Ahmadinejad and Allies May be Fearing Outside Attack

On May 14, 2008, the Lebanese [Hezbollah] network Al-Manar broadcast an analysis of Iran’s military power, in which it displayed the Iranian Defense Ministry’s newest weaponry. The most interesting portion of this program was video of an advanced missile defense system, the S-300, bearing the logo of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Acknowledging that Iran was in possession of four S-300 missiles from Belarus, the Al-Manar analyst said, “Knowing the intelligence of...

Despite Chinese Vote in Favor of UN Sanctions, Iran Likely to Maintain Close Economic Ties with Beijing

For the past seven years, the Chinese have exported their products to Iran, and the Iranian government has never objected to this. The 10 percent reduction in domestic production of communication equipment indicates a crisis for domestic producers.

An on-going discussion focuses on ways to protect and support domestic producers. As Iran’s largest telecommunications center, the Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI) enjoys the largest share of support [TCI is majority owned by the...

Nationalist Sentiment Likely to Maintain Unity among Iran’s Political Rivals in Defiance of Western Sanctions

Considering Lebanon’s [decision to] abstain from the [UN Security Council] vote, it seems that it was [simultaneously] trying to keep both its Arab allies and its old friend Iran happy. But the question is: Did Iranians expect more from Lebanon? To answer this question, we should review some of the actions that led to Lebanon’s position.

Lebanon and the Iran-Turkey-Brazil Agreement

After the Tehran agreement, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman expressed optimism...

Most Recent Articles

Despite Internal Rifts, Islamic Republic Officials Remain United in Defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions to Halt Uranium Enrichment

Hardliners Push Back in Response to Lack of Social Restrictions Amidst Political Upheaval

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"Although we do not welcome sanctions and are not happy with the resolution issued, we will not sacrifice the country's future."
— Economics Minister, Shamseddin Hosseini, claiming that Western isolation will not bring a shift in Iran’s nuclear policy

Most Recent Analysis

Power Dispute between President Ahmadinejad and Iran’s Conservatives Reflects Revolutionary Guards’ Aspirations for Absolute Power

In the past few weeks, Iranians have witnessed a series of controversies pitting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against powerful clerics, the majority of the Majlis, and the Judiciary branch. Various conservative factions are invigorating their responses to Ahmadinejad’s and his allies’ efforts to consolidate absolute power and turn the Islamic...

Monday, July 12, 2010 - 15:09

The Opposition Moves Away from its Strategy of Street Protests Amidst Regime Crackdown

One year after the disputed June 12, 2009 presidential election, public resentment over Ahmadinejad’s disputed reelection remains widespread. The opposition Green Movement continues to mobilize national disenchantment with the regime. However, the government's continuing harsh crackdown that followed the election is forcing the opposition to channel its energy into civil actions in order to...

Friday, June 11, 2010 - 15:06

Week in Review

Iran’s Latest Unemployment Figures
Aug 17
Iran’s official unemployment rate reached 14.6 percent, according to the Statistics Center of Iran, with 3.5 million Iranians unable to find employment. Government...
Building Bridges with India through Historical Renovations
Aug 17
In response to India’s request for assistance, Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) will renovate 12 mausoleums, located in Hyderabad,...
India Plans to re-Join Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Project
Aug 17
India has proposed talks with Iranian officials to discuss re-joining the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project, which was originally planned to run from Iran to India...
Iran Plans Uranium Enrichment Centers for 2011
Aug 16
According to Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Iran plans to construct 10 uranium enrichment centers across the country by March 2011.
Iran-Syria Free Trade Agreement Pending
Aug 16
Inspired by a Turkey-Syria Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Iran and Syria are in talks for a FTA, which would reduce tariffs by 20 percent and increase the volume of trade by $5...
Iranian Jesus Biopic Too Hot for Lebanese TV
Aug 15
Hezbollah-affiliated TV stations al-Manar and NBN, have decided to stop broadcasting “The Messiah”—an Iranian TV serial dubbed in Arabic and depicting the Muslim version of...
Russia Readies Bushehr Plant for Operation
Aug 13
Despite US pleas to delay, Russia announced that on August 21 it will begin loading uranium-packed fuel rods into Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr. The plant,...
Karroubi Speaks Out Against Sanctions
Aug 12
Speaking to The Guardian, opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi warned that sanctions only strengthen the current regime by giving the central government an excuse to blame Iran’s...
Ahmadinejad Stands by Mashaie
Aug 12
Ahmadinejad has backed his Chief of Staff (and father-in-law to the President’s son), Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, who has recently come under sharp criticism by conservative...
No More Camrys for Tehran
Aug 11
In light of UN and US sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Toyota has stopped exporting cars to Iran. The move is mostly symbolic given that, through May 2010, Toyota had...
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