Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
All topics-
Saudi Arabia and the U.S.
MbS courts Joe Biden over Iran fears and the economy
After months out of the spotlight, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has returned centre-stage with diplomatic and economic moves that diplomats say are aimed at showing the new U.S. president he is a valuable partner who can get things done
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Caught between tradition and modernity
Will ancient poet Hafez win the "soft war" in Iran?
Iran is far more modern than many people realise: our view is clouded by media distortion and the overriding political narrative. The nation’s historic and cultural riches are often overlooked. A declaration of love for Iran by Marian Brehmer
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Book review: Kim Ghattas' "Black Wave"
The rivalry that completely transformed the Middle East
In "Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the rivalry that unraveled the Middle East", Dutch Lebanese journalist Kim Ghattas describes the past 40 years in the Middle East and North Africa as a struggle for hegemony between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Throughout the book, she focuses above all on the societal dimension of this rivalry. Daniel Walter read the book
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U.S.-Russian diplomatic tug-of-war
How will Syria's unending war play out in the northeast?
Facing the various divergent interests of external players such as Russia, the United States, not to mention Turkey and Iran, the future of northeast Syria remains anything but certain. By Stasa Salacanin
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Interview with Iranian activist Taghi Rahmani
"A robust civil society is the essence of democracy"
The execution of wrestler Navid Afkari triggered an international outcry, as well as protests against the Iranian justice system. At the same time, it has highlighted the persistently precarious situation of many human rights activists in the Islamic Republic. Azadeh Fathi spoke to the journalist and activist Taghi Rahmani
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COVID-19 in Iran
Power, identity and the coronavirus
The coronavirus is changing everything, forcing cancellation of the usual shows of force and mass religious events seen as indispensable to the rulers of the Islamic Republic. A new age is dawning in Iran: a virtual age. By Ali Sadrzadeh
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Hic sunt dracones
Is Iran set to forfeit its national interests to China?
A partnership planned between Iran and China is intended to strategically link the two countries for a quarter of a century. It is unclear, however, exactly what the alliance will entail and whether its lofty ambitions can indeed be fulfilled. Iranian politicians of almost every persuasion remain highly sceptical. By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
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COVID-19 pandemic
Coronavirus pushes Yemen to the brink
War, poverty, cholera – and now coronavirus has taken hold in Yemen. The country could collapse, aid organisations fear. A Yemeni journalist talks about the situation in her country. By Diana Hodali
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Shia "axis of resistance"
Khamenei's Final Solution provocation to mark Quds Day
The anti-Israeli Quds Day did not take place this year – a first both for Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah. While Hezbollah leader Nasrallah sees his organisation in a state of siege, revolutionary leader Khamenei resorted to blatant provocation. By Ali Sadrzadeh
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COVID-19 epidemic in Iran
Faith and the coronavirus
The "holy" city of Qom, the centre of Shia scholarship, was the starting point of the corona epidemic in Iran. The ayatollahs vehemently and successfully resisted quarantine and the virus spread rapidly throughout the country. But corona is not the plague, Iran is not in the Middle Ages and the virus is not divine retribution. By Ali Sadrzadeh
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Parliamentary elections 2020 in Iran
Era of the Khamenei vassals
Once again there was not much to vote for in the Islamic Republic. Half of the candidates were excluded anyway. But for Khamenei, the election was part of a larger plan, namely full-scale preparation for an uncertain future. By Ali Sadrzadeh
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Elections in the Islamic republic
Strong vote for a strong Iran?
In the run-up to Iran’s parliamentary elections on 21 February, state media was at full blast. Urging Iranians to take to the polls, state TV’s Channel 1 ran an election-day countdown, showing images of past elections and enthusiastic voters, regularly interrupted by music appealing to Iranians' sense of patriotism and nationalism. By Ali Fathollah-Nejad