... discussed. The dialog group brings together a core group of American and Russian experts in the regional studies, who represent different research centers of the two countries.The current meeting was devoted to the results of the presidential elections in Iran and the possible consequences of the elections for the situation in the Middle East region. Russian side was represented by Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General; Irina Zvyagelskaya, RIAC Member, Head of the Center for the Middle East Studies at ...
... unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, renewing massive economic sanctions against Iran. The subsequent extraterritorial application of US sanctions forced a significant number of foreign companies to leave Iran.
Ivan Timofeev:
USA vs. JCPOA: How Can Russia and China Respond?
Companies from the EU have suffered the most. Moreover, during the presidency of Donald Trump, the volume of restrictive measures against Iran was increased by Presidential Executive Orders No. 13846, 13871,...
... in the White House. The EU categorically does not accept US extraterritorial sanctions. Back in 1996, the EU Council approved the so-called “
Blocking Statute
”, designed to protect European businesses from restrictive US measures targeting Cuba, Iran and Libya. For a long time, Washington avoided aggravating relations with the EU, although European companies were
subject to hefty fines
for violating US sanctions regimes.
Ivan Timofeev:
The EU as a Significant Initiator of Sanctions
The situation ...
... time puts it in a position of being a potential spoiler of any military or political/diplomatic initiative or deal that Russia, Iran, the Syrian government or Turkey may undertake. Besides, recent
reports
indicate that the US is constructing a new military ... ... planes (Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, or В-52). Once finished, the base will let the US easily send several thousands of soldiers or PMC fighters to Syria overnight, handing it an opportunity to rapidly build up its military presence and ...
..., the damage from them affects wide strata of the population. For example, sanctions against banks has make it difficult for Iran to obtain medical equipment supplies, which in turn affects the quality of life. Blacklisting the owner or top manager of ... ... suppliers and consumers. For example, US sanctions against Oleg Deripaska have threatened serious disruptions in the work of Rusal, an important enterprise for the Russian economy.
Ivan Timofeev:
‘Selective’ Bipolarity? From a Coalition of War to a ...
...
Strategic Rivalry: Prospects for Russian-American Relations in the New US Political Cycle
Such targeted measures are routine, quite expected and likely. The Treasury will routinely expand “black lists” in other key areas of the sanctions policy—Iran, North Korea, Cuba, China, as well as functional topics—terrorism, the fight against drug trafficking, human rights, etc.
However, all these restrictions are based or will be based on already-existing legal mechanisms. Joe Biden and Congress have ...
... Directions Programme of the EUI Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies Report
RIAC and the Middle East Directions Programme of the EUI Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies Report
2020 witnessed the peak of military tensions between the US and Iran since the conclusion of the tanker-war in 1987. The Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign and Iran’s resistance/retaliation policy have worked to generate collision points one after another. Despite both sides’ unwillingness to wage ...
... From the UAE’s perspective, Iran’s export of revolutionary Shi’ism to countries such as Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen has been accompanied by the establishment of a nuclear weapons program, and a territorial dispute over the Gulf islands Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb. Iran’s ability to endanger critical sea choke points such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al Mandab Strait has heightened tensions.
Artyom Gofman:
Peace in the Middle East: Are the Abraham Accords a Game-Changer in the Peace Process?
Various security ...
... regard the new president as “authorized” and the desirable representative of the system (
Nezam
). Unlike Zarif’s close
collaboration
with Russia, for example, Moscow hasn’t hastened to get his signature on the revised version of the
Russia-Iran 2001 treaty
, which includes cooperation principles on a wide variety of fields.
Ivan Timofeev:
USA vs. JCPOA: How Can Russia and China Respond?
However, critics will seek more progressive contributions to their “resistance” discourse by Russia. As the U.S. and Europe move beyond the JCPOA and address the Islamic Republic’s missile program ...
... both sides, act as a stepping stone towards the restoration of bilateral cooperation in other areas.
Regional conflicts
The second area of mutual concern are the regional conflicts in the Middle East, Syria and Libya, as well as the nuclear problem in Iran and North Korea.
It is unlikely that we will see any bilateral agreements on these issues in the near future. That said, the parties would certainly benefit from dialogue, given that both Russia and the United States have their own geopolitical and ...
