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 →