Iran

Federalism or Centralism: Competing Visions for Iran’s Future

20/01/2019

Ghazaei is a writer and sociologist residing in Amsterdam. He is a political activist and translator of various books on politics, philosophy and sociology. You can follow him on Twitter. The ever-increa... Be More Curious...

OPINION — The Militarisation of Culture in Iran

28/12/2018

Mohammad S. Alzou’bi is a Fellow at the International Institute for Iranian Studies. The human identity among different nations around the world are shaped according to the nature of region and surround... Be More Curious...

Why Iran rejects Trump’s offer for unconditional talks?

04/09/2018

Kazem Wali is an Ahwazi freelance journalist and human rights activist based in London. After re-imposing the first phase of American economic sanctions against Iran on 6th August, President Trump proposed unconditional talks with Iranian leaders. Presi... Be More Curious...

Attempts to suffocate Iran’s economy might just backfire

18/08/2018

The decision of the United States to unilaterally impose a programme of boycott, divestment and sanctions on Iran is arguably designed to force European based companies to reconsider investment plans an... Be More Curious...

Iran after the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki

19/07/2018

The Middle East situation on the ground is significantly different in comparison to a short while ago. There were times when Iran sought to become the leading hegemon in the region. With Tehran’s ho... Be More Curious...

Why Iran can’t take a decision similar to North Korea

22/06/2018

The historic meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea, and the resulting Korean Peninsula denuclearizing deal, has the potential of resolving a decades-old international crisis. This very important development will most definitely h... Be More Curious...

Iran, Oil and the Destabilisation of the Middle East

21/06/2018

Oil prices have increased sharply following President Trump’s unilateral decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and to reimpose the "highest level" of economic sanctions on... Be More Curious...

The Iranian Pariah and the Zero-Sum Game

20/06/2018

Over the last four decades, especially in recent years, Iran’s regime has limited the scope of its policies and activities to brutal, regressive belligerence, which has ultimately led it to become an ostrac... Be More Curious...

The two faces of the regime in Iran

19/06/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe. The Iranian regime has two faces that it presents to the world. The first is presented with the usual hardline sectarian militarist rhetoric directed at both regional countr... Be More Curious...

Trump Leaves Iran Agreement, What does it mean for Oil?

11/05/2018

Beyond Europe, Business, Iran

Its been a zombie agreement for a while. The 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) appeared doomed long before President Trump took office. However, Pr... Be More Curious...

Iran’s nuclear weapons and ‘Project Amad’ – What’s the deal?

04/05/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

Project Amad was a covert attempt to develop functioning nuclear warheads by Iran that was rendered inoperable by the ‘Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’ (JCPOA) signed in July 2015 by the five permanent m... Be More Curious...

Should Silence Over Iran Continue?

15/03/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

While Western journalists and politicians see themselves as fit to provide ‘expert’ commentary on Iran and the wider Middle East, the real ‘Iran experts’ – the Iranian people there, more particularly the ethnic minorities who are doubly oppressed under t... Be More Curious...

Why the collision between Israel and Iran could lead to a new war front in the Middle East

Peter De Roover

12/02/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran, Israel

Early February I took part in a parliamentary mission to Israel. Not even a week later, Israel and Iran clashed for the first time at the Syrian border, which we visited only a couple of days before. Our mi... Be More Curious...

Iran’s Future, In Its Own Words

06/02/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

On the very sensitive subject of how Iran plans to confront ongoing protests, described by some as an uprising, all the while attempting to resolve the very issues engulfing the ruling regime, there are cri... Be More Curious...

Iran expands its hegemony through information warfare

01/02/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe Iran's successful information warfare against its regional rival, Saudi Arabia, paves way for important political victories, easing the Islamic Republic's geopolitical goals of re... Be More Curious...

Can Iran establish a stabilizing security policy for itself first?

26/01/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe Afew days ago, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote an op-ed in the Financial Times asserting that Iran’s regime can bring ... Be More Curious...

How will Iran’s protests affect its regional proxies?

19/01/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

It is not difficult to understand the state of gloom and uncertainty that’s descended over Hezbollah and its allies over the ongoing protests in Iran against the party’s sponsors in the Iranian regime. The ... Be More Curious...

Following the massive anti-government protests in Iran, all eyes are now on the regime

11/01/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

An anti-government protest that ignited in Iran’s northeast city of Mashhad on Dec 28th, rapidly transformed into a nationwide uprising with over 130 cities participating to manifest their frustration at the government. Economic grievances are not the sole co... Be More Curious...

Protestors Back on the Streets of Iran

29/12/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

Starting yesterday in Mashad, typically known as one of the most religious cities in the country, and spread widely today to many cities across the nation; a series of protests have taken place which remain to ... Be More Curious...

Is Hassan Rouhani the reformist the West is still desperately waiting for?

Richard Senneville

27/12/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

After firing back at Donald Trump on the nuclear deal, Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran since 2013, delivered a surprising speech to Parliament on December 10th 2017 in Tehran calling for more freedoms in ... Be More Curious...

No, Europe Should ‘NOT’ Work With Rouhani Administration

16/12/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe Nobody can question the few benefits of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations. Zarif's tweet calling the agr... Be More Curious...

MEPs strongly criticize EU’s policy on Iran and call for focus on human rights

07/12/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

Apolitically diverse group of senior MEPs criticized, in a panel debate held yesterday, the European Union’s current policy on Iran. On the eve of Human Rights Day, they called for a new approach that will put ... Be More Curious...

Iran’s expansionist scheme is destined to fail

04/12/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe Iran’s theocratic regime, which has maintained power domestically via brutal oppression for over four decades, is continuing its ... Be More Curious...

How Iran Is Losing Europe

26/11/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

As the United States adopts new strategy vis-à-vis Iran, senior officials in Tehran are desperately seeking a new life-rope. With Obama and his appeasement gone, Iran is also sensing how Europe is distancing. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || ).pus... Be More Curious...

Iran tensions lead to Hariri resignation amid concerns for his safety

13/11/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

This post is hosted on Vocal Europe's Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and post freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email. The dramatic changes ... Be More Curious...

Iran and al-Qaeda: New documents further expose ties between poles of extremism

07/11/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe Since it took power in 1979, the Iranian regime has been seeking relentlessly to impose its Shiite ideology across the Sunni-majo... Be More Curious...

Will Iran be the next regional nation torn apart by conflict?

01/11/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

While Iran’s regime is always keen to portray itself as a great supporter of oppressed Muslim peoples, particularly Palestinians, with regime officials recently condemning Israeli brutality to worshipers at the iconic Al Quds Mosque and denouncing the massacre... Be More Curious...

Why do human rights continue to deteriorate in Iran?

19/10/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

SOfar during President Hassan Rouhani’s tenure (between August 2013 and September 2017), reports indicate 3,111 inmates have been executed in Iran. This figure could be higher as the country is known for carry... Be More Curious...

Iran threatens the US to end the Nuclear Deal Following the Statements by Trump

10/10/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

ATa meeting of the Strategic Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Saturday 10/8/17 entitled "analyzing Trump's behavior", Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard addressed rec... Be More Curious...

Iran’s power over ethnic minorities weakens with Kurdish referendum

05/10/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

The recent Kurdish referendum in Iraq may have wide-reaching repercussions that are of great importance when considering the future of the Middle East. Experts have surmised that Iran will be the most affected in the aftermath of this referendum, as Iran h... Be More Curious...

The circle is tightening over Iran

21/09/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe According to Reuters, Donald Tramp, the US president is assessing a new strategy against Iran-backed forces in Iraq and Syria, as... Be More Curious...

Iran’s Challenges in Rouhani’s Second Term

15/09/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe The second term of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has officially begun. His first four years were experienced by the people... Be More Curious...

Why I joined a hunger strike in Europe in support of Iran’s political prisoners

23/08/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

On Saturday, I joined a one-day symbolic hunger strike in Stockholm alongside dozens of other Iranians living in European countries. Our aim was to draw urgent international attention to the plight of numerous Iranian political prisoners who have been on h... Be More Curious...

The demise of Iran’s ‘Velayat-e-Faqih’ regime: not if but when

10/08/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe With momentous changes underway worldwide as US President Donald Trump resets the US’s geopolitical compass, all indicators point... Be More Curious...

Blueprinting the Right Iran Policy

04/08/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

A very reluctant US President Donald Trump recently gave the green light for the State Department to re-certify Iran as complying with a nuclear agreement signed between international community representatives ... Be More Curious...

‘Free Iran’ Conference Condemns Tehran’s Human Rights Abuses

17/07/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

The annual “Free Iran” gathering of the Iranian Resistance, People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), commenced on July 1st attracting tens of thousands of participants from over five continents, including prominent political figures from the United ... Be More Curious...

While Iranian economy crashes, Rouhani brags about funding regional war, raising Iran’s missile program budget by 80 percent

15/07/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

In a speech on Tuesday July 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani boasted that his government is propping up the Assad regime militarily and financially in Syria, and providing troops and militias in Iraq, a... Be More Curious...

Domestic tensions keep rising for Iran as the economic crisis continues to worsen

10/07/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

A senior Iranian regime official has warned of imminent “social and security-related disasters” with more than a third of Iran’s population now living near or below the poverty line as economic crisis continues... Be More Curious...

Iran opposition convention pioneers call for regime change

05/07/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

A massive gathering of the Iranian Diaspora in a vast convention hall north of Paris voiced their compatriots’ demands for regime change in Tehran. The colossal and energetic event, staged annually by opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of ... Be More Curious...

Time for Europe to support Iranians under oppression

26/06/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran, Turkey

By Gérard Deprez One issue which unites politicians from all sides of the spectrum in Europe is the need to tackle Iran’s appalling human rights abuses and export of terrorism and religious extremism. ... Be More Curious...

The Outlook Of Rouhani’s Second Term As Iran’s President

23/05/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

The incumbent Hassan Rouhani has been selected, not elected, to a second-term as the mullahs’ president in Iran. At 12:30 pm local time reports from inside Iran announced the near final results, claiming ne... Be More Curious...

Iran’s Presidential Election and a Slate of Crises

19/04/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

What political dilemma is the regime in Iran intending to resolve through this presidential election? In 2005, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, having the final say in all state matters, thought to spread his meddling across Iraq and the region, paralle... Be More Curious...

Children in Iran suffering from malnutrition

10/04/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

The policies of the regime in Iran over the years have no doubt led to a rise of poverty in the country. As result of poverty, malnutrition is increasing and affecting the lives of children in different provin... Be More Curious...

Ebrahim Raisi, the new candidate in Iran’s presidential election

08/04/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

The candidacy of a cleric well known for his role in the atrocious crimes by the regime ruling Iran over the past three decades was announced. Ebrahim Raisi, currently head of the massive Astan Quds Razavi ent... Be More Curious...

Forecast – Increasing Isolation for Iran

05/04/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

After enjoying eight “golden” years of President Barack Obama’s all-out appeasement approach, the mullahs in Iran are feeling the wrath of isolation, with senior international figures lashing out at the regime in Tehran and calling for action against it. Br... Be More Curious...

Persian Supremacists to Intensify Political Activities in Arab Ahwaz Region

01/04/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

DISCLAIMER: all opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe A notorious hardline anti-Arab, Persian supremacist political party, named the ‘Pan-Persian Party’, has been receivin... Be More Curious...

Iran’s Clampdown on Mixed-gender Parties

28/03/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

Iran’s oppressive regime has a history of clamping down on parties. With authorities shutting down get-togethers and arresting those in attendance, this brutal practice continued throughout the month of March ... Be More Curious...

Iran Nuclear Deal Dilemmas Fueling Elections Standoff

21/03/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

Tensions are intensifying quickly in Iranian politics. Recent comments by senior U.S. officials, such as Ambassador Nikki Haley and CENTCOM chief General Joseph Votel, explaining the threats posed by Tehran have resulted in an intensified domestic political de... Be More Curious...

Iran’s growing brain drain disaster

12/03/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

Harsh crackdown and human rights violations, difficult living conditions under enormous pressures, and colossal education costs in Iran under the mullahs’ regime is leaving no choice other than leaving the coun... Be More Curious...

The Iranian Regime and Evolution of ISIS

16/02/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

Support for international terrorism received a major boost the moment the mullahs hijacked Iran’s 1979 revolution. After a very short-lived period of a so-called open political atmosphere, their thugs organized... Be More Curious...