Richard Nephew is an American expert in nuclear weapons and sanctions policy who served as Director for Iran at the National Security Council from 2011 to 2013. He played a leading role as Principal Deputy Coordinator for Sanctions Policy at the State Department, contributing significantly to the U.S. sanctions strategy and negotiations with Iran, including the 2015 nuclear agreement. Nephew is also a senior research scholar and program director at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, author of the acclaimed book “The Art of Sanctions,” and has held multiple senior roles in government focused on Iran, sanctions, and global anti-corruption efforts.