Publication

This brief examines Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s address at the UN General Assembly in September 2015, the state of disorder in the Middle East and Iran’s role in the region. The author also discusses 1) how he thinks Iran has contributed to the collapse of the regional order in the Middle East; 2) what part he believes Iran and Saudi Arabia have played in increasing the problem of sectarian conflict in the Middle East; and 3) the impact that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear program could have on efforts in other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, to develop domestic capabilities to enrich uranium. Finally, he briefly outlines what the situation in the Middle East might mean for the US.