Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- October 9, 2017

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani extends his hand to Iran's Judiciary chief Sadegh Larijani during a Tehran swearing-in ceremony for Rouhani's latest term, August 5, 2017. Nazanin Tabatabaee Yazdi/TIMA via REUTERS

Seyed Hossein Mousavian, Reuters: A former Iranian diplomat on what Trump needs to know about Iran

With the fate of the Iran nuclear deal at stake, Donald Trump has until October 15 to tell Congress if he believes Tehran is complying with the seven-nation agreement. Many expect that the U.S. president will decertify Iranian compliance with the deal -- returning U.S.-Iran relations to a state of overt hostility.

Not all in the administration seem to agree with Trump’s harder-line approach on Iran. Defense Secretary James Mattis has publicly stated that Trump “should consider staying” in the deal, while Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reportedly argued against decertification. Speaking after his first meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Tillerson also seemed to indicate a willingness to take a longer-term view when he told a media conference that the Washington-Tehran relationship had “never had a stable, happy moment in it.” ”Is this going to be the way it is for the rest of our lives and our children’s lives and our grandchildren’s lives,” he asked.

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Commentaries, Analysis,

And Editorials -- October 9, 2017
Obama's Middle East Policy Is Causing Problems for Donald Trump -- Matthew RJ Brodsky, National Interest

President Trump's big decision on Iran in the week ahead could rattle the oil markets; here's why -- Stephanie Landsman, CNBC

The House of Saud bows to the House of Putin -- Pepe Escobar, Asia Times

Saudi Arabia, Russia take relationship to 'new level' -- Mohammed Alkhereiji, UPI/The Arab Weekly

What Saudis hope to get out of Russia ties -- M.K. Bhadrakumar, Asia Times

Can Israel live with Lebanon-inspired Palestinian state? -- Uri Savir, Al-Monitor

Don't Expect China to Change -- Christopher Balding, Bloomberg

Catalonia independence: Secessionists start to feel the squeeze -- DW

Will EU Integration Create More Catalonias? -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Could Spain Go the Way of Yugoslavia? -- Svante E. Cornell, National Interest

Britain, divided -- Rosa Prince, Politico

Finland debates joining NATO despite Russian warnings -- Teri Schultz, DW

Senator: Rising debt is greatest national security threat. Here's how to fix it. -- David Perdue, USA Today

Public officials risk national security by using cellphones -- Stephen Bryen, Asia Times

America's Autopilot Wars -- Andrew Bacevich, RCW/Tom Dispatch