Columnist

Joseph Braude

Middle East specialist Joseph Braude is the author of Broadcasting Change: Arabic Media as a Catalyst for Liberalism (Rowman & Littlefield). He is Advisor to the Al-Mesbar Center for Research and Studies and tweets@josephbraude.

Latest Articles

  • By Joseph Braude

    Iran Throws Down the Gauntlet

    Tehran’s contest of nuclear brinkmanship with the West entered a new phase as Iran moved this week towards resuming uranium enrichment with advanced centrifuges, signaling a deepening break with the provisions of the 2015 JCPOA. For its part, the American-led sanctions regime on Iranian crude o...

  • By Joseph Braude

    While an Iranian Satellite Goes Up in Flames, France Explores an Economic Bailout for Tehran

    The first week in September marked a new phase in the ongoing confrontation between Tehran and the West. While Israel uncovered a new Iranian base in Syria of unprecedented size, President Trump made cryptic comments over Twitter suggesting that the U.S. may have claimed another success in cont...

  • By Joseph Braude

    U.S.-Iran Negotiations Nixed While Israel Expands Its Campaign Against Tehran Proxies

    While President Trump delivered a rebuke to voices calling for immediate negotiations with Iran, labeling such moves premature, Iranian officials disavowed any intention of seeking talks with the U.S., indicating tensions are likely to persist for some time. Elsewhere in the region, Israeli...

  • By Joseph Braude

    Iranian Tanker Released from Gibraltar, but Sanctions Draw a Growing Toll

    Gibraltar has released an Iranian oil tanker detained over a month ago, prompting American officials to issue a stern warning to Greece and others against allowing it to berth in their ports lest they incur American sanctions. Meanwhile, the ongoing burden of those sanctions has caused some in...

  • By Joseph Braude

    Iran Turns Its Economic Hopes to China — But Its Hopes May be Dashed

    The American sanctions campaign continues to have devastating effects on Iranian commerce. Europe and India are pivoting to alternate supplies of oil and cutting their own exports to Iran. Tehran now pins its hopes on China not following suit — yet economic data for the last two months appears to...

  • By Joseph Braude

    Iranian Oil Smuggling and Naval Piracy Fail to Blunt Sanctions

    As Washington’s net of sanctions continues to tighten, Iran has mounted a campaign of naval and diplomatic brinkmanship toward America’s Arab and European allies. Despite these efforts — and a sophisticated Iranian oil smuggling campaign in Asia — American sanctions are dealing the Iranian...

  • By Joseph Braude

    Iran and the West: Stalemate in the Gulf and Negotiated Settlement in Doubt

    Iran and the West remain locked in a stalemate as the British and Iranian navies continue to hold oil tankers, each carrying the other’s flag. When the UK resisted Iranian demands to accede to a swap, Tehran responded with a familiar mix of threats and invitations to negotiate. IRAN AND BRITA...

  • By Joseph Braude

    If Iran Thought Military Escalation in the Gulf Would Trigger Negotiations with the West, it Thought Wrong

    Last week the Iranian navy launched a surprise attack on British shipping, seizing an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. As if sensing overreach, figures from across Iran’s political spectrum almost immediately began calling for dialogue and de-escalation. Meanwhile, Western leaders hardened...

  • By Joseph Braude

    EU Works to Save Unraveling Nuclear Deal with Iran Amid Tensions in the Gulf

    The European Union’s Foreign Ministers are making a last-ditch push to save the JCPOA, battered by the US withdrawal last year and Iran’s escalating violations of the limits on its nuclear program in the last two weeks. Prospects for their efforts appear dim, further aggravated by a standoff be...

  • By Joseph Braude

    Iran Goads West into Tightening Containment

    Iran broke new ground this week by breaching the JCPOA’s limits on enriching uranium. In so doing, it inspired a backlash from the White House, Senate Republicans, and EU foreign ministers. Each moved in different ways to counter Tehran’s altering of the nuclear status quo: the White House with...

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Opinion

How Will Hezbollah Respond to Israel’s Drone Attack?
By Hanin Ghaddar
Hezbollah’s Lebanese Allies Can Be Contained
By Hanin Ghaddar
Iran Turns Its Economic Hopes to China — But Its Hopes May be Dashed
By Joseph Braude
Iranian Oil Smuggling and Naval Piracy Fail to Blunt Sanctions
By Joseph Braude
US-Iran Tensions: From Maximum Pressure to Maximum Leverage?
By Dennis Ross
Iran Goads West into Tightening Containment
By Joseph Braude