The victory of Ebrahim Raisi in Iran’s recent presidential elections may contain some surprising good news for the Biden administration.
Iran’s Hardliners: We’re Back, Too
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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Seeing Past “Death to America”: A Conversation with Hooman Majd
Iranian-American author Hooman Majd says that Americans are starting to see Iran as more than “just a bunch of crazy mullahs shouting ‘Death to America’ all the time.”
Iran’s Rouhani Makes His Debut on the World Stage
In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivered a carefully worded and prudent message that stood in contrast to his predecessor's more defiant addresses at the summit. While Rouhani did not make any grand...
Why Israel Is Obsessed with an Iranian Bomb
Perhaps more than any other state in the Middle East, Israel has historically shown a special sensitivity to its nemeses’ efforts to acquire strategic capabilities that might change the regional balance of power. It has also demonstrated a unique willingness to take...
The Meaning of Rouhani
Although Hassan Rouhani’s victory in Iran’s presidential election was a major gain for the moderate and reformist political groups in Iran—and consequently a major loss for the conservative groups—its implications are far greater than a simple adjustment in the balance of power in Iran’s domestic politics.
Can Egypt Chart Its Own Course?
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s bold initiatives on the world stage indicate that the Muslim Brotherhood leader is attempting to pursue a more independent approach to international affairs. By visiting China and Iran before the United States, forcing several high-ranking leaders of Egypt’s U.S.-backed military to retire, and deploying forces within the Sinai, Morsi is boldly challenging the Washington-Tel Aviv-Riyadh axis of power that has defined the Middle East’s order for decades.
Cracks in the Argument That Iran Is Realist and Rational?
Is there any truth to the Iran war-hawk claim that Iran seeks to ignite the apocalypse?
WikiLeaks XXVIX: West Doesn’t Know What to Do With the New, More Reasonable Ahmadinejad
In hopes of consolidating his power, Iran’s President Ahmadinejad has been distancing himself from the hard-liners.
WikiLeaks XV: Does Tehran Really Press-Gang Ninjas Into Its Services?
Just how strong is Iran’s supposedly fearsome Revolutionary Guard if it’s both fearful of local karate clubs and reliant on them for training and assistance?
WikiLeaks II: Saudi Arabia on Iran — “Cut off the head of the snake”
Apparently dealing responsibly with Iran will only strain Washington’s relationship with the Arab Middle East.