TEHRAN - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad can expect considerable opposition in the newly elected parliament – set to be installed on May 27 – that has a considerable number of representatives from rival hard-liners, conservatives, and a stronger reformist...
Enforcing Iran’s Dress Code May Cost Votes
TEHRAN - When the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad uncharacteristically denounced the country's police force for strictly enforcing the Islamic dress code (hijab), it was attributed to fears of losing popularity ahead of parliamentary elections in March. In...
Ahmadinejad Held to Election Promises
TEHRAN - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who came to power two years ago, winning 62 percent of the popular vote, is rapidly losing popularity for failure to make good on election promises to improve the lives of ordinary people by sharing Iran's vast oil revenues with...
Fear of Sanctions Drives Gas Rationing Plans
TEHRAN - As Iran reluctantly begins implementing Thursday a plan to reduce consumption of mostly imported gasoline by cutting massive consumer subsidies, it is with an eye to possible tightening of international sanctions for the country's controversial nuclear...
Iran Nuclear Negotiations Run Parallel to Iraq Talks
TEHRAN - While the Iranian regime has been categorical that negotiations with the European Union over its controversial nuclear program are isolated from planned talks with the United States over security in Iraq, the timing of the parleys are such that overlap may be...
Iranians Blame the West for Sunni Unrest
TEHRAN - As a Shia majority country with several large ethnic groups like the Kurds, Arabs, and Baluchis that follow the Sunni faith, Iran has for years been vulnerable to unrest, riots, and terrorist attacks that officials routinely attribute to foreign powers....
Field Day for Iranian Militarists as Standoff with US Continues
TEHRAN - Whether or not the military posturing by the United States and Iran in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman actually results in armed hostilities, militarists in this country are having a field day. While politicians such as Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad...
Jailed Iran Intellectual Asks US to Butt Out
TEHRAN - One of Iran's best-known intellectuals Ramin Jahanbegloo, who was released on bail this week after spending four months in prison on charges of compromising national security, has said it would be best for the United States and its institutions to avoid...