This Week in Iranian News – September 5-12

by Shawn Amoei Foreign Affairs President Hassan Rouhani cites improved relations with Europe as a top foreign policy priority. Yemen confirms that a kidnapped Iranian diplomat is in al-Qaeda custody. Audio from a speech by former President Hashemi Rafsanjani blaming… Continue Reading

Should Iran’s Election Really be Discounted?

by Farideh Farhi I read with great interest the writing of Washington’s new Iran expert, Dennis Ross. With a title like “Don’t Discount the Iranian Election”, I thought, wow! Iran’s contested and improvised politics are finally being taken seriously. What… Continue Reading

Rafsanjani Shut Out of Iran’s Presidential Race

by Farideh Farhi via IPS News With the disqualification of former president and current chair of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani by a vetting body, the Guardian Council, Iran’s presidential campaign is opening with many in the country in… Continue Reading