On March 15th the international community will unfortunately be marking a milestone of disastrous nature. The conflict in Syria began as peaceful demonstrations by a nation seeking freedom from the reign of a dictatorship and to establish true democracy. The regime in Iran, however, viewed such a … [Read more...] about ANALYSIS: Iran’s lethal role expanding in Syria as war enters seventh year
Russia
Iran in Crisis
The recent dust storms that wreaked havoc in southwest Iran signaled only one of the many crises the mullahs are facing less than three months before critical elections. Tehran has been hit with severe blows during the Munich Security Conference, contrasting interests with Russia, the recent … [Read more...] about Iran in Crisis
Trump Taking Syria Safe-Zone Initiative That Iran Dreads
Since US President Donald Trump took the helm in Washington, the issue of a “safe zone” in Syria has come to the fore, reflecting the changes taking place in the international arena following the end of the Obama administration. Throughout the election campaign, Trump pledged to establish safe … [Read more...] about Trump Taking Syria Safe-Zone Initiative That Iran Dreads
BLACKLIST IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS
The right signal to Tehran’s mullahs. It is a known historical fact that actions speak louder than words. Iran is beginning to understand this loud and clear with a new administration in Washington. U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, in his first public appearance, issued a stark … [Read more...] about BLACKLIST IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS
Iran Sabotages a Syrian Ceasefire
By Heshmat Alavi Despite the boasted rhetoric about the agreement reached in the Astana talks over the Syria ceasefire, this latest stage unveiled the limits involved parties face in bringing an end to the six-year war. Even Russia’s chief negotiator at the discussion reached the point of … [Read more...] about Iran Sabotages a Syrian Ceasefire
Why is Iran, with the 2nd largest reserves, importing natural gas?
By Heshmat Alavi The sheer fact that Iran, sitting on the world’s 2nd largest natural gas reserves, second only to Russia, is forced to import up to 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year from Turkmenistan, its northern neighbor, sheds interesting light on the regime’s true economic … [Read more...] about Why is Iran, with the 2nd largest reserves, importing natural gas?
How Team Trump Can Counter Obama’s Iran Legacy
By Heshmat Alavi If the Iran nuclear deal — crafted and profoundly advocated by former US President Barack Obama — was meant to mature the mullahs, it failed miserably. With a new administration under President Donald Trump taking the helm in Washington, Iran is acting in ways never intended as a … [Read more...] about How Team Trump Can Counter Obama’s Iran Legacy
What Is Iran’s Policy-Making Mechanism?
By Heshmat Alavi As we close in to the Iran presidential election -- read "selection" -- a more precise look at the policymaking mechanisms at work in this very peculiar theocratic system is necessary. The regime in Iran, with Hassan Rouhani as its president, has been eager to portray an image of … [Read more...] about What Is Iran’s Policy-Making Mechanism?
Astana Talks: Why Iran and Russia differ on Syria?
By Heshmat Alavi Monday, 23 January 2017 With a new administration under Donald Trump taking the helm in Washington, Iran has shown its concerns by opposing any participation by the United States in upcoming Syrian peace talks scheduled for today in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. “We have … [Read more...] about Astana Talks: Why Iran and Russia differ on Syria?
Iran’s strategic defeat in Syria before Astana talks
By Heshmat Alavi The war in Syria has reached a major turning point. The Iran-Russia honeymoon is over, and Moscow is warming relations with Ankara. Reports indicate the two coordinated airstrikes targeting Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) and other terrorist groups. Such a turn of events has even been described … [Read more...] about Iran’s strategic defeat in Syria before Astana talks