Muhammad Sahimi

Muhammad Sahimi, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and the NIOC Chair in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Southern California, is co-founder and editor of the website, Iran News & Middle East Reports.

Double Standards for Iran’s Nuclear Program

Tension between Iran and the United States and its allies has been rising, following Iran’s rejection of the preliminary agreement that was reached between the two sides on Oct. 1, 2009, in Geneva. Under the deal, Iran was supposed to send 75 percent of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia for conversion into … Continue reading “Double Standards for Iran’s Nuclear Program”

The Israel Lobby, the Neocons, and the Iranian-American Community 

Ever since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected Iran’s president in June 2005 and began using strong rhetoric against Israel, the neoconservatives and the Israel lobby have been trying to provoke a war against Iran, or at the very least persuade the United States and the international community to impose crippling sanctions on Iran. Their efforts have … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby, the Neocons, and the Iranian-American Community “

Can Iran Trust Russia and France With Its Uranium?

Iran’s formal response to a preliminary nuclear agreement whereby 1,200 kg of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) would be shipped to Russia and then France for enrichment from 3.8 to 19.75 percent and conversion to fuel rods has angered the European Union (EU). The compromise had been agreed upon between Iran’s delegation to the International Atomic … Continue reading “Can Iran Trust Russia and France With Its Uranium?”

Will Tough Sanctions Against Iran Be Effective?

Negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group – the five permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council plus Germany – began on Oct. 1. Iran’s negotiating team was led by Saeed Jalili, the hard-line secretary-general of its Supreme National Security Council and an ally of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The U.S. team was led by … Continue reading “Will Tough Sanctions Against Iran Be Effective?”

Countering the Conniptions Over Qom

Iran’s nuclear program is once again center stage, the dominant subject of discussions at the national and international levels. On Sept. 21, Iran sent a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informing it of the construction of a uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom, 90 miles south of Tehran. In … Continue reading “Countering the Conniptions Over Qom”

Role of US Militarism in Ahmadinejad’s Rise

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s widely disputed second term as Iran’s president began on Wednesday August 5. Many of his compatriots – a great majority in the author’s opinion – consider his second term as illegitimate. He and his supporters in the military are continuing their crackdown on the reformist leaders, common people protesting the gross violations of … Continue reading “Role of US Militarism in Ahmadinejad’s Rise”