Iran
-
Iran’s SCO membership is a big deal
Like in a Wagnerian music drama, there is an associated melodic theme that accompanies the situations behind the two big regional developments last week — the announcement of the AUKUS, security alliance of three “maritime democracies” on September 15 and Iran’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as full member on September 17. Continue reading
-
Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-20
20. IRAN TAKES GOOD LOOK AT TALIBAN RULERS Some strongly worded statements from Iran deploring the clashes in Panjshir Valley created a perception that Tehran might be distancing itself from the Taliban government. Of course, Tehran is vociferously urging the formation of an ‘inclusive government’ in Kabul. Continue reading
-
Biden Doctrine appears in Persian Gulf
The incipient signs of a US retrenchment from Saudi Arabia have appeared in a series of moves in the past 2-3 weeks. On a parallel track, the Biden Administration is factoring in that new Iranian government is returning to the negotiating table at Vienna on nuclear issues. Continue reading
-
Russia, China circle the wagons. Iran is in it
The Tehran Times reported on Wednesday that Moscow has conveyed to Tehran that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has reached a consensus on Iran’s admission as a full member of the grouping. Continue reading
-
A new dawn breaks in Tehran
On Thursday, Iran’s new president Ebrahim Raisi takes the oath of office in a ceremony in the Majlis in Tehran. This will be a defining moment in the Islamic Republic’s political history, since in many ways, the country is at the crossroads. Continue reading
-
Biden’s Iran Policy Is Already At A Dead End
On Sunday the U.S.bombed three positions of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Force at the Syrian-Iraqi border. The U.S. had no right to do such. The legal reasoning the Biden administration provided for the attack is nonsense. As is the claimed rational of establishing ‘deterrence’ against further attacks on U.S. troops by this or that Iraqi militia group.… Continue reading
-
U.S. Regime Blocks Americans From Seeing News From Iran’s Government
On Tuesday, June 22nd, the U.S. regime blocked the Iranian Government’s TV news (equivalent to BBC in Britain and PBS in America), PressTV, so that, from now on, this is what Americans can see: Continue reading
-
US’ pathway to Iran has thorny shrubs
It is painful to read the US reports commenting on the result of Iran’s presidential election. The New York Times carried a blurb on Monday, “Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s ultraconservative president-elect, said that he would not meet with President Biden, and that Tehran’s position on its ballistic missile program was “nonnegotiable.” Continue reading
-
How India lost its way in Persian Gulf
There have been two successive setbacks in the past one-year period to the India-Iran relationship. India has been literally eased out of two strategically important projects in Iran that were full of promise to uplift the ties in a medium and long term perspective. Continue reading
-
Saudi-Iran reset will take time
The Saudi-Iranian contacts that began last month in secrecy has gained gravitas. The unannounced trip to Jeddah last night by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the exceptional courtesies he received, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeting him at the airport, calls attention to the winds of change sweeping… Continue reading
-
West’s Information War Continues
Iranian state media is only the most recent target of US censorship and information warfare, with YouTube, Facebook and Twitter having also recently de-platformed government accounts in Myanmar as well as a concerted effort by these same networks to either de-platform or undermine the credibility of Russian and Chinese state media. Continue reading
-
The China-Iran pact is a game changer – III
The China-Iran joint statement of last Saturday has made waves in the international media and among regional analysts from Israel to India. Israel is anxious that there is going to be security cooperation between China and Iran. Indians are brooding over the fate of their Chabahar port project in eastern Iran, integral to its “regional… Continue reading
-
The China-Iran pact is a game changer – III
The China-Iran joint statement of last Saturday has made waves in the international media and among regional analysts from Israel to India. Israel is anxious that there is going to be security cooperation between China and Iran. Indians are brooding over the fate of their Chabahar port project in eastern Iran, integral to its “regional… Continue reading
-
The China-Iran pact is a game changer – Part II
In an exclusive interview with Al-Arabiya last week, China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi outlined Beijing’s approach to the West Asian region with particular reference to the tensions in the Persian Gulf. Continue reading
-
US Gins Up a “Credible” Iranian Nuclear Menace Befitting Its Own Stockpile
With Western intelligence sources once again stoking the flames of a nuclear Iran and the secret movement of America’s nuclear warheads across Europe, the war economy is up to its old tricks. Continue reading
-
Yemen war a quagmire for Saudi Arabia
With the world’s largest oil export terminal coming under missile and drone attack — a giant Saudi Aramco complex capable of exporting roughly 6.5m barrels a day, nearly 7% of global oil demand — the war in Yemen surges in the global media. During the night on Saturday, the Houthis fired eight missiles and 14… Continue reading
-
Biden Iran envoy boasted of depriving civilians of food, driving up Iranian inequality in sadistic sanctions manual
Richard Nephew has taken personal credit for depriving Iranians of food, driving up their unemployment rates, and celebrated the economic destruction he caused as “a tremendous success.” Under Biden, he will help direct policy on Iran. Continue reading
-
Biden resumes adult conversations with Beijing, Moscow
17 February 2021 — Indian Punchline US envoy to Iran Robert Malley (third from left) at a 2015 meeting with Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (far R), Geneva Like a bolt from the blue, the news has appeared belatedly that the US special envoy to Iran Rob Malley initiated a call with Chinese… Continue reading
-
How to Write About Iran: A Guide for Journalists, Analysts, and Policymakers
Whether you are working from your DC office or your home in LA or New York, here’s all you need to know to become an expert on Iran. Continue reading
-
Why the US Deep State won’t forgive Russia and Iran
In a stunning interview to the Beirut-based al Mayadeen network, Hezbollah’s secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah has outlined how Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani – assassinated by an American drone strike at Baghdad airport a litle over a year ago – was instrumental in convincing Russia to help Syria militarily in its war against Salafi-jihadis. Continue reading
The New Dark Age 