Saturday, May 2, 2026

ANALYSIS: Iran Starts the New Year With Women’s Protests

By Ahmad Rafat The Iranian New Year, 1401, started on March 21 with nationwide protests by women. Iranian women, who have been victims of systematic and legally sanctioned discrimination under the Islamic Republic for the...

ANALYSIS: Iran’s Economic Crisis Is Sparking New Wave of Civil Unrest

By Ahmad Rafat The volatile foreign exchange market is the leading indicator of the economic crisis in Iran -- even for those who live abroad and are not part of the everyday struggle in the...

ANALYSIS-Tanker Attacks Seen as Calibrated but Risky Iranian Response to U.S. Sanctions

By Babak Dehghanpisheh GENEVA, June 18 (Reuters) - If, despite its firm denials, Iran was behind attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf last week and a further four last month, they represent a calibrated yet...

ANALYSIS: Inside Trump’s Middle East Mess

By Amir Handjani June 14, 2017 (Reuters) President Donald Trump’s attempt to bring peace and stability to the Middle East has backfired. He has put a major U.S. ally, Qatar, in a geopolitical crisis and...

ANALYSIS: The Islamic Republic and the Trump Doctrine

By Peter Apps WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - As some 20 Islamic Republic's ballistic missiles headed for the U.S. airbase at Al Udeid in Qatar last month following U.S. strikes against Iran, the only U.S. personnel at...

ANALYSIS – What Are the Main Areas of Tension in the U.S.-China Relationship?

July 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. demand this week that China close its consulate in Houston is the latest in a string of disputes that have taken the relationship between the world's two biggest...

ANALYSIS: Iran Faces Imminent Environmental Catastrophe

By Ahmad Rafat The UK and Italy jointly chair the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which started in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 31 and ends Nov. 12. Some 25 representatives from 200 countries,...

ANALYSIS: Iran’s Human Rights Violations Draw Global Condemnation

By Ahmad Rafat The Islamic Republic of Iran’s systematic and gross violations of human rights have once again captured global attention. On Sept. 2, Amnesty International released a comprehensive and damning 80-page report on the Islamic...

ANALYSIS: Islamic Republic’s Strikes Against Pakistan Are Strategic Blunder

By Ahmad Rafat The Islamic Republic’s recent missile and drone attacks on neighboring countries are part of its broader plan to establish itself as a regional power. These missile strikes and other operations conducted by...

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...