Ali Vaez Senior Analyst, Iran Istanbul, Turkey Please submit all media inquiries to avaez@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role Ali Vaez is Crisis Group's Senior Iran analyst based in Istanbul. Consulting closely with all sides in the nuclear negotiations for the past few years, he led Crisis Group’s efforts in helping to bridge the gaps between Iran and the P5+1 and is renowned as one of the foremost experts on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Professional Background Before joining Crisis Group, he headed the Iran project at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, DC. Trained as a scientist, Vaez has more than a decade of experience in journalism. He has written widely on Iranian affairs and is a regular contributor to mainstream media outlets. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University from 2008 to 2010 and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Geneva and a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Languages Persian French English In The News 15 Jul 2017 The Iran-Iraq war was the formative experience for all of Iran’s leaders. From [commander of the Iranian Quds Force General Qassim] Suleimani all the way down. It was their ‘never again’ moment. The New York Times Ali Vaez Senior Analyst, Iran 19 Jun 2017 The strike [by Iran against ISIS in Syria] further complicates an already complex situation. If the US takes measures beyond rhetorical condemnation, tensions could escalate too far too quickly. Al-Monitor Ali Vaez Senior Analyst, Iran 9 Jun 2017 It's not the attacks that are surprising. It's that Iran has been able to avoid one for so long. The attacks were a wake-up call for Iran's security apparatus. Reuters Ali Vaez Senior Analyst, Iran 7 Jun 2017 It’s the first time that ISIS has been able to strike Iran within its border, so without any doubt it’s going to have significant consequences for the country both domestically and regionally. HuffPost World Ali Vaez Senior Analyst, Iran 3 Jun 2017 [The selection of the new supreme leader in Iran is] the most pivotal moment in the history of the Islamic Republic. Los Angeles Times Ali Vaez Senior Analyst, Iran 20 May 2017 Rouhani's vote [in the Iranian presidential election], particularly in rural areas, shows that Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change. France 24 Ali Vaez Senior Analyst, Iran Latest Updates Op-Ed / Middle East & North Africa 4 August 2017 Rouhani 2.0 vs. the Hawks in Washington and Tehran Originally published in The New York Times Commentary / Middle East & North Africa 8 June 2017 Iran Unites as Tehran Struck by Middle East’s Proxy Wars The 7 June attacks in Tehran struck at the symbolic heart of Iran’s revolutionary republic. In this Q&A, Ali Vaez, Senior Analyst for Iran, says the outrages show how the region’s proxy wars are now reaching far beyond the battlefield. Commentary / Middle East & North Africa 18 May 2017 Iran’s Bipolar Election Iranian voters have a real choice on 19 May between a president promising engagement with the West or one focused on the ideological purity of the Islamic Revolution. At the same time, both leading candidates are clerical insiders who support the continuation of Iran’s nuclear deal. Op-Ed / Middle East & North Africa 24 February 2017 Trump Can’t Deal With Iran If He Doesn’t Understand It Tweets about putting Iran "ON NOTICE" are no replacement for appreciating the sources of Iranian conduct in the Middle East. Originally published in Foreign Policy Op-Ed / Middle East & North Africa 23 January 2017 Trump's Iran Deal Options Why renegotiation is better than repudiation. Originally published in Foreign Affairs Load more