ANALYSIS: China’s Influence in the Middle East Is Expanding
By Ahmad Rafat
China’s efforts to expand its sphere of influence significantly in the Middle East and Africa in recent years have been a concern for the West. While China previously limited its aim to...
Banned Iranian Director Ali Ahmadzadeh Wins Top Award At Locarno Film Festival
By Ahmad Rafat
Ali Ahmadzadeh — an Iranian filmmaker who was banned earlier this year from leaving his country — has won the top award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland for his movie...
Venice Film Festival To Present ‘Tatami,’ First Iranian-Israeli Cinematic Collaboration
By Ahmad Rafat
The Venice Film Festival, the world’s oldest cinematic event, opens on August 30 on the island of Lido. While there are no Iranian films or filmmakers in the main competition, two titles...
Protester Ahmad Batebi, Face of Iran’s 1999 Revolt, Speaks to Kayhan Life
By Ahmad Rafat
Tehran University students staged a mass protest on July 9, 1999, after the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence shut down the Salam newspaper for publishing a secret memo by the former deputy intelligence...
ANALYSIS: Iran and Saudi Arabia Still Have Many Unresolved Issues
By Ahmad Rafat
The Islamic Republic, Saudi Arabia, China, Israel, and the U.S. have been engaged in a power play in the Middle East recently, each trying to strengthen its influence in the region.
While Israel...
Two Iranian Directors Win Prizes at Karlovy Vary Festival in Czech Republic
By Ahmad Rafat
Two Iranian directors have won prizes at the prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival held in the Czech Republic.
The Best Director award was given to the movie "Fremont,” directed by Babak Jalali....
Tough Realities of Life In Iran Are Highlighted in London Festival of Films By...
By Ahmad Rafat
The first festival of documentaries, short films, and animation by Iran-based female directors was recently held in London. The two-day festival was co-organized by the Persia Educational Foundation (established in 2016) and...
Iran Is Alarmed by Mutiny In Russia Led by Wagner Group’s Yevgeny Prigozhin
By Ahmad Rafat
The mercenary Wagner group’s occupation of the port city of Rostov-on-Don in Russia, on June 23 lasted just one day: Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin halted its march on Moscow after a deal...
Albanian Authorities Enter Mojahedin Camp To Carry Out Searches, Arrests
By Ahmad Rafat
At 8 am (local time) on June 21, hundreds of officers from the Albanian Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) and the Department of Neutralization of Armed Elements (RENEA) entered camp Ashraf-3 in the...
ANALYSIS: Is the U.S. Resuming Nuclear Talks With Iran?
By Ahmad Rafat
There is no shortage of speculation around a new Iran nuclear deal.
There are ongoing talks between the Islamic Republic and U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, which officials of both governments insist are...
