Research Analyst Samuel Hickey wrote an op-ed in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on how the JCPOA could set a new gold standard for ensuring civilian nuclear programs do not pose proliferation threats. “An underexamined success story from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiations is the effective blocking of Tehran’s ability to collect plutonium […]
House takes important first step in rebalancing war powers
By Nils Holst Congress is considering legislation that would repeal the 2002 law that sent U.S. troops into Iraq to depose Saddam Hussein. While largely a symbolic gesture, if passed the bill would represent the first time in a generation that Congress has moved to restrict the war powers of the president and end America’s “forever wars.” The […]
Op-ed: Maximum Pressure Problem: Iran Isn’t Going to Change
Research Analyst Samuel Hickey wrote an op-ed in The National Interest explaining that not only is a maximum pressure sanctions campaign ineffective at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, it is also ineffective at curbing its conventional weapons programs. “Indirect contacts in Vienna between the United States and the members of the Iran nuclear deal (China, France, Germany, […]
Op-ed: Trump changed how the U.S. assigns the label ‘terrorist.’ Can the Biden administration change it back?
Research Analyst Samuel Hickey co-authored an op-ed in The Washington Post detailing the issues with designating countries or foreign entities as terrorists. Last week, the State Department announced that it would revoke the designation of Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization. This would reverse one of the big decisions of the closing days of the Trump […]
Breaking down Iran’s nuclear diplomacy strategy
By Samuel M. Hickey Senior Iranian leaders from President Hassan Rouhani to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been clear that they would welcome a quick return to the Iran nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), by the Biden administration. However, Tehran appears to be signaling that there is […]