PinnedMember-onlyA War That Won’t Start But Never EndsThe downing of Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 outside Tehran on January 8 was also a Canadian tragedy. The country’s grief for the dead was only compounded by the revelation that most on board the aircraft were en route to Canada. …Iran5 min readIran5 min read
Apr 13, 2022Reliance on sanctions is simply poor statecraftIn the wake of Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its allies, including Canada, opened an all-out economic front to the war. Western leaders have announced dizzying arrays of economic sanctions aimed at punishing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s deadly adventurism. But as the last six weeks of…Ukraine4 min readUkraine4 min read
Jul 21, 2021The “Iran nuclear deal” is much bigger than Iran’s nuclear programThe ongoing talks between Iran and several world powers aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear accord have been centred on technical and legal issues ranging from the enrichment of uranium to the lifting of economic sanctions. The United States, having exited the agreement in 2018, is actively negotiating its re-entry…Iran3 min readIran3 min read
Nov 13, 2020Biden’s election gives Iranians room to breatheAlthough Biden’s win presents an opportunity for diplomacy, it is likely to result in a modest detente between Washington and Tehran. — In many ways, a Joe Biden administration will govern in radically different ways than the outgoing president. On certain key issues, such as pandemic relief and climate change, this will certainly be true. On others, particularly when it comes to longstanding U.S. …United States3 min readUnited States3 min read
Oct 29, 2020“Tough talk” on Iran has real life consequencesThis language goes hand in hand with the draconian policies it serves to validate — the United States government has effectively criminalized global trade with Iran. — Since 1979, when Iranian revolutionaries overthrew the Western-backed monarchy in Tehran, condemning Iran has been a staple of politics in the United States and Canada. …Iran4 min readIran4 min read
Jul 10, 2015When the band is your pen palThe lead singer of my favourite band was e-mailing me in between shows on tour, and I was bugging out. — Listening to music is commonly a one-sided affair. You place the needle, insert a disc, or press play to hear tracks, and occasionally get to experience a live concert. But in 2006, I began a series of email conversations with my favourite band’s lead singer, Paul Murphy of Wintersleep. It’s…Music6 min readMusic6 min read
Jun 28, 2014Sport, in the name of diplomacyA reminder of how sport has helped bring the United States and Iran together, and in some instances, made them the “strongest allies”. — Jordan Burroughs / Twitter One who knows him/herself and others will find out here that East and West are no longer separable. -Geotze Both Iranian and American football fans were brought to their knees through tragic goals in injury time in Brazil last week, perhaps a cruel reminder that sport…5 min read5 min read
May 8, 2014#MustSeeIran, Fall 2013Instagrams from two weeks in Iran — My flight landed at Imam Khomeini airport only days before President Rouhani’s speech at the UN General Assembly in New York last September (2013). As a friendly reminder of the prominent role politics plays in greater Iranian society, the long drive into Tehran provided the cab driver with a lengthy interrogation as to how Western, in my particular case Canadian, media portrayed Iranians.2 min read2 min read
Apr 29, 2014Profile: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad ZarifProfiling the figure tasked with executing Iranian foreign policy and bringing the nuclear crisis to an end — Prior to ceding the podium to Mohammad Javad Zarif, then Iranian envoy at the United Nations in October 2005, Bob Einhorf introduced Zarif with the following words about his Iranian colleague, “Ambassador Zarif has earned the reputation at the U.N as being one of New York’s most talented, most effective…4 min read4 min read
Apr 24, 2014Ukraine or U.N envoy debacle will not derail nuclear talksUpon assuming office in 2013, President Rouhani announced with confidence that his government possessed the political will to “constructively engage” with the West. Rouhani began by nominating Mohammad Javad Zarif, United Nations veteran and familiar face in Washington as his Minister of Foreign Affairs, and continued by transferring administration of…5 min read5 min read
