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Archives: Iran

The Boehner-Obama Struggle over Iran Nuclear Talks has gone International

By Jasmin Ramsey | (WASHINGTON (IPS) - While it’s anyone’s guess whether a final deal will be reached over Iran’s nuclear programme this year, a number of key international actors have forcefully…

Obama, blindsided by Boehner, Snubs Netanyahu

By Alexandra Halaby | (IMEMC & Agencies) -- White House: Netanyahu Visit 'Departure From Protocol' Hours after the State of the Union address by U.S. President Obama, Boehner had invited Israeli Prime…

Poll: Americans support Obama on Negotiating with Iran

By Nancy Gallagher | (The Conversation) In his State of the Union address, the President’s core message was that the US has emerged strong from the twin crises caused by the 2001…

Netanyahu Imported by GOP to once again warn

Netanyahu Imported by GOP to ensure Iran War

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) -- Republican House Majority leader John Boehner secretly invited Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to Washington to address Congress and then once it was set up…

Obama to GOP: More Iran sanctions will lead to War (and 7 other Foreign Policy points in SOTU)

Obama to GOP: More Iran sanctions lead to War (& 7 other Foreign Policy points in SOTU)

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) -- President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address slighted foreign policy in favor of touting domestic progress and proposing new domestic initiatives. But there were…

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Warn Israel Following Strike That Killed General

By Golnaz Esfandiari | (RFE/RL) -- The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) warned on January 20 that Israel should expect "devastating thunderbolts" in response to the January 18 air strike in…

Israel’s Syria Strike: Is it trying to Help al-Qaeda vs. Hizbullah & Iran?

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) -- There are several questions around the Israeli helicopter gunship strike on Mazari` al-Amal in Syria's Quneitra Province, which killed Hizbullah personnel and an Iranian general.…

After Obama veto threat re: GOP Sanctions, Iran says ‘Political Will’ can Advance Nuclear Talks

As Obama warns of veto re: GOP Sanctions, Iran says ‘Political Will’ can aid Nuclear Talks

By RFE/RL | -- GENEVA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says "political will" is needed to make progress in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program but that he believes such progress is…

New Republican Majority Wants to intervene in Obama’s Iran Talks

By Luke Johnson | (RFE/RL) WASHINGTON -- Should U.S. President Barack Obama and Western powers reach a nuclear deal with Iran, they could face a new hurdle: a Republican Congress. Republicans are…

How is the Press in the Muslim World covering the Paris Attacks?

By Joanna Paraszczuk | (RFE/RL) -- Media in the Muslim world have published a wide variety of reactions to the deadly attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in…

Iran’s Rouhani and Direct Democracy: Wants Referendum to Sidestep Hardliners

Iran’s Rouhani & Direct Democracy: Wants Referendum to Sidestep Hardliners

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) -- Iran's system of government is a hybrid. One wing of it consists of a dictatorial theocracy, centered on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The other wing…

Did Iran win “2014”? Top 6 Iran Developments this Year

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) -- In 2014, Iran made news on a number of important fronts. 1. Although there was no decisive breakthrough in its relationship with the United States…

Anthony Bourdain on Iran and Beirut (Bisley Interview)

By Alexander Bisley | (Special to Informed Comment) -- “By the end of this hour I will be seen by many as a terrorist sympathizer, a Zionist tool, a self-hating Jew, an…

Iran Honors Its Fallen Jewish Soldiers

By Frud Bezhan | (RFE/RL) | -- Iran is well-known for its stinging anti-Israeli rhetoric and refusal to recognize what it calls the "Zionist regime." So, it might have come as a…

Iran eager to take leading role against extremism (Iraq, Syria FMs in Tehran)

By Maysam Bizar | (Your Middle East) -- As the US-led campaign against the extremist ISIL militants in Iraq and Syria goes on, Iran, which has not taken part in the coalition,…

Iran: Rise In Youth just living together — Gov’t rails Against ‘White Marriage’

By Golnaz Esfandiari (RFL/RE) | -- Raana and Hamed have been living together for four years. They eat together. They both contribute to the household and share a savings account. They fight…

Could Years more of Syrian Civil War be Avoided by Comprehensive Talks with Iran?

By James L. Gelvin, University of California, Los Angeles The most serious attempt to bring the Syrian regime and representatives of the opposition together around a negotiating table together took place at…

In Slam at Hard Liners, Iran Leader Khamenei’s Aide Calls For End To Criticism Of Nuclear Talks

By Golnaz Esfandiari (RFE/RL) A top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for an end to domestic criticism of Tehran's nuclear negotiations with major world powers. Former Foreign…

Oil Price Fall: Saudi Arabi targets US Shale Oil, Iran, Iraq, Russia

Oil Price Fall: Saudi Arabia targets US Shale Oil, Iran, Iraq, Russia

By Juan Cole It is clear that among the major losers in the fall in the price of Brent crude petroleum from $115 a barrel last summer to about $75 a barrel…

Iran Leader Khamenei: We are not Opposed to Nuclear Talks, Will Accept Just Deal

By Juan Cole | --- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the clerical Leader of Iran, told an assemblage of volunteer paramilitary (Basij) forces on Thursday that he is not opposed to nuclear talks with…