World Marks Day Against Death Penalty; Iran Holds Second-Highest Execution Rate
By Ahmad Rafat
The 19th World Day Against the Death Penalty will be held on Oct. 10. Iran holds the second-highest record (after China) for executions in recent years.
This special day was initially organized in...
IRGC and the Opium Trade
April 12, 2017
By Ahmad Rafat
Italian authorities have arrested ten individuals in recent days suspected of smuggling opium out of Iran. The group’s leader is a 39 year old Iranian man who had been operating...
Iran Barred from International Financial System After Blacklisting by FATF
By Ahmad Rafat
On February 21, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklisted Iran for failing to enact the Palermo Convention, the Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) acts.
The decision came...
ANALYSIS: How Accurate Are Opinion Surveys of Iranians Conducted From Abroad?
By Ahmad Rafat
On Feb. 24, the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy Center for International and Security Studies (CISSM) published a study titled “Iranian Public Opinion in the Biden Era,” which, according to...
Attempted Killing Of Spanish Politician Raises Questions About Islamic Republic’s Role
By Ahmad Rafat
Spain has arrested three suspects -- including two Spaniards and a British woman -- in connection with the attempted assassination of Alejo Vidal Cuadras, the founder of Spain's right-wing VOX party and...
U.S. Keeps Military Option on Table As It Seeks to Reboot Iran Nuclear Talks
By Ahmad Rafat
U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration have reiterated their commitment to rejoin the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran nuclear deal. Yet it is unclear...
ANALYSIS: How Is Invasion of Ukraine Impacting Iran Nuclear Deal?
By Ahmad Rafat
In comments reported by domestic and international news organizations, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said that 98 percent of issues had been resolved during the recent round of talks in Vienna...
Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi Summoned by Revolutionary Court
By Ahmad Rafat
Toomaj Salah, who in recent months has become the most popular rap artist in Iran, has been ordered to appear in a revolutionary court on Jan. 12 in Shahin Shahr, in the...
Iranian Filmmakers, Actors Win Major Awards At Festivals In Lugano, Tokyo
By Ahmad Rafat
The 10th Lugano Human Rights Film Festival, held from 19 to 29 October, awarded Iranian director Manijeh Hekmat with the Human Rights Author 2023 prize.
Iranian filmmakers also shined at the 36th Tokyo...
EXCLUSIVE: The Sweet Destiny of Arash Sobhani, The Kiosk Band Leader Speaks to...
By Ahmad Rafat
Arash Sobhani is the founder of the pioneering Iranian rock group Kiosk. An architecture graduate, he formed his band before moving to the U.S. Kiosk was one of the prominent bands in...
