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New FAS study assesses global economic impact of actions taken against Iran

START researchers assist in study development

Earlier this month, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) released the results of a new study that assessed the global economic impact on a variety of conflict scenarios, sanctions and other alternative actions against Iran. On Nov. 16, FAS Fellow and START Researcher Charles Blair presented the study's findings and discussed the project methodology along with START Director of Special Projects, Gary Ackerman.

In October 2012, amid concerns that surprisingly little research addressed the potential broad outcomes of possible U.S.-led actions against Iran, researchers at FAS assembled nine renowned subject matter experts to investigate one underexplored question that looms large: What are the potential effects on the global economy of U.S. actions against Iran?

Collectively representing expertise in national security, economics, energy markets, and finance, the experts gathered for a one-day elicitation workshop to consider the global economic impacts of six hypothetical scenarios involving U.S.-led actions. Ackerman assisted during the elicitation preparation, facilitation and data analysis, and START Special Projects Research Mila Johns assisted during the elicitation.

The FAS Special Report, "Sanctions, Military Strikes, and Other Potential Actions Against Iran," by Blair and Mark Jansson is available on the FAS website at http://www.fas.org/_docs/2012_Iran_and_Global_Economy.pdf.