Richard Nephew
Senior Research Scholar in the Faculty of International and Public Affairs; Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Personal Details
Richard Nephew returned from a public service leave of absence to the Center on Global Energy Policy and Faculty of the School of International and Public Affairs on 1 July 2024.
During his most recent leave, he was the inaugural U.S. Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption at the Department of State (2022-2024). He was also elected as the President of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption. During his government career, he has also served as the Deputy Special Envoy for Iran (2021), Principal Deputy Coordinator for Sanctions Policy at the Department of State (2013-2015), and Director for Iran at the National Security Council (2011-2013), among other senior civil service staff roles from 2003-2011.
While a senior research scholar at SIPA since 2015, Nephew has written dozens of reports and articles for various publications focused on geopolitics and their intersection with energy markets, economic statecraft, nuclear topics, and sanctions. He is also the author of The Art of Sanctions: A View from the Field, published by Columbia University Press in 2018.
In addition to his primary appointment at CGEP, he is a Bernstein adjunct fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and operates his own consulting LLC, “Go Beyond Compliance,” working in particular with Horizon Engage as a senior advisor.
Nephew holds a Masters in Security Policy Studies and a Bachelors in International Affairs, both from The George Washington University. He is married with three children.
Education
- MA in Security Policy Studies, The George Washington University
- BA in International Affairs, The George Washington University
In The Media
Joe Biden’s promised return to diplomacy with OPEC-members Iran and Venezuela could cut a path for a return of their oil exports should he win, but not before many months at least of talks and deal-making. Richard Nephew comments.
The president’s failures sanctioning Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela can inform future presidents, or even Trump during a second term. Richard Nephew comments.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action without U.S. sanctions relief and without Iranian nuclear concessions is meaningless states Richard Nephew.
The new head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, was the United States’ preferred candidate. As global tensions rise, he quickly needs to prove his independence. Richard Nephew says “If the IAEA was siding with the U.S. government all the time, it would immediately lose credibility."
After reports of Iran injecting uranium into secret government centrifuges came up, Richard Nephew says they are just one step closer to creating nuclear energy. "They’re getting closer and closer to muscle. They aren’t cutting fat right now.”