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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Feb 4, 2019

Protests are a permanent feature of Iran

By Nazila Fathi

July 15, 2009 was a historic day in Iran’s recent history. Some three million people marched in silence on Enghelab (Revolution) Street in the capital of Tehran to convey their anger at the Islamic Republic in the most peaceful manner. The regime had disconnected cell phone services in a failed effort to prevent the march, […]

Civil Society Human Rights

IranSource

Feb 1, 2019

Iran’s economic performance since the 1979 Revolution

By Nadereh Chamlou

Forty years have passed since the Iranian Revolution—a revolution that promised to usher in democracy, freedom, and prosperity for all. Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, an influential cleric, recently exclaimed that Iran has progressed more in the last “forty years than it had in the 400 years prior.” Has it? This note offers some perspectives on selected economic […]

Iran

IranSource

Jan 31, 2019

Beyond Westoxification and Orientalism: How to read Iranian politics

By Giorgia Perletta

Using fixed categories to describe Iranian politics is often a risk. Western readings are frequently imbued with misconceptions and prejudices due to an Orientalist approach. At the same time, the official narrative of the Islamic Republic reflects a self-representation in conscious reaction to Western views of Iran. These two readings clash with each other at […]

Iran

IranSource

Jan 30, 2019

Can Iran Help Reach a Lasting Peace in Afghanistan?

By Fatemeh Aman

Progress has been reported in peace talks between US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban, but without the participation of the Afghan government, it seems premature to assume that an agreement will be reached soon. Could Iran play a constructive role in achieving an end to America’s longest war? Despite their lack of diplomatic relations and enduring hostility, […]

Afghanistan Iran

In the News

Jan 29, 2019

Dagres quoted in BuzzFeed on looming Iran ban on Instagram

By Holly Dagres

Read the full article here.

Iran

IranSource

Jan 28, 2019

Persia is back, but in a different form

By Kayhan Barzegar

A powerful trend at the international level—led by the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia—is trying to sell the idea that Iran’s active regional presence, together with its missile program and location at several of the world’s geostrategic chokepoints, is an attempt to restore the Persian Empire and is a fundamental danger to global security. […]

Iran

IranSource

Jan 18, 2019

What’s Behind the Middle East Summit in Poland?

By Robert Czulda

The US announcement that an international summit on the security and stability of the Middle East will be held February 13 and 14 in Warsaw was as shocking as it was unexpected, not only for Iranians but also for Poles. Poland is an important political and military ally of the United States and Polish energy […]

Iran Poland

IranSource

Jan 15, 2019

How the exiled Iranian opposition may actually Be helping the Iranian regime

By Maysam Behravesh

The Islamic Republic of Iran has no shortage of opposition groups, many with adherents in the large Iranian diaspora. From the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) to secular republicans to ethnic separatist organizations, they are all bent on overthrowing the Iranian regime and replacing it with what they claim will be a more inclusive system. Despite this […]

Iran

IranSource

Jan 14, 2019

Japan Strives to Keep Importing Iranian Oil Despite US Sanctions

By Sachi Sakanashi

Japan’s energy policy towards Iran has been an area of struggle for independence from the United States for four decades. Even when Japan tried to pursue its own energy policy towards Iran, the US has generally had the final say. From Japan’s point of view, however, the US stance towards Japan-Iran energy relations has toughened […]

Iran Japan

IranSource

Jan 11, 2019

Iran’s Reform Camp Is in Crisis

By Shahir Shahidsaless

The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, can hardly be billed as a reformist. For that reason, he maintained his position as Iran’s Supreme Leader’s confidante while acting as his representative in the Iranian Supreme National Security Council for twenty-three years, from its inception until his first term election as president in 2013. Rouhani also escaped unscathed […]

Iran