Kayhan Barzegar
Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
AP Photo
August 25, 2010
"Russia and the Future of Nuclear Talks"
Op-Ed, Iran Review
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"Russia will, of course, endeavor to be the sole supplier of nuclear fuel to Iran and reap the benefits. Therefore, it will continue to support the west's most recent line i.e. that with Bushehr's launching Iran does not require independent enrichment facilities like Natanz. But strategic necessity will force Russia to continue to maintain Iran as counterweight in its relations with the West."
AP Photo
August 16, 2010
"Iran-U.S. Challenges of Entering Direct Talks"
Op-Ed, Iranian Diplomacy
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"Yet, direct strategic talks do not necessarily mean renewed friendship between Tehran and Washington; rather they imply the persuasion of each side to acknowledge the other's role and to reach a compromise on the issue of cohabitation in a region where both have vital national and security interests. Both sides would conclude that continuing in a permanent condition of mutual hostility can only inflict greater damage to their national interests. This would entail an exit from the current state of confrontation to interaction or constructive rivalry, in order to maintain their regional interests. For instance, direct talks between the United States and communist China in 1972 did not result in a friendship."
AP Photo
July 22, 2010
"Sanctions to Spur Negotiations: Mostly a Bad Strategy"
Op-Ed
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"...[S]ince sanctions and economic constraints will directly impact ordinary Iranians, they will intensify the current sense of distrust towards the West and especially the United States in all political trends and people, subsequently resulting in national mobilization and unity, thereby strengthening the hand of the Iranian government to resist the sanctions. This is the complete opposite of the result desired by the West."
AP Photo
June 17, 2010
"Continuing the Win-Win Game"
Op-Ed, Iranian Diplomacy
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"When the nuclear swap proposal was initially presented by the IAEA and the West in October 2009, it was broached by the disparate political organs of Iran's power structure. The embodiment of Irans strategic decision was the acceptance of the Tehran Nuclear Deal in May 2010. Although Washington has rejected the Tehran Deal on the basis of its own narrow reasons i.e., Iran has increased its enriched uranium stockpile within the last few months rendering the swap deal useless, one should accept that Tehran needed some time to weigh up the Geneva Deal on the domestic political scene."
AP Photo
June 9, 2010
"Being "Smart" with "Smart Power": Why Should Washington Accept the Tehran Nuclear Declaration?"
Op-Ed
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"...[R]ising regional powers such as Turkey and Brazil can fulfill the role of active partners and help bridge the seemingly irreconcilable differences between the two sides; Iran and 5+1. These actors' perspectives on issues such as international peace and security, comprehensive global disarmament and nuclear monopolies have many supporters in the international community, especially among the Non-Aligned Movement's members, who are fed up with duplicity and self-aggrandizing policies of some of the great powers."
AP Photo
May 11, 2010
"Golden Opportunity in New York"
Op-Ed, Iranian Diplomacy
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"...President Ahmadinejad's attendance at the review conference proves that Iran is interested in initiating dialogue with the United States and endeavors to seize every opportunity to advance the course of dialogue. After the conference, President Ahmadinejad engaged in several interviews with leading media networks and stressed Iran's interest in advancing direct talks with the United States. By connecting directly to the American public, he managed to effectively preempt the negative and misleading propaganda purveyed by Western officials and the media, claiming Iran's non-compliance with the IAEA, and he furthermore reiterated Iran's interest in a uranium swap deal."
AP Photo
March 23, 2010
"Obama and Iran: Dialogue or Sanctions?"
Op-Ed
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"A powerful Iranian government with a national security agenda would be able to initiate direct talks with the United States, resulting in workable and tangible solutions. As is the case in the United States, the issue of direct talks is heavily influenced by domestic politics in Iran. Only a national security issue such as the nuclear program with the negotiation of a grand bargain would have the impetus and public support for initiation of a bilateral strategic dialogue. Creating political consensus among the elites is key to any possible future opening up or progress on the nuclear and various other geo-strategically pertinent fronts."
AP Photo
February 8, 2010
"Regionalism in Iran's Foreign Policy"
Op-Ed, Iran Review
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"The second perspective focuses on the globalization and technological importance of the West, arguing that in the process of globalization and development, Iran needs expanding ties with the centers of science and wealth-creation in the West. From this perspective, forming regional coalitions or Iran's involvement in political and security issues of the Middle East, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, in a contradictory way will only go to further complicate Iran's relations with the West and will impede the country's development."
AP Photo
January 20, 2010
"China: A Short-Term Solution for Iran"
Op-Ed, Iran Review
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"...[T]he real solution is for Tehran and Washington to opt for direct diplomacy over the nuclear issue....The Americans too must not overlook the delicate point that if they voluntarily promote the role of China in Iran's nuclear and strategic programs, they would somehow help develop Beijing's strategic role....it would be a strategic blunder for the US to let China get involved in the political and strategic issues of the Middle East."
AP Photo
December 19, 2009
"Capabilities of Iran's Nuclear Program"
Op-Ed, Iran Review
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 20102011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 20072010
"Iran's nuclear case is not solely about energy and technology, but is also about national security as well as regional and international strategic policies of Iran. The nuclear program of Iran is potentially capable of providing a ground for bilateral talks between Iran and the United States. The US government should understand that diplomacy and dialogue is the sole way to achieve a solution which would be accepted by both sides. Continuation of pressures and new sanctions will only defer any chance of negotiations for a couple of years."
