By By Kian Sharifi ( RFE/ RL ) – Iran’s parliamentary elections on March 1 witnessed a historically low turnout, in a blow to the legitimacy of the clerical establishment. The official turnout of 41 percent was the lowest for legislative elections since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Critics claim the real turnout was likely even […]
Iran’s “Axis of Resistance:” Different Groups, Similar Goals
By Kian Sharifi ( RFE/RL ) – Iran’s so-called axis of resistance is a loose network of proxies, Tehran-backed militant groups, and an allied state actor. The network is a key element of Tehran’s strategy of deterrence against perceived threats from the United States, regional rivals, and primarily Israel. Active in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, […]
Little Room For Negotiation Between Iran And U.S. Amid Middle East Tensions
By Michael Scollon ( RFE/RL ) – Like two heavyweight boxers, the United States and Iran circle the ring — flexing their muscles without stepping close enough to actually trade blows. It is clear that neither wants to fight, but they also have no interest in settling their stark differences. That is how experts say […]
Iran says It’s ‘Not Looking for a War,’ But is Ready for one
By Michael Scollon ( RFE/RL ) – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said during a trip to an impoverished southern region that Tehran is not looking for military conflict but would respond forcefully to any country that threatens the Islamic republic. “We will not start any war, but if anyone wants to bully us, they […]
Iranian Economy Buoyed By ‘Dark Fleet’ Oil Shipments To China
By Michael Scollon | – ( RFE/RL ) – More than 6,000 kilometers from Tehran, in treacherous waters off the shores of Singapore, a “dark fleet” of oil tankers waits to offload the precious cargo that helps keep Iran’s economy afloat — a dependency that could also sink it. The fleet has grown steadily over […]
U.S. Warns Of Wider Mideast Conflict As Iran Cautions Israel Ahead Of Gaza Invasion
( RFE/RL) – The United States has warned that conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas could expand into the wider Middle East, engulfing the oil-rich region in fighting. U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said on October 15 that there was a risk that militant group Hizballah or Iran could get directly involved in […]
‘Their Freedoms Have Been Taken Away’: Afghanistan Sees Surge In Female Suicides Under Taliban Rule
By Ahmad Hanayish and Abubakar Siddique (RFE/RL ) Shabana had a bright future ahead of her. She was studying to become a doctor and preparing to get married. But the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 turned her life upside down. The militant group’s ban on women attending university forced her to abandon her studies. […]
How Mahsa Amini’s Death became a Rallying Call for Thousands of Iranians
By Michael Scollon and Fereshteh Ghazi A combo photo shows Mahsa Amini (left) in the hospital on September 16, 2022, and her father and grandmother right after her death. ( RFE/RL ) – Sharmin Habibi recalls the circumstances of her husband’s killing at the hands of Iran’s security forces. But she could be […]
‘Era Of Repression’: Iran Purges Ranks Of University Professors Ahead Of Veil Protest Anniversary
By Hannah Kaviani Fereshteh Ghazi ( RFE/RL ) – Encouraging students to hold unauthorized demonstrations. Encouraging students to sing antiestablishment slogans. Encouraging female students to remove their head scarves. Undermining Islamic values and acting against the interests of the system. These are the list of reasons the Iranian authorities are using to increasingly purge the […]
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