Reza H. Akbari and Azadeh Pourzand
Editor’s note: This article first appeared on Tehran Bureau.
The possibility of a military strike against Iran has become a focal point of U.S. foreign policy debates. As the hawkish voices intensify, we as members of a generation born in the midst of the Iran-Iraq War cannot help but remember the tragedy of those eight years of bloodshed that are so ingrained in our memories.
Hossein Alizadeh
As Iranians approach parliamentary elections in early March, it appears a crisis of participation will be more of a problem than ever. In the past, the Iranian diaspora community living abroad called for an election boycott. However, for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic, the leaders of the reformists within the regime, including Mohammad Khatami, Mehdi Karroubi, and Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha, the secretary general of the reformist Association of Combatant Clerics are emphasizing the ineffectiveness of participation in the polls.
Mehdi Arabshahi
On November 30, Iran was once again placed under the spotlight of international news agencies. Young Iranians climbed the walls of the British embassy and Gholhak Garden in Tehran, and were called “students.” The incident was not the first time that students affiliated with the Basij –a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp — have tried to occupy the British embassy in Tehran. The embassy was also under attack by students affiliated with Basij on April and June 2007, December 2008, and December 2010.
Geneive Abdo
Editor’s note: This article first appeared on Foreign Affairs.
Many things are up for grabs in this month’s Egyptian parliamentary elections: the role of religion, the power of the military, and the emerging shape of Arab democracy. But one thing is not: Cairo’s foreign policy. Washington believes that a secular victory would be good for U.S. interests and an Islamist win would be problematic. But no matter which party picks up the most seats in parliament, the new Egypt will be less compliant to U.S. demands and cultivate warmer relations with Iran.
Reza H. Akbari and Geneive Abdo
Editor’s note: This article first appeared on CNN.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, one of the greatest failures of the country’s leadership has been the inability to make a promised transition from a monarchy to republican rule. In fact, since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began his tenure as Supreme Leader twenty-two years ago, he has centralized power further in his own hands, creating what can be called a clerical monarchy.
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