Saeed Ghasseminejad

Read the latest stories and analysis from Saeed Ghasseminejad.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Courage, Strength, and Optimism

The gas corridor sanctions forgot: Tehran’s quiet expansion into Turkey

Saeed Ghasseminejad, Aidin Panahi · December 16, 2025 6:03 pm

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a meeting with the President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. Iran's supreme leader opened the door Tuesday to renewed negotiations with the United States over his country's rapidly advancing nuclear program, telling its civilian government there was "no barrier" to engaging with its "enemy."

Beltway Confidential

Calibrating US policy to constrain Iranian oil exports

Saeed Ghasseminejad · April 30, 2025 6:00 am

Beltway Confidential

Ali Khamenei’s revealing glimpse into the Islamic Republic’s fears

Saeed Ghasseminejad · April 8, 2025 1:29 pm

Courage, Strength, and Optimism

Trump’s year of opportunity against Iran

Janatan Sayeh, Saeed Ghasseminejad · January 6, 2025 12:00 pm

Beltway Confidential

Khamenei’s marching orders for Iran’s new president: Continue Raisi’s legacy

Saeed Ghasseminejad · August 5, 2024 5:26 pm

In this photo released by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks at a meeting of the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Alliance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. On Tuesday, there was a missile attack by Yemen-based Houthi rebels targeting Riyadh, and the Houthis say they were targeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other top Saudi leaders in the strike. (Saudi Press Agency via AP)

Beltway Confidential

A new foundation for the US-Saudi partnership

Saeed Ghasseminejad · May 12, 2023 11:00 am

In this photo released on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a missile is launched in a drill in Iran. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard forces on Friday held a military exercise involving ballistic missiles and drones in the country's central desert, state TV reported, amid heightened tensions over Tehran's nuclear program and a U.S. pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

How Biden can escape the self-created nuclear impasse

Saeed Ghasseminejad · August 16, 2021 4:00 am

This March 16, 2019 file photo, shows a natural gas refinery at the South Pars gas field on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf, in Asaluyeh, Iran. China's state oil company has pulled out of a $5 billion deal to develop a portion of Iran's massive offshore natural gas field, the Islamic Republic's oil minister said Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, an agreement from which France's Total SA earlier withdrew over U.S. sanctions.

Biden’s Persian Gulf policy benefits China

Saeed Ghasseminejad · March 23, 2021 4:00 am

Beltway Confidential

Is Iran’s supreme leader preparing to surrender?

Saeed Ghasseminejad · September 30, 2020 8:41 pm

Saudi Arabia reported two of its oil tankers were attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in attacks last May. One of them was en route to pick up Saudi oil to take to the United States.

China’s growing influence in the Persian Gulf should worry Washington

Saeed Ghasseminejad · September 8, 2020 12:00 am

Beltway Confidential

Iranians desperately need a better Voice of America

Saeed Ghasseminejad, Alireza Nader · June 12, 2020 4:00 am

Even Seemingly Harmless Investments in Iran Will Flow to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard

Saeed Ghasseminejad, Emanuele Ottolenghi · August 17, 2015 11:15 am