Unusual Adviser

Pro-Iran advocate on nuclear proliferation oversight board
Patrick Disney / NIAC

A former senior official at a pro-Iran activist group has been a member of the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) since June 2012, sparking concern among proponents of a tough U.S. policy stance toward Tehran.

Ahmadinejad in Trouble

Iranian president could be punished for electoral violations
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei / AP

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could face up to “74 lashes” with a whip for allegedly interfering in the country’s upcoming elections, according to regional media reports.

Who’s the Boss?

Expert: Iran’s military has trumped its religious apparatus
IRGC forces in 2007

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “has become a hostage” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of Iran’s army that has quietly consolidated its economic and political power, a top Iran analyst said Tuesday.

Iran Celebrates Nuke Pursuit

Announces new reactors during ‘National Day of Nuclear Technology’
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at a ceremony marking Iran's National Day of Nuclear Technology / AP

Russia has agreed to help Iran construct two new nuclear reactors in the coming year Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced on Tuesday, its “National Day of Nuclear Technology.”

Iran Debuts Latest Fighter Jet

Qaher-313 / AP

Astronaut-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presented Iran’s newest domestically manufactured fighter jet that will “conquer scientific peaks” by evading radar on Saturday, according to Military.com.

Twitter Storm

GOP congressman calls John McCain racist, Ron Paul offends with tweet on dead Navy SEAL
Rep. Amash, former Rep. Paul / AP

Rep. Justin Amash (R., Mich.) accused Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) of being a “racist” Monday after McCain tweeted a joke about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Cairo-Tehran Axis

Iranian foreign affairs minister hand-delivers note to Egypt’s Morsi
Ahmadinejad and Morsi / AP

Iran’s foreign affairs minister was in Egypt today to deliver a personal note from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, according to Iranian and Egyptian reports.

The Economic Consequences of Iranian Nukes

REPORT: Nuclear Iran would ‘double’ oil prices, cost millions of U.S. jobs
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad / AP

Oil prices “could double,” increasing the U.S. price of gasoline by up to $2.75, if Iran is permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon, according to a new economic analysis by a bipartisan team of current and former government officials.

The Clock is Ticking

Economic sanctions alone cannot cripple Iranian nuclear program, experts say
Iranian President Ahmadinejad / AP

The recent collapse of Iran’s currency has led foreign policy experts to caution President Barack Obama’s administration against declaring that economic sanctions are the key to ending Tehran’s clandestine nuclear arms program.