Remarks by Acting Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs, US State Department

As the US and Europe discuss new stricter sanctions against Iran’s oil and gas industry, recent reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency suggest that Iran is still enriching uranium. Are these further sanctions the way forward or are other measures being considered? Jillian Burns, the Acting Director of the Iran Office of the State Department, joins the Council to discuss U.S. policy towards Iran, offering insight into the effectiveness of current sanctions and exploring Iran’s role in the region.

Ms. Burns has been working on Iranian issues at the State Department since 2002, when she served on the Iran Desk. She then served in the U.S. Consulate in Dubai from 2005-2008, first as an Iran Watcher and head of the Political/Economic office, and then as the first director of the Iran Regional Presence Office, opened in 2006. Since 2008, she has worked in the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, where she focuses on Iran issues. She is currently on detail from Policy Planning to be Acting Director of the Iran Office in the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau, but will return to the Office of Policy Planning in August.  Her other assignments include the Syria desk, Watch Officer and Senior Watch Officer in the State Department Operations Center, and tours in Warsaw and Amman. She joined the Foreign Service in 1993.

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