Sahar Nowrouzzadeh

Sahar Nowrouzzadeh (Persian: سحر نوروززاده‎‎) is an Iranian-American foreign policy expert. She currently serves as a Director for Iran on the National Security Council Staff at the White House under President Barack H. Obama.^[1]

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Oval Office, March 27, 2015. Attendees from left are Sahar Nowrouzzadeh, Director for Iran; National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice; Phil Gordon, White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region; Charles Kupchan, Senior Director for European Affairs and Avril Haines, Deputy National Security Advisor. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)^[2]

Biography

Nowrouzzadeh was born in Connecticut. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs with a double concentration in International Economics and Middle East Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University.^[3] She completed her Master’s Degree in Persian Studies at the University of Maryland-College Park.

Nowrouzzadeh has worked for the United States government in various capacities. She began her career at the U.S. Department of Defense, where she served as a Foreign Affairs Analyst. After several years she became a Senior Foreign Affairs Analyst, and was later promoted to be a Team Chief. Following her tenure at the U.S. Department of Defense, she joined the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Affairs Officer and was subsequently detailed to the White House in 2014. As a Director for Iran at the NSC, she was part of the team responsible for supporting the P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran.^[1][4]

References

1. "U.S. Department of State Virtual Embassy - Tehran".
2. "P032715PS-0047". Flickr - Photo Sharing!. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
3. "GW Magazine - An Insight Into Iran".
4. "White House: Pres. Obama convenes national security team to discuss Iran nuclear talks". CCTV America. Retrieved 2016-03-10.