US revives talk of Iran-Taliban ties
Despite the lack of evidence or a plausible motive, the
Barack Obama administration is revisiting the previous
US administration's charges that Iran is arming and
training the Taliban. Although the allegations could
damage hopes of Iranian cooperation in the Afghan
conflict, some members of the US government see them as
a golden opportunity to pressure Tehran over its nuclear
program. - Gareth Porter (Jul 7,'09) |
Russia flits
from Tehran to Washington
Just when Russia's 14-year saga over building a nuclear
plant for Iran appeared at an end, Moscow has pointed to
financial problems that will delay the facility's
scheduled opening next month. In doing this, Russia is
sending a message not so much to Tehran as to
Washington, that it is considering a move more into the
US's orbit. - Dmitry Shlapentokh
(Jul |
Obama faces a Persian rebuff
The Barack Obama administration badly fumbled after a magnificent start
in addressing the situation in Iran. The White House must now deal with
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the peak of his political
power, and President Mahmud Ahmadinejad - who will now negotiate from a
position of unprecedented strength. All things taken into account, there
has been a policy crisis in Washington. - M K Bhadrakumar |
China doesn't want
Iran unstable
Throughout the recent election turmoil in Iran, Beijing has said little
and stuck to its time-honored non-interventionist line. Political chaos
in the Middle East, and especially in Iran, is no good for oil-hungry
China. In terms of national interest, it's better to just keep quiet. -
Jian Junbo (Jun 30,'09) |
Obama creates a
deadly power vacuum
President Barack Obama has not betrayed the interests of the United
States to any foreign power, but he has done the next worst thing,
namely, to create a void by withdrawing American power. By removing
America as a referee, he will provoke more violence than the United
States ever did. A very, very dangerous period is about to begin, and it
could start with Iran. (Jun 29,'09) |
A classic
revolutionary dilemma
The events of recent weeks in Iran can be viewed against the backdrop of
a regime that wants to return to its glory days of fervor and idealism.
The young, in particular, have been alienated, and demographically and
in other ways the present version of the Islamic Republic, which may
have postponed its date with destiny, is struggling against the tide of
history. - Dilip Hiro (Jun 29,'09) |
Requiem for a
revolution
In the end, the sound and fury of the "Tehran spring" led to neither
reform nor revolution. The army didn't support the people, and the
merchants and workers didn't go on strike. Still, to believe that Iran's
national interest and the aspirations of its disenchanted masses will be
defended by the new dictatorship of the mullahtariat is to completely
miss the point. - Pepe Escobar
(Jun 29,'09) |
Iran's streets
are lost, but hope returns
People power may have lost in the streets against a massive repression
machine, but Iranians are not afraid anymore. They believe another Iran
is possible. All hopes lie on a protracted, creative, subversive,
underground and parallel movement of civil disobedience, with strikes
and vigils held up and down the country. The seeds of the next
revolution have already been planted. - Pepe Escobar
(Jun 24,'09) |
China makes a choice
in Iran
As in the Silk Road times of the recently released Chinese film The
Empire of Silver, the status quo is China's political mantra. This
applies also for Iran, where Beijing has calculated that its interests
will be best served if the turmoil over the re-election of President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad quickly passes. - Francesco Sisci |
'Color'
revolution fizzles in Iran
Last week's power-play proved that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's
capacity to command Iran's seemingly explosive political situation was
never really in doubt as it thwarted rival Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's
attempt to rally the clerical establishment. Meanwhile, United States
President Barack Obama played it cool, never going back on his pledge to
directly engage Tehran. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jun 22,'09) |
Meet Shah Ali
Khamenei
Iranian protest leader Mir Hossein Mousavi was swept up in the human
flow of people power claiming that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's title
is illegitimate, that his credibility as a religious scholar was and
remains shaky. All the same, Khamenei's power remains complete. -
Pepe Escobar (Jun 22,'09) |
Beijing cautions
US over Iran
The meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad in Russia on Tuesday once again shows Beijing has a
clear idea about the ebb and flow of Iranian politics. China anticipated
the backlash against Ahmadinejad's victory and is now warning Washington
about letting the genie of popular unrest get out of the bottle in a
region waiting to explode. - M K Bhadrakumar
(Jun 19,'09) |
US neo-cons sniff a chance
Right-wing attacks have put huge pressure on United States President
Barack Obama to take a more activist stance on Iran; these may lead to a
domestic political backlash against him. Yet neo-conservatives are happy
with President Mahmud Ahmadinejad as they see him justifying their calls
for action against Tehran over its nuclear program.
(Jun 19,'09) |
Web tangled in
Iranian struggle
As Iranians defy security forces to protest in the streets against the
declared result of their presidential election, technicians on both
sides are struggling to outwit each other in the battle for control of
information in cyberspace. (Jun 19,'09)
Martin J Young surveys the week's developments in computing,
science, gaming and gizmos. |
Divine
assessment vs people power
It was like a bossa nova song playing in an elevator on
fire: while people power was still driving events in
Tehran, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad showed up
at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization proclaiming
"the international capitalist order is retreating" and
that the age of empires has ended. That's entirely
possible - but maybe some other old orders are ending as
well. - Pepe Escobar (Jun 18,'09) |
The IRGC
shakes its iron fist
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, or Sepah, has
benefited greatly from the tenure of President Mahmud
Ahmadinejad - spreading its influence throughout the
region and locking down the lucrative import and oil
sectors. The last thing the powerful, 125,000-member
organization wanted was a change in national leadership.
If election protests continue, the Sepah will pounce. -
Shahir Shahidsaless (Jun 18,'09) |
Mousavi
states his case
Mir Hossein Mousavi, the reformist candidate challenging
Iran's authorities on the presidential elections, has
lodged a two-page complaint with the powerful Guardians
Council, seeking an annulment of the result. On the
basis of what he has presented, he is unlikely to get
his way. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
(Jun 18,'09) |
|
A very
Iranian coup
In the West, governments are owned and run by the
banking and financial system. In Iran, it's the Oil
Ministry that controls the purse strings. Having finally
won control of oil revenues from the faction of former
president Hashemi Rafsanjani, Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei and President Mahmud Ahmadinejad are in no
mood to give it up. - Chris Cook
(Jun 16,'09) |
|
Ahmadinejad
tries to douse the flames
Prudent moves are called for if Iran's re-elected leader
intends to avert a full-blown national crisis. Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's call for a probe of
voter fraud allegations is a good first step, but
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad must still find innovative
ways to appease the millions that voted against him. Mir
Hossein Mousavi as Ahmadinejad's foreign minister? Now,
that's a creative idea. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
(Jun 16,'09) |
|
The meaning
of the Tehran spring
 Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has made his
power play against challengers Mir Hossein Mousavi and
Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani. Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei fully supported him. As the aftermath
unwinds, Mousavi and Rafsanjani need an urgent
counterpunch, and their only possible play - given that
no pacifying solution can be found within the
institutional framework of the Islamic Republic - is to
go after Khamenei. - Pepe Escobar
(Jun
|
|
Hedgehogs
and flamingos
The handling of election results exposes the weakness of
Iran's strategic position. That makes an Israeli strike
against its nuclear facilities all the more likely, not
because Tehran has shown greater militancy, but because
it has committed the one sin that is never pardoned in
the Middle East - |
|
Reformists held after Iran riots
Opposition figures arrested after thousands
take to streets over poll result
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Iran bans pro-Mousavi rally
Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, a defeated
candidate in Iran's presidential election, have
called off a rally to protest against the
re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after the
authorities refused to permit the march. |
A bigger
struggle lies ahead
Whoever becomes the next president, the current institutional
order - especially the watchdog and oversight mechanisms employed to
control politics - will struggle to handle the tensions and political
conflicts that lie ahead. The only viable solution is to go beyond
factional politics and encourage the establishment of genuine political
parties in Iran. - Mahan Abedin
(Jun 12,'09) |
|
Iranians vote in presidential poll
Polling stations across the Islamic Republic opened at 8am
(03:30 GMT) on Friday and are due to close 10 hours later, the
country's interior ministry said."We are expecting our dear
citizens to come forward and vote in the early hours," the
ministry said."We are
expecting our dear citizens to come forward and vote in the
early hours," the ministry said. |
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|
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Iran Guard warns reformist groups
Ahead of presidential poll, political chief of armed unit
cautions against attempted "revolution". |
Iranians Keen on Improved Ties With US
More than three out of every four Iranian citizens favor improved
relations with the United States, according to a major
survey [.pdf] conducted less than one month before this Friday’s
presidential elections in Iran by a U.S. non-governmental organization,
Terror Free Tomorrow (TFT).Just over half (52 percent) of the pool of
1,001 respondents also said they believed Tehran should develop nuclear
weapons, although more than 70 percent said they would support a deal by
which the government would agree to forgo that option in exchange for
outside aid and investment. |
Iran's elections
a soft-power boon
No matter who wins the presidential election on Friday, the open and
dynamic election process ensures that the man in power will have a clear
mandate to deal with the rest of the world, particularly over Tehran's
contentious nuclear program. This reduces the maneuverability of the
anti-Iran coalition the United States has been trying to put together in
the Middle East. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Jun 10,'09) |
Iran campaign enters final day
The four candidates in Iran's presidential
election are making a last-ditch attempt to woo
voters on the final day of campaigning. Huge
crowds are expected at rallies on Wednesday for
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the incumbent president,
and his main challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, a
reformist and former prime minister. |
Mass rallies before Iran election
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets of
Tehran in a mass show of support for their candidates in the
upcoming presidential election. |
All up for grabs in Iran vote
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was Iran's first non-cleric president in 24
years when he was elected in 2005.Now, with his rivals blaming
him for many problems ranging from Iran's dwindling economy to
the country's pariah status in the world, he may be the first
president since 1981 whose re-election is not guaranteed. Iran's
next presidential election, to be held on Friday, June 12, will
be a milestone in Iranian politics. This is the first time in
the Islamic Republic's history that the incumbent president has
|
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Obama's hearts
and minds trifecta
In the race for Muslim hearts and minds, United States President Barack
Obama has chosen his first two destinations well in Turkey and Egypt,
and scored points for eloquently balancing sensitivity with some frank
truths. The next likely stop is his childhood home, Indonesia, where he
can point to a successful example of moderate Islam being combined with
liberal democracy. - Donald K Emmerson (Jun 8,'09) |
|
Washington moves
the 'red line' on Iran
Washington appears to be setting the stage for talks with Tehran,
despite the newest International Atomic Energy Agency report that hardly
gives Iran a clean bill of health. United States President Barack Obama
tread softly over the nuclear issue in his Middle East tour last week,
while his point man on Iran was on a mission aimed at "drawing everyone
in". Confidence-building has begun. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
(Jun 8,'09) |
|
Iran poll debate sparks clashes
Supporters and opponents of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president,
have clashed in a Tehran square after a live televised election debate.
Cars were set on fire and scuffles broke out late on Saturday at Sarv
square in northwestern…
In Iran, disparate, powerful forces ally against Ahmadinejad
CAMPAIGN RALLY: Supporters of Mir-Hossein Mousavi use a banner of him,
left, and former President Mohammad Khatami to toss a man into the air.
Critics say a win by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could further isolate Iran
internationally. Once rivals… |
|
Iran's
Election- Rallies Reveal a Stark Contrast
"There is a bipolarity in Iranian politics right now," says Mohammad
Atrianfar, a political analyst in Tehran. "The change they were seeking
in the U.S. is happening here, too. People are trying to unseat
Ahmadinejad." There are also plenty… |
|
Iran nuclear
leaks 'linked to Israel'
A report by the United States Senate last month provides new evidence
that Israel was the source of documents that have been used to accuse
Iran of hiding its nuclear weapons research. The leaked documents
reinforce Israel's claim that Tehran is on the brink of building nuclear
weapons. Still, as the report warns, "It is impossible to rule out an
elaborate intelligence ruse." - Gareth Porter
(Jun 4,'09) |
|
Obama can dream
an AfPak dream
Prior to Thursday's speech from United States President Barack Obama to
the Muslim world, Middle Easterners were looking for fresh substance
from the youthful leader. The time has come for the US to consider
promoting a gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and further on to India
and possibly to China. This bold move could mean the difference between
success and failure for the US's AfPak strategy. - M K Bhadrakumar
(Jun 4,'09) |
|
The shadow war in
Balochistan
With or without using Jundallah for its own Iran-destabilizing agenda,
Washington's "other" war is about to hit Balochistan in Pakistan full
speed ahead. By mid-summer, the US's Afghan surge in troops will be in
position. A new American mega-base in Helmand province's "desert of
death" will be operational. Assassination teams, drone attacks and
Hellfire missiles will boil this tense tri-border area. Shadowplay
rules. - Pepe Escobar (Jun 3,'09) |
|
Iran wages
lonely war on terror
Tehran is probing deeper into last week's deadly mosque bombing in
Zahedan, but has yet to point any fingers at the West. Iran can't raise
an international scandal with US President Barack Obama set to address
the Muslim world on Thursday, and its June 12 national election so
delicately poised. Looking further, Tehran realizes rhetorical outbursts
against Washington will only play into Israeli hands. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Jun |
|
War With Iran- Has It Already Begun-
In public, when it comes to the Iranian question, President Obama is all
sweet reason and kissy-face. His recent video message to the
Iranian people was just what the doctor ordered. However, this public
performance is severely undercut by an ongoing covert program aimed at
regime-change in Tehran – or, at least, at undermining the Iranian
regime to such an extent that it must respond in some way. This covert
action program, reported by
Seymour Hersh last year, was started by the Bush administration and
funded to the tune of $400 million. The U.S. is, in effect, conducting a
secret war against Tehran, a covert campaign aimed at recruiting
Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities – who make up the majority of the
population in certain regions, such as in the
southeast borderlands near Pakistan – into a movement to topple the
government in Tehran, or, at least, to create so much instability that
U.S. intervention to "keep order" in the region is justified. Given
recent events in Iran – a
suicide bombing in the southeast province of Sistan-Baluchistan and
at least two other incidents – the effort is apparently ongoing. |
