Ali Vaez

Ali Vaez is the International Crisis Group’s Iran project director and a co-author of How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare.

Follow Ali Vaez:
On X
Articles by Ali Vaez
Houthi militants are seen from slightly below as they raise rifles into the air against a blue sky with a few wispy white clouds. The militants are backlit, silhouetted against the sky.
Houthi militants are seen from slightly below as they raise rifles into the air against a blue sky with a few wispy white clouds. The militants are backlit, silhouetted against the sky.

The Iran War Has Escaped Its Authors This article has an audio recording

Argument
Robert A. Pape, Ali Vaez
Iran's presidential election candidate and former reformist member of the Iranian parliament, Masoud Pezeshkian (R), and Former foreign minister of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif (L), during an electoral campaign rally in Tehran, on June 19.
Iran's presidential election candidate and former reformist member of the Iranian parliament, Masoud Pezeshkian (R), and Former foreign minister of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif (L), during an electoral campaign rally in Tehran, on June 19.

Will Pezeshkian’s Win Lead to a Thaw in U.S.-Iran Relations?

Analysis
Ali Vaez
An Iraqi soldier stands guard next candles list by people paying their respects to Iran's late president Ebrahim Raisi outside the Iranian embassy in Baghdad on May 20.
An Iraqi soldier stands guard next candles list by people paying their respects to Iran's late president Ebrahim Raisi outside the Iranian embassy in Baghdad on May 20.

Why Iran Believes It’s Winning Against Israel This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Ali Vaez, Hamidreza Azizi
Iranian firefighters disinfect streets in Tehran in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus on March 13.
Iranian firefighters disinfect streets in Tehran in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus on March 13.

The Coronavirus Crisis Is a Diplomatic Opportunity for the United States and Iran This article has an audio recording

Argument
Robert Malley, Ali Vaez
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) with Britain's then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (R), France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L), Germany Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (2nd L) at the EU headquarters in Brussels on May 15, 2018.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) with Britain's then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (R), France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L), Germany Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (2nd L) at the EU headquarters in Brussels on May 15, 2018.

Europe Is Running Out of Time to Save the Iran Deal

Argument
Ali Vaez
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini (L); Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) take part in a ministerial meeting on the Iran nuclear deal on July 6, 2018 in Vienna, Austria.
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini (L); Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) take part in a ministerial meeting on the Iran nuclear deal on July 6, 2018 in Vienna, Austria.

Iran Isn’t Trying to Build a Bomb Tomorrow. It Wants Sanctions Relief.

Argument
Gérard Araud, Ali Vaez
A customer looks at an Iranian-made washing machine at a store in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Aug. 8, 2018.
A customer looks at an Iranian-made washing machine at a store in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Aug. 8, 2018.

Don’t Let Iraq Fall Victim to U.S.-Iran Rivalry

Argument
Maria Fantappie, Ali Vaez
trumpiran
trumpiran

Trump Can’t Deal With Iran If He Doesn’t Understand It

Argument
Ali Vaez
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2

Fault Lines, Not Red Lines

Argument
Ali Vaez
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2

Supreme Loser

Argument
Ali Vaez
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2

Waiting for Bushehr

Argument
Ali Vaez
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2
fp-placeholder-social-share-3-2

Why Tunisians succeeded but Iranians faltered

The Middle East Channel
Ali Vaez
Return to staff list

Latest

See All Stories

Trending

  1. 1
    Why Viktor Orban’s Fidesz Party Lost This article has an audio recording
  2. 2
    Order Without Order
  3. 3
    The Iran War Comes for the ‘King of Chemicals’
  4. 4
    Xinjiang’s Repression of Uyghurs Has Evolved, Not Ended
  5. 5
    5 Things I Wish I Knew About Iran This article has an audio recording