Friday, May 17, 2024

ANALYSIS: What Exactly Is Iran’s Strategy in the Israel-Gaza Crisis?

By Ahmad Rafat   The war in Gaza will end, eventually. While Israel will undoubtedly win the military battle, it is unclear what fate awaits Gaza once the conflict has ended. What is certain is that...

Marjane Satrapi Releases ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ Book With Fellow Illustrators

By Ahmad Rafat Seventeen Iranian and non-Iranian illustrators including Marjane Satrapi have released a book titled “Woman, Life, Freedom.” The book, originally published in French, has been translated into English and other languages, with Satrapi...

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...

ANALYSIS: The Outcome of Hamas-Israel War Is Uncertain

By Ahmad Rafat Israel has said that its ground offensive will destroy Hamas in the Gaza Strip. While Israel will most likely win the military war against Hamas, it has no clear plan for administering...

ANALYSIS: Iran’s Strategy in Hamas’s War Against Israel

By Ahmad Rafat Hamas’s unprecedented air and ground attacks against Israel on Oct. 8 shocked everyone and surprised Israeli intelligence agencies, famous for their capabilities and competence. The significance of Israeli intelligence being blindsided by...

PROFILE: Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Speaks Of Her Struggle

By Ahmad Rafat Narges Mohammadi, winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, is an Iranian journalist and human rights activist serving a 16-year sentence in prison. She has been detained a total of 13 times...

ANALYSIS: Will the Iran-Nuclear Deal Talks Be Resuming in Tokyo?

By Ahmad Rafat Japanese newspapers have reported that Japan will mediate a round of talks to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal. While Vienna was the site of...

ANALYSIS: Biden Is Giving A Gift to Islamic Republic on Mahsa Anniversary

By Ahmad Rafat The U.S. government is handing over $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets and releasing five detained Iranians as part of a deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran, in exchange for the...

UK to Designate Wagner A Terrorist Group; No Designation For IRGC

By Ahmad Rafat   The UK government plans to designate the Wagner Group, a Russian state-funded private military company, a terrorist organization on Sept. 13. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, being a member of the Wagner Group...

Iranian Protest Songs Are Galvanizing the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ Revolution 

By Ahmad Rafat The Iranian authorities arrested singer, musician, and activist Mehdi Yarrahi on Aug. 28 on the orders of the Tehran prosecutor’s office. The Judiciary had launched an investigation of Mr. Yarrahi following the...