Featured Article

A View from the Iranian State: Unrest Provides Opportunities for Islamic Republic

Jasim Husain Ali

Editor’s Note: Dr. Jasim Husain Ali, a member of the parliament in Bahrain, based this article on his high-level meetings with Iranian officials during his recent trip to Iran.


TEHRAN
—Iran’s authorities blame anti-revolutionary forces for taking advantage of understandable…

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  • News Features

  • Iran’s Future Tied to State’s Treatment of Green Movement

    Babak

    TEHRAN—It appears that the future of the Islamic Republic, even in the short term, is tied to how the government treats those people who are defined as the Green Movement. In the absence of free and independent media, and when political parties cannot operate legally and freely, these protesters pursue their demands on the streets of Iran’s cities. more»

  • Iran’s Bubble Boys

    These are the men who make up Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s inner circle — and will determine if the Iranian president can strengthen his tenuous grip on power.

    Geneive Abdo
    (This article was published in Foreign Policy.com)

    Over the last seven months, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s base of support appears to have steadily shrunk: Countless conservative politicians and clerics, such as former Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, have even parted ways with the Iranian president and joined the expanding group of his foes. But though his list of detractors is getting longer, a number of men continue to stand behind the president, ensuring his hold on power. more»

  • A Unity Plan Could Be Green Movement’s Lifeline

    Babak


    TEHRAN
    —After the controversial June 12 presidential election, and the most critical days in the history of the Islamic Republic that followed, elders in various political parties and different factions believe that a unity plan is the only way out of the current crisis. more»

  • Media Analysis

  • Conservatives Doubt Ahmadinejad Remarks About Iran Accepting Nuclear Deal with West

    Arash Aramesh

    In the aftermath of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s statements suggesting that he would now accept a demand from Western governments for Iran to ship some of its fuel abroad for enrichment, some conservatives are casting doubt on the veracity of his statements. They are asking him to clarify his position because they doubt that Iran’s decision not to comply with the demand from Western governments has shifted. more»

  • Khatami Denies His Reported Criticism of Khamenei

    Arash Aramesh

    Former President Mohammad Khatami said January 31, that he wants the Supreme Leader to be the leader of all Iranians and not just the leader of a certain faction within the Iranian government. His comment was a direct criticism of how Khamenei has sided with the hardliners around President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. more»

  • Chief Justice Larijani Says Judiciary Must Be Free of Politics

    Arash Aramesh

    In a surprise move, Chief Justice Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani said he has no intention of enforcing laws, such as the executions of dissents, that are politically motivated and not in accordance with Islamic law. “Expediting the implementation of sentences and verdicts must be in complete accordance with the Sharia and the laws (of Iran),” he said. more»

  • Critical Comments

    Harsh Words on Both Sides Make Bloody Showdown Likely February 11

    Shayan Ghajar

    Both the government and the opposition are looking to February 11, the 31 year anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, to bring the post-election unrest out of its current stalemate by staging massive shows of force in the streets of Iran’s cities. Traditionally, the anniversary has been a time for pro-government rallies to commemorate the overthrow of the Shah. This year, however, the event is being used as an opportunity for both sides to demonstrate their popular support by mobilizing as many people as possible to participate in their demonstrations either for or against the current government. more»



    Karroubi and Others Refute Government’s Claim of a Compromise

    Shayan Ghajar

    On January 25, prominent opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi stated that although the June elections were massively rigged, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is technically the head of the government because he was recognized as such by the Supreme Leader. Almost immediately, Fars News, a pro-government news agency with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, reported that Karroubi had acknowledged that Ahmadinejad had won the elections in a fair manner, and was the legitimate president. The Fars News story may be found here (Farsi language). more»



    What Does the Green Movement Want from the United States?

    Shayan Ghajar

    The aftermath of the disputed June 2009 presidential election in Iran has left international policymakers in a quandary over how to approach diplomatic relations with Iran. The question currently facing the Obama administration is whether engaging Iran diplomatically regarding its nuclear program is possible while supporting Iran’s Green Movement and taking a stand against the repression and human rights abuses committed by the state. more»