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MEHRAN HAGHIRIAN
Mehran Haghirian is the Director of Regional Initiatives at the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, a think tank focused on economic diplomacy, economic development, and economic justice in the Middle East and Central Asia. In this role, Mehran draws on his extensive background researching regional political and security frameworks. He is a PhD candidate at Qatar University, where he focuses on the geopolitics of the Persian Gulf region, and holds a master’s degree in international affairs from American University's School of International Service in Washington DC. Prior to joining B&BF, Mehran worked at the Ibn Khaldon Center for Humanities and Social Sciences as a researcher and assistant director and at the Atlantic Council's Future of Iran Initiative as a project assistant.
PUBLICATIONS
EDUCATION
August 2018 – Present
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN [PERSIAN] GULF STUDIES
QATAR UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Doha, Qatar
Dissertation: Differentiating the Foreign and Security Policies of the Persian Gulf Arab States: The Decision-Making Calculus towards Iran
August 2015 – May 2017
MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Washington, DC
Thesis: Effectuating A Cooperative Future Between Iran and the Arab States of the Persian Gulf
June – July 2016
CERTIFICATE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND MULTILATERAL GOVERNANCE
GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF GENEVA
Geneva, Switzerland
August 2012 – May 2015
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PEACE STUDIES
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY, WILKINSON COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Orange, CA
Honors: Sigma Iota Rho
January 2011 – May 2012
MAJORED IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
Boston, MA
September 2007 – June 2010
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
INSTITUT LE ROSEY
Rolle and Gstaad, Switzerland
WORK EXPERIENCE
BOURSE AND BAZAAR FOUNDATION
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Director of Regional Initiatives
August 2021 - Present
IBN KHALDON CENTER FOR HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DOHA, QATAR
Researcher in International Affairs and Assistant to the Director
October 2018 – August 2021
ATLANTIC COUNCIL, FUTURE OF IRAN INITIATIVE
WASHINGTON, DC
Project Assistant
August 2016 – May 2017
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
WASHINGTON, DC
Teaching and Graduate Assistant
January 2016 – December 2016
Graduate Assistant to Professor Fereshteh Nouraei-Simone in a graduate level course titled SIS-619 — Iran and the United States: Conflict and Rapprochement (Fall 2016)
Teaching Assistant to Professor Fereshteh Nouraei-Simone in an undergraduate level course titled SISU-380 — Iran and Middle East Conflicts (Spring 2016)
PANELS AND INTERVIEWS
"‘Nuclear terrorism’ in Natanz threatens diplomacy in Vienna"
TRT World
April 13, 2021
Quoted by Giorgio Cafiero
"Iran’s threat to Israel more sound than fury"
Asia Times
January 12, 2021
Quoted by Kourosh Ziabari
“What will reduced tensions within the GCC mean for Iran?”
Al Jazeera
January 7, 2021
Quoted by Maziar Motamedi
"Iran in the New Eurasian Context"
Bourse and Bazaar and the Middle East Institute – Singapore (Webinar)
July 30, 2020
Presented research on “The Rivalry between Iran and the GCC States in the Eurasian Context”
Indus News
January 23, 2020
Live phone interview – Scope with Waqar Rizvi
“Iran plays diplomatic hardball ahead of enrichment deadline”
Al Jazeera
July 8, 2019
Quoted by Ted Regencia
"Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Resigns"
Al Jazeera
February 26, 2019
Quoted by Ted Regencia
“Zarif's Diplomacy Irritated Bolton, Pompeo, Netanyahu - Iranian Analyst”
Sputnik
February 26, 2019
Quoted by Sputnik International Desk
“Iraq hits back at Trump’s base in Iraq statement”
Indus News
February 8, 2019
Live phone interview – Scope with Waqar Rizvi
“Is Trump baiting Iran into an armed confrontation?”
Al Jazeera
January 28, 2019
Quoted by Ted Regencia
“Iran president Rouhani warns country faces 'war situation'as he vows to bypass new US sanctions”
The Independent
November 5, 2018
Quoted by Borzou Daragahi
“How Iran Hopes to Counterpunch Trump”
The Daily Beast
May 11, 2018
Quoted by Borzou Daragahi
CONFERENCES
Russia and the Gulf: Alternative Views on Moscow’s Regional Goals and Motifs, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
-Co-organizer of the roundtable
February 24, 2020
International System, Regional Developments, and Iran’s Foreign Policy, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran
-Co-presented research on “Rouhani’s Persian Gulf Policy: From JCPOA to HOPE” with Dr. Luciano Zaccara
February 17, 2020
World in Transition: Revisiting Non-Western International Relations, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
-Moderated a debate on “Non-Western Theoretical Approaches to International Relations”
-Organizer of the roundtable
January 18, 2020
Gulf Studies Center Fourth Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
-Co-presented research on “The Quest for Alternative Energy in the Arabian Peninsula and Iran: Geopolitics of the Nuclear Option” with Dr. Mohamad Al-Saidi
November 26, 2019
First Biennial Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
-Presented research on “Objectives and Determinants of Iranian Foreign Policy: Continuities and Changes”
November 11, 2019
Eighth Global Conference on Global Warming, Doha, Qatar
-Presented research on the “UAE and Saudi Arabia’s Quest for Nuclear Energy: Satisfying Domestic Energy Demands or Increasing Regional Power Status”
April 23, 2019
The Gulf Studies Center Fourth International Student Symposium, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
-Presented research on the “Consequences of the Iran Nuclear Deal on the Geopolitics of the Persian Gulf”
-Head of the Organizing Committee
-Moderated a Panel on “Societal Issues in the Age of Globalization: Identity, Youth, and Education in the Gulf”
April 16, 2019
National Pluralism in the Middle East: Towards A Common Civilizational Framework, Ibn Khaldon Center, Doha, Qatar
-Organizer of the Conference
March 26-27, 2019
Gulf Studies Symposium, The Center for Gulf Studies, American University of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait
-Co-presented research on “E-Commerce and Consumption Patterns in Iran: Sanctions as A Boost to Overcome External Limitations and Shortcomings” - with Dr. Luciano Zaccara
March 16, 2019
Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations 23rd Annual Graduate Symposium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
-Presented research on “Barriers and Pathways for Cooperation between Iran and the Arab States of the Persian Gulf”
March 5, 2019
The Islamic Revolution in Retrospect: The Internal, Regional and Global Impact, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
-Moderated a Panel on “The Regional and International Implications of the Islamic Revolution”
-Co-organizer of the conference
February 24, 2019
Gulf Studies Center Third Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
-Presented research on “Iran’s Pragmatic Foreign Policy in Response to Regional Crises: The Case of the Blockade Against Qatar”
December 9, 2018
TEDx Qatar University - Social Area, Qatar National Convention Center, Doha, Qatar
-Presented research on “Effectuating A Cooperative Future Between Iran and the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council”
November 3, 2018
Ending an Unnecessary Conflict and Opening New Horizons, Chapman University, Orange, CA
-Organizer and panelist
May 12, 2015
Model United Nations Security Council Conference, Fairmont Academy, Santa Ana, CA
-Chair
October 18, 2014
Undergraduate Research Conference, Chapman University, Orange, CA
-Research paper and poster presentation on “American Public Opinion on the Iranian Nuclear Program”
May 14, 2014
National Model United Nations Conference, Hilton Hotel, New York, NY
-Head Delegate of the Chapman University Model United Nations (2013-2015)
April 14 – 17, 2014