More Cracks in Iranian Establishment

TEHRAN – Five weeks after the disputed presidential elections, and four days after former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani delivered a controversial speech at the Friday prayers in Tehran in which he sided with the opposition and challenged the legitimacy of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government, the rift between the ruling elites has widened, with some in the … Continue reading “More Cracks in Iranian Establishment”

Iran’s Do-It-Yourself Revolution

Facing an unprecedented popular uprising against his autocratic rule and his apparently fraudulent reelection, Iran’s right-wing president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has attempted to blame the United States. A surprising number of bloggers on the Left have rushed to the defense of the right-wing fundamentalist leader. Citing presidential directives under the Bush administration, they argue that the … Continue reading “Iran’s Do-It-Yourself Revolution”

Iran: Harsh Crackdown Extends to Leading Opposition Figures

TEHRAN – Eleven days after Iran’s disputed June 12 president election, the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appears determined to round up key members of the opposition, journalists, and human rights activists who could play a key role in rallying public support for opposition demands. The streets of the Iranian capital and other provincial cities … Continue reading “Iran: Harsh Crackdown Extends to Leading Opposition Figures”