ANALYSIS: A Marriage of Convenience Bolsters Iran’s Mideast Presence
By Ahmad Rafat
The Lebanese press and broadcast media have reported extensively on the recent marriage between Zeinab Soleimani, the daughter of General Ghasem Soleimani -- the slain commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’...
Actress Nazanin Boniadi Named Amnesty International UK Ambassador, Cast in ‘Lord of the Rings’
By Ahmad Rafat
The British-Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi has just been appointed as an ambassador for Amnesty International UK. She has also been cast as one of the main characters in the new TV series...
Iraqi Special Forces Raid Shia Militia Group, Capture Iranian Commander
By Ahmad Rafat
In the early morning hours of June 26, the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) raided the headquarters of Kata’ib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades) in Dora, a neighborhood in the Al Rashid administrative district...
ANALYSIS: Iran’s Influence Is Diminishing in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria
By Ahmad Rafat
The Islamic Republic’s influence in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and even the Gaza Strip has significantly diminished over the last year. The so-called 'Resistance Front' is crumbling.
There are two reasons for this....
ANALYSIS: Syria Is a Quagmire That Will Soon Engulf Iran
By Ahmad Rafat
Russia is determined to end the Syrian Civil War five years after deploying its military to the country to support President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Before withdrawing its troops from Syria and starting...
Iraq Cannot Name New Premier Without Iran’s Approval, Analyst Says
By Ahmad Rafat
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington is “closely watching the Iraqi prime minister-designate Mustafa Al-Kadhimi” as he tries to form a new government.
“Iraqi leaders need to cast aside the country’s sectarian...
Iranian-Canadian Director Keshvari Makes First Movie on Coronavirus
By Ahmad Rafat
Iranian-Canadian director Mostafa Keshvari has made the first full-length film about the coronavirus pandemic titled “Corona” with the tagline “Fear is a Virus.”
The film is about the interactions between seven people who...
ANALYSIS: Iran Is Using COVID-19 to Further Its Political Goals
By Ahmad Rafat
After more than a year, the European Union has activated the Instrument to Support Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), enabling Iran to buy medicine and medical supplies and equipment to help the country in...
EU to Provide 20 mln Euros in Humanitarian Aid to Iran
BRUSSELS, March 23 (Reuters) - The European Union will send 20 million euros in humanitarian aid to Iran, which is subject to U.S. sanctions, to help alleviate the coronavirus, and will also support Tehran's...
Hezbollah Cannot Survive Without Iran’s Support, Lebanese Analyst Says
By Ahmad Rafat
Tens of thousands of Lebanese marched in the streets of their capital city Beirut earlier this month to protest against the prevailing economic crisis, high unemployment, and widespread corruption in the country....
