Ambassador Stephen Mull, UVa Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Former Acting Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
In the more than 40 years since the rupture of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran, efforts to explore a more constructive relationship on both sides have invariably collapsed into even greater mutual acrimony, recrimination, and distrust, resulting in a shadow war that has resulted in American deaths, a reeling Iranian economy, and spiraling tensions in the Persian Gulf.
The recent uprising of Iranian women and their supporters against internal repression have clouded the relationship even further.
Our March speaker will be Ambassador Stephen Mull, who led the U.S. government implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action to curb Iran’s nuclear program from 2015-2017. His discussion will explore the history of this remarkably troubled relationship and consider whether there any alternative promises greater success.
In nearly four decades in the Foreign Service, Amb. Mullhas served in a broad range of U.S. national security positions, most recently as Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, overseeing the bureaus for Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Near East, South and Central Asia, the Western Hemisphere, and International Organizations. Mull was the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Poland and to the Republic of Lithuania from 2003 to 2006. He has been both Executive Secretary of the State Department and the Senior Advisor to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
Ambassador Mull is the recipient of the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, two Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, and two Distinguished Honor Awards. He holds the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the U.S. Foreign Service. He is a 1980 graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.