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Zakiyeh Yazdanshenas is a freelance journalist focusing on Iran's foreign policy and a Ph.D. candidate in North American studies at Tehran University.
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![A ballistic missile is launched and tested in an undisclosed location, Iran, March 9, 2016. REUTERS/Mahmood Hosseini/TIMA ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. IT IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. -](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2017/07/RTSA0IL.jpg/RTSA0IL.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=TPfNnf4_)
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Zakiyeh Yazdanshenas
![U.S. soldiers gather near military vehicles at an army base in Karamless town, east of Mosul, Iraq, December 25, 2016. Picture taken December 25, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTX2WHHJ](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2017/03/RTX2WHHJ.jpg/RTX2WHHJ.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=rQf12Akq)
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Zakiyeh Yazdanshenas
![U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands at the conclusion of their press conference following their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland where they discussed the crisis in Syria September 9, 2016.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTSN25I](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/09/RTSN25I.jpg/RTSN25I.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=SKpVypPb)
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Zakiyeh Yazdanshenas
![Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a news conference following their meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, August 9, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin - RTSM49Z](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/08/RTSM49Z.jpg/RTSM49Z.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=gkUaF6qG)
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Zakiyeh Yazdanshenas
![Iranian students hold placards during a rally at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization to mark the country's national day of nuclear technology April 9, 2007. The billboard reads: "As a local achievement, nuclear energy is a source of pride for Iran and the world of Islam". REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (IRAN) - RTR1OGOY](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/07/RTR1OGOY.jpg/RTR1OGOY.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=BJ7drAWQ)
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Zakiyeh Yazdanshenas