![Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (R) walks with Iraq's President Fuad Masum during a welcoming ceremony upon Masum's arrival to attend the Summit of South American-Arab Countries, in Riyadh November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser - RTS6BLS](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/01/RTS6BLS.jpg/RTS6BLS.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=p4Rzz7Ml)
Mohammad Ali Shabani is Al-Monitor's Iran Pulse Editor and a doctoral researcher at SOAS, University of London, where he focuses on Iranian foreign policy. His work has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times, National Interest and BBC World News. He has also offered commentary on CNN and Al Jazeera English among other leading channels. On Twitter: @mashabani
![Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (R) walks with Iraq's President Fuad Masum during a welcoming ceremony upon Masum's arrival to attend the Summit of South American-Arab Countries, in Riyadh November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser - RTS6BLS](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/01/RTS6BLS.jpg/RTS6BLS.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=p4Rzz7Ml)
![Iran's head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi attends a seminar at the Japan Institute of International Affairs in Tokyo, Japan, November 5, 2015. Iran has begun shutting down uranium enrichment centrifuges under the terms of a deal struck with six world powers in July on limiting its nuclear programme, Tehran's atomic energy chief said on November 2, 2015 during a visit to Tokyo. REUTERS/Yuya Shino - RTX1UTJP](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/12/RTX1UTJP.jpg/RTX1UTJP.jpg?h=5021389d&itok=XiQHDPmc)
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Mohammad Ali Shabani
![Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) is greeted as he arrives at the German Mission to the United Nations in New York, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid - RTX1Z6LJ](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/12/RTX1Z6LJ.jpg/RTX1Z6LJ.jpg?h=d7d46cf8&itok=8NpfhV3e)
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Mohammad Ali Shabani
![EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
An Iranian man walks past a currency exchange shop in northern Tehran January 3, 2012. The Iranian rial fell to a record low against the dollar on Tuesday following U.S. President Barack Obama signing a bill on imposing fresh sanctions against the country's central bank. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) - RTR2VU6Z](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/12/RTR2VU6Z.jpg/RTR2VU6Z.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=xgj3eY5b)
![Mohammad Ali Shabani](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/2015/newpic1.jpg/newpic1.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=OR-pF8Wc)
Mohammad Ali Shabani
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Mohammad Ali Shabani
![soldiers.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/09/soldiers.jpg/soldiers.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=4ybvnxV-)
![Mohammad Ali Shabani](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/2015/newpic1.jpg/newpic1.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=OR-pF8Wc)
Mohammad Ali Shabani
![Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Qassem Soleimani uses a walkie-talkie at the frontline during offensive operations against Islamic State militants in the town of Tal Ksaiba in Salahuddin province March 8, 2015. Picture taken March 8, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT POLITICS) - RTR4TU0N](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/08/RTR4TU0N.jpg/RTR4TU0N.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=1Yc_1njy)
![Mohammad Ali Shabani](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/2015/newpic1.jpg/newpic1.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=OR-pF8Wc)
Mohammad Ali Shabani
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Mohammad Ali Shabani
![U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins speaks during a news conference in New Delhi June 27, 2013. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX112Q6](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/07/RTX112Q6.jpg/RTX112Q6.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=MEFyVkQ1)
![Mohammad Ali Shabani](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/2015/newpic1.jpg/newpic1.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=OR-pF8Wc)
Mohammad Ali Shabani
![Iran's President Hassan Rouhani takes a question during a news conference on the sidelines of the 69th United Nations General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York September 26, 2014. Rouhani said on Friday "courageous decisions" must be made to clinch a long-term nuclear agreement and that any deal without the lifting of all sanctions against Tehran was "unacceptable". REUTERS/Adrees Latif (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR47VPF](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/07/RTR47VPF.jpg/RTR47VPF.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=Ur1VPgjg)
![Mohammad Ali Shabani](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/2015/newpic1.jpg/newpic1.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=OR-pF8Wc)
Mohammad Ali Shabani
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Mohammad Ali Shabani
![Irani workers stand near as a security helicopter lands near the pipeline during a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the inauguration of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, in the city of Chahbahar in southeastern Iran March 11, 2013. Ahmadinejad and Zardari marked the start of Pakistani construction on the much-delayed gas pipeline on Monday, Iranian media reported, despite U.S. pressure on Islamabad to back out of the project. REUTERS/Mian Khursheed (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR3EUW9](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2015/05/RTR3EUW9.jpg/RTR3EUW9.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=NegxFkeH)
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Mohammad Ali Shabani