UN Rights Rapporteur Forced to Grade Iran from Afar

by Omid Memarian Geneva — Following the release Friday of his report to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Iran, U.N. Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed urged Tehran to engage with U.N. mandates – firstly by permitting him to… Continue Reading

An Iran in Flux Marks 35th Anniversary of Revolution

by Jasmin Ramsey via IPS News Thirty-five years ago today, millions of Iranians embraced a religious leader promising freedom from a corrupt monarchy and national independence. Now many want a better standard of living and improved civil rights. “Living standards… Continue Reading

Understanding Iran Ahead of Geneva Talks Round II

by Farideh Farhi & Jasmin Ramsey Editor’s Note: Following is Jasmin Ramsey’s introduction and interview with Farideh Farhi, an independent scholar and expert on Iran from the University of Hawaii who has been in Tehran since the end of August. … Continue Reading

This Week in Iran News — Sept. 20-27

by Shawn Amoei Foreign Affairs US Secretary of State John Kerry had a 30-minute, one-on-one chat with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif following the P5+1 meeting. Both parties declared the talk positive and constructive. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that an… Continue Reading

This Week in Iran News — September 13-20

by Shawn Amoei Foreign Affairs Addressing an annual gathering of IRGC officials, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke of the necessity for “heroic flexibility” in diplomacy. President Hassan Rouhani welcomed a Russian proposal aimed at eliminating Syria’s nuclear weapons. Rouhani spoke… Continue Reading