This brings about threats and opportunities for Iran, the Iranian policymaker says. “The 38-year history of the Islamic Republic shows that it has performed well in the face of threats but acted weakly in putting to use its opportunities,” Mousavian stated.
“Iran’s dos and don’ts under Trump,” Iranian Diplomacy, November 13, 2016.
A former Iranian ambassador discusses the Iran nuclear deal and Presidential politics. Seyed Hossein Mousavian is an expert on U.S.-Iran relations. Mousavian says the nuclear deal will close Iran’s pathway to a nuclear bomb, and dismisses criticisms by Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump that the agreement is a bad deal for the United States. This story aired on the ONR on OETA-The Oklahoma Network.
“Newsmaker Interview: Seyed Hossein Mousavian,” OETA-The Oklahoma Network, September 9, 2016.
The solution is to not fall for this psychological ploy. International banks and companies should rest assured that nuclear-related sanctions on Iran are gone for good and that there is nothing the United States can do — neither now nor in the future — to reimpose them without destroying its credibility at the same time. Iranian officials, meanwhile, should be careful to not play into the hands of the deal’s American opponents and increase uncertainty about the future of the JCPOA.
“How to kick-start Iran-US regional cooperation,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, Al Monitor, August 3, 2016.
“The relationship between Kerry and Zarif was hugely impactful in terms of reaching the [nuclear deal] and continuing cooperation afterwards. However, because it is more a personal relationship and not institutionalized, it is hard to imagine how this level of dialogue can continue once Obama leaves office,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former nuclear negotiator for Iran, wrote in an email. “The channels of communication need to be formalized,” Mousavian continued.
“Obama Administration Will Hand Off Iran Portfolio To An Uncertain Future,” Jessica Schulberg, The Huffington Post, July 14, 2016.
The United States, along with France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia, reached a historic deal with Iran last July that lifts most sanctions in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program. The deal, codified in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, specifically includes allowing non-American banks to operate in Iran.
“Obama Needs to Protect the Iran Deal,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Reza Nasri, The New York Times, June 20, 2016.
The nuclear deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 world powers last summer, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was predicated on a basic give-and-take. In exchange for Iran agreeing to intrusive international inspections and monitoring and limits on its enrichment and heavy water capacity for a confidence-building period, the P5+1 would respect Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment and remove all nuclear-related sanctions. Today, the future of this quid pro quo is under threat — and not from the Iranian side.
“U.S. Torpedoing the Nuclear Deal Will Reaffirm Iran’s Distrust,” Hossein Mousavian and Sina Toossi, The Huffington Post, April 29, 2016.
Addressing meeting of Global Relations Council in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, Syyed Hossein Mousavian described the relations between Iran and the US as the most complicated in today’s world of diplomacy.
“Iran showed goodwill to remove US hostility: Mousavian,” The Iran Project, April 2, 2016.
Seyyed Hossein Mousavian, a former official at Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and an ex-member of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, has spoken about the efforts made by different Iranian administrations within the past decades to enhance the country’s ties with Europe, and the requirements for having sustainable ties with the European Union.
“Iran-Europe Ties: Past, Present, and Future,” Iran Front Page, February 5, 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.
