has offered to deploy ground forces in support of the US-led coalition’s fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria — apparently with American support. Such a move will undoubtedly make the conflict even more nightmarish.

“7 things to consider before sending troops to Syria,” Hossein Mousavian, Al Monitor, February 12, 2016.

Articles, Publications

Dealing With Iran: The Key Word Is ‘Respect’

Posted on January 31, 2016

In “Talk to Tehran, but Talk Tough” (Op-Ed, Jan. 19), Nicholas Burns, a former under secretary of state, calls for President Obama and whoever succeeds him to find a “right balance” on Iran that straddles “between cooperation on nuclear issues and containment of Iranian aggression.” The surefire way to ensure that Iran abandons its obligations under the deal is to return to a policy of coercion.

“Dealing With Iran: The Key Word Is ‘Respect,” Hossein Mousavian, New York Times, January 26, 2016.

Articles, Publications

L’Iran d’Hassan Rohani est une chance pour la France (French)

Posted on January 31, 2016

Le président iranien Hassan Rohani est arrivé à Paris le 27 janvier. Cette visite marque le début d’une nouvelle ère des relations politiques et économiques entre les deux pays. Les conséquences d’un approfondissement de leurs liens se feront sentir au Proche-Orient et en Europe. Reste à savoir si ces pourparlers directs entre les présidents français et iranien déboucheront sur une relation solide et durable entre Paris et Téhéran.

English Version

Farsi Version

“L’Iran d’Hassan Rohani est une chance pour la France,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, Le Monde, January 27, 2016.

Articles, Publications

Despite Iran Deal, U.S.-Iran Relations Still Very Much Up in the Air

Posted on January 25, 2016

The implementation of the Iran nuclear deal was a landmark achievement. Iran has at last received long-awaited sanctions relief after fulfilling its obligations under the agreement, verified last week by a report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It remains unclear, however, if the way has now been cleared for greater economic development and an enhancement of Iran’s foreign relations, which have been goals of the centrist administration of President Hassan Rouhani.

“Despite Iran Deal, U.S.-Iran Relations Still Very Much Up in the Air,” Hossein Mousavian, The Huffington Post, January 21, 2016.

Articles, Publications

America needs Iranian cooperation

Posted on January 16, 2016

When the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 world powers kicked off with renewed hope after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration in August 2013, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quick to endorse the diplomatic efforts but also stressed that the “U.S. government is not trustworthy.” Indeed, the main impediment to normal relations between Iran and the United States since the 1979 Islamic Revolution has been the mutual mistrust between the two sides. Iran, for its part, has a long list of legitimate grievances. The U.S. supported Saddam Hussein in the conflict that began with his invasion of Iran in 1980, sparking an eight-year war that cost the lives of over 300,000 Iranians and resulted in an estimated $1.19 trillion in damage to both sides. During the war, the Iraqi army used chemical weapons against Iran, killing and injuring over 50,000 civilians.

“America needs Iranian cooperation,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, USAToday, January 14, 2016.

Articles, Publications

14 Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Is a Failed Mideast Power

Posted on January 12, 2016

Saudi Arabia started 2016 shamefully by carrying out its largest mass execution since 1980, putting 47 men to death on Jan. 2. Among them were at least four prominent Shia activists, including a leader of the kingdom’s Shia minority, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The killings have spurred a new round of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two regional powers.

“14 Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Is a Failed Mideast Power,” Hossein Mousavian, January 7, 2016.

Articles, Publications

Targeting Muslims Is the Real Threat to Peace

Posted on December 29, 2015

Years from now, historians will likely look back at this period in American history as one of heightened prejudice amongst a significant portion of the public and shortsightedness amongst many political leaders. You do not even have to stretch the rhetoric of some Republican presidential candidates too much to spotmetaphors comparing Islam to Nazism! However, in this seeming contest to see who can be the most Islamophobic between the GOP presidential candidates, frontrunner Donald Trump has clearly outdone the rest.

“Targeting Muslims Is the Real Threat to Peace,” Hossein Mousavian, December 29, 2015.

Articles, Publications

A Sensible Strategy to Counter ISIS (Spanish)

Posted on December 20, 2015

Los atentados terroristas cometidos por el Estado Islámico (ISIS en sus siglas en inglés)en París y California han supuesto un antes y un después. Occidente tiene ya claro que no es posible contener al ISIS, sino que hay que derrotarlo de forma contundente. Pero hay que evitar tener una reacción desmesurada y contraproducente como la que provocaron los atentados del 11-S. La amenaza terrorista es hoy mayor que nunca. Ha llegado el momento de que las autoridades occidentales adopten estrategias nuevas y audaces, cuyo objetivo fundamental sea involucrar a todas las potencias de Oriente Próximo.

“Una estrategia sensata contra el ISIS,” Hossein Mousavian, El Pais, December 18, 2015.