Sir Richard Dalton
Summary
Sir Richard is an associate fellow of the Middle East and North Africa programme and a consultant and commentator on Middle East issues. He was a British career diplomat from 1970 to 2006. Between 1991 and 1992 he was a research fellow at Chatham House and published a study on security architecture for the Persian Gulf region. He was consul general in Jerusalem from 1993 to1997. In 1999 he re-established UK diplomatic relations with Libya, paving the way for the 2003 breakthrough on Libya’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). From 2002 to 2006, as ambassador to Iran, he played a role in European negotiations with Iran, including on prevention of an Iranian military nuclear capability.
From 2006 to 2010 he worked with the Libyan British Business Council as director-general. In 2008 he co-wrote the Chatham House Middle East programme report, Iran: Breaking the Nuclear Deadlock. He chairs Chatham House’s round table on Libya.
Expertise
- Iran
- Libya
- Persian Gulf
- Middle East Peace Process
- British Diplomacy in the Middle East
Experience
| 2008 - date | Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House |
| 2006 - date | Director General, Libyan British Business Council |
| 2002 - 2006 | British Ambassador to Iran |
| 1999 - 2002 | British Ambassador to Libya |
| 1998 - 1999 | Director of Personnel, Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
| 1993 - 1997 | British Consul-General, Jerusalem |
| 1970 - 2006 | HM Diplomatic Service |
Broadcast experience
Extensive (UK and international)
Languages
- Arabic and French (broadcast standard)
- Iran’s Nuclear Future with Peter Jenkins, Research Paper, September 2014
- It's When Things Get Dangerous That We Need Diplomats The Times, September 2012
- Iran chapter in Gulf Kaleidoscope: Reflections on the Iranian Challenge CSIS Report, Jon B Alterman (ed), May 2012
- UK 'Attack on Iran' is Just More Speculation Expert Comment, November 2011
- Libya, and the Limits of Liberal Intervention The Independent, October 2011
- Libya's New Era and UK Engagement Expert Comment, October 2011
- Iran is Not in Breach of International Law The Guardian, June 2011
- Libya's Uncertain Future Expert Comment, March 2011
- We must Stand Ready to Intervene in Libya The Sunday Telegraph, February 2011
- Iran: Uneasy Stability The World Today, April 2010
- Relations will only Improve when it Benefits Iran The Independent, December 2009
- Patience is a Virtue when Dealing with Iran The Independent, December 2009
- Does Tehran Have a Plan C? The Guardian, September 2009
- Europe and Iran: Time to Talk TIME, July 2009
- Democracy Will Have its Day in Iran The Daily Telegraph, June 2009
- Iran: Election or Coup? Chatham House Expert's Comment, June 2009
- Iran: What Matters Now American Enterprise Institute, Washington, June 2009 (video)
- Iran: Breaking the Nuclear Deadlock Chatham House Report, December 2008
- A New Approach is Needed to Tackle Iranian Nuclear Debate The Daily Telegraph, December 2008
- Iran: Looking for a Thaw The World Today, November 2008
- Britain Found a Ladder for Iran to Climb Down The Daily Telegraph, April 2007
- Why Iran Must Make the Next Move The Daily Telegraph, February 2007
- Regional Diplomacy in the Middle East: Iran is on a Roll The World Today, January 2007
- After Vienna: Obstacles to a Nuclear Deal Can Be Overcome 28 November 2014
- A Nuclear Deal with Iran: So Near or So Far? 21 November 2014
- Engaging Iran: An Old Idea Whose Time Has Come 13 December 2013
- Iran Election: Popular Choice or Coronation? 23 May 2013
- Nuclear Diplomacy After Istanbul 19 April 2012
- UK 'Attack on Iran' is Just More Speculation 08 November 2011
- Libya's New Era and UK Engagement 21 October 2011
- Libya's Uncertain Future 20 May 2011
- Libya Uprising: What Next for Gaddafi's Regime? 20 May 2011
- Iran: Election or Coup? 20 May 2011
- For Iran, the path of Hasan or Hussein? Daily Star Lebanon
Expert comment | Dr Christopher Phillips
Syria: The View from Moscow
A weaker economy and the threat of Islamic State may limit some tools available to Russia, but are unlikely to alter Moscow’s overall view and strategy in Syria.
Wed 10 Dec