Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

December 13, 2024 | Janatan Sayeh |

Iran never gave up on Assad; it simply failed to protect him

The sudden collapse of the Islamic Republic’s closest state-actor ally stunned the world, as Syrian rebels captured Damascus just 11 days after launching a new wave of insurgency. To deflect this humiliating...

December 1, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran scrambles to blame US, Israel for Syria’s troubles

"The recent terrorist activities in Syria are part of a plot by the Israeli regime and the US to undermine regional security,” IRNA claimed.

November 27, 2024 | Janatan Sayeh |

Iran hails ceasefire as an opportunity to rebuild Hezbollah

With Israel and Hamas having reached a ceasefire agreement, the rhetoric coming from Tehran is far from de-escalatory. Military and civilian officials within the Islamic Republic continue to underscore their commitment to rebuilding Hezbollah’s capabilities and have reiterated threats of launching a third phase of the “True Promise” operation against Israel.

November 10, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran attempts to insulate itself from possible Trump sanctions

With Trump returning to office, Iran is likely concerned it could be under “maximum pressure” again with the using sanctions and other methods to cut off Tehran’s economy.

October 30, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran invests in new Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem

Iran likely believes Israel’s campaign will shift from high intensity to low intensity as it did in Gaza.

October 18, 2024 | |

Lebanese Prime Minister Issues Rare Complaint Over Iranian ‘Interference’

Responding to comments made by a senior Iranian official regarding Iran’s willingness to negotiate with France over the implementation of a key UN Security Council Resolution concerning...

October 12, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Tehran’s hidden message: Why an Iranian official visited war-struck Beirut

Iran has a long-term plan and it includes trying to weaken Israel through long slow wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

October 9, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi taps Vahid Jalalzadeh for new role

The appointment does not seem to fit well with Jalalzadeh’s previous record as the head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee and some of his other roles.

July 25, 2024 | Janatan Sayeh |

Iran reestablishes its presence in the Caucuses with Armenian arms deal

Iran and Armenia recently signed a $500 million arms deal, Iran International reported on July 24. The deal includes various military equipment Tehran will supply to Yerevan, including Shahed...

June 27, 2024 | |

Iran’s Supreme Leader Pushes for ‘Maximum’ Turnout in Presidential Election Amid Voter Disillusionment

On the eve of Iran’s June 28 presidential election, the Islamic Republic’s leaders have bolstered efforts to drive voters to the polls. Yet the clerical regime faces widespread...

June 25, 2024 | |

Biden Administration Allows Iran to Run Absentee Voter Stations on U.S. Soil

The Biden administration is permitting Iran to set up absentee voter sites for its upcoming presidential election on U.S. soil, Voice of America (VOA) reported on June 22. Iranian...

May 19, 2024 | |

Iranian President’s Helicopter Crashes, Condition Unknown

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian crashed in Iran on May 19. Iranian personnel are still searching for the aircraft,...

April 2, 2024 | |

Iran’s Supreme Leader Threatens to Punish Israel After Syria Airstrike

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on April 2 threatened to retaliate against Israel for killing Iranian military leaders in an airstrike in Damascus. In a statement...

March 15, 2023 | Reuel Marc Gerecht, Ray Takeyh

How Iran’s Regime Is Threatened by Its Clerics

A new wrinkle in the Islamic Republic’s continuing political crisis

February 27, 2020 | Alireza Nader |

Coronavirus and voting boycott: A new low for Iranian regime

The past few days have been terrible for the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Feb. 21 parliamentary elections were boycotted by a majority of the population, with credible reports that just 19% of the population...

October 16, 2018 | Tzvi Kahn

‘America is not the enemy, the enemy is right here’

Ali Larijani, speaker of the Iranian parliament, has described the United States as a “threat to the entire world.” But his daughter Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani is safe in Ohio, where she recently c...

September 26, 2018 | Saeed Ghasseminejad |

Reports of Corruption Reinforce Case for Iran Sanctions

“The Iranian people are rightly outraged,” President Trump ...

May 15, 2017 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

Tehran mayor leaves Iran’s presidential race to back fellow conservative in bid to unseat Rouhani

Iranian presidential hopeful Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf withdrew Monday from the race to unseat the country’s moderate leader, in a move to unite conservatives behind fellow hard-liner Ebrahi...

April 7, 2017 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

Hardline Iranian Cleric Announces Presidential Run

A hardline Iranian political coalition...

July 8, 2013 | John Hannah |

Iranian Election Reflections (Part 1)

Author's note: I've been sidetracked by some other projects, but wanted to offer some belated thoughts on the recent presidential election in Iran. Today I&#0...