Robert Malley for Iran Envoy: A Test Case for Biden’s Commitment to Diplomacy

Biden’s response to the far-right uproar against Malley will be a test of his fortitude in standing up to the hawks and charting a new course for U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Medea Benjamin
Ariel Gold
By Medea Benjamin
And Ariel Gold
Robert Malley Feature photo

President Biden’s commitment to re-entering the Iran nuclear deal—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA—is already facing backlash from a motley crew of warhawks both domestic and foreign. Right now, opponents of re-entering the deal are centering their vitriol on one of the nation’s foremost experts on both the Middle

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International Calls for Iran’s Leaders to Refuse Resignation of Foreign Minister Javad Zarif

The U.S.-educated Zarif, a longtime critic of hard-liners in both the United States and his own country, was instrumental in securing the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Jessica Corbett
By Jessica Corbett
Hassan Rouhani | Mohammad Javad Zarif

The pending resignation of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif—which the diplomat announced on Instagram Monday but has not yet been accepted by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani—has sparked international alarm over the future of the Iran nuclear deal, which Zarif and European leaders have been trying to save since U.S. President Donald

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Trump “Actively Discussing” Mattis Replacement, Looking for Cooperative Iran Hawk

Mattis is the last remaining high-ranking member of the Trump cabinet who has publicly opposed the President’s Iran policy, particularly the U.S.’ unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal.

Whitney Webb
By Whitney Webb
U.S. Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis at the Pentagon, Wash. DC., Aug. 23, 2018. DoD | Angelita Lawrence

WASHINGTON -- Media reports emerged this week that suggest that U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis may soon find himself out of a job, as President Donald Trump and his closest advisors are now “actively” discussing possible candidates to replace the Pentagon chief. Back in late June, MintPress News reported on related concerns that Mattis

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Iran Continuing to Honor Its Side of Nuclear Deal Despite US Withdrawal

“[If preserving the nuclear deal is the goal], then there is no escape from mustering the courage to comply with commitment to normalize Iran’s economic relations instead of making extraneous demands.” — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Emma Fiala
By Emma Fiala
iran nuclear deal

TEHRAN, IRAN -- The second International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) quarterly report since U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and impose sanctions on Iran has, once again, confirmed that Iran is in compliance with the restrictions placed on it.

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How BRICS Plus Is Challenging America’s Economic War on Iran

Rhetorical war has far-reaching consequences, including a potential economic slump via the disruption of global oil supplies

Pepe Escobar
By Pepe Escobar
A journalist walks past a placard of Nelson Mandela during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Themba Hadebe | AP

The key take away from the BRICS summit in Johannesburg is that Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – important Global South players – strongly condemn unilateralism and protectionism. The Johannesburg Declaration is unmistakable: “We recognize that the multilateral trading system is facing unprecedented challenges. We underscore the

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US Efforts to Crush Middle East “Axis of Resistance” Are Just Making it Stronger

Iran, confident in its economic clout and ability to rebuke Washington’s attempts to isolate it, has actually sought to increase its support for other members of the Resistance Axis since the U.S.’ decision to exit the Iran deal and attempts to threaten and isolate Tehran.

Whitney Webb
By Whitney Webb
A Hezbollah supporter waves her group flags during an election campaign speech by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, April 13, 2018. (AP/Hussein Malla)

BEIRUT – Since taking office, President Donald Trump has shown himself to be committed to “crushing” the so-called Axis of Resistance in the Middle East, an alliance -- composed of Iran, Syria, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah -- that opposes the West’s and Israel’s vision for the region. Over the course of his presidency, Trump has targeted the Resistance

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