Independent voices from the TWT Communities
As soon as the results of the Iranian elections were announced, the world's media proclaimed that a "moderate and reformist" cleric, Hasan Rowhani, would become the new president of Iran.
A reformist candidate bowed out Tuesday of Iran's presidential election, boosting the chances of the last remaining pro-reform candidate who wants better ties with the West.
Iran's rulers are nervous as they prepare for elections in June and hope to avoid the massive street protests that followed the disputed presidential ballot in 2009.
A common phrase Iranians use when discussing their country is "before the revolution" — followed by some comparison, depending on their political bent, on conditions in the country before and after the 1979 uprising that overthrew the shah and installed an Islamist regime.
An Iranian dissident group long accused of terrorism by the United States remains the most serious threat to Iran's brutal, theocratic regime, a U.S. report says — even though the group's armed wing surrendered its weapons 10 years ago and now is confined to a refugee camp in Iraq.
Ali Safavi had waited 15 years for a chance to celebrate the legal return of the Iranian resistance to Washington.
No longer regarded as a terrorist group by the U.S. and Europe, the Iranian resistance now is urging the West to recognize the movement as a legitimate advocate for democratic change in a country ruled for more than 30 years by a brutal, theocratic regime suspected of trying to build nuclear weapons.
Members of Congress from the left to the right applauded Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for removing a major Iranian dissident group from the U.S. terrorist list, although they complained that her action was "long overdue."
When it comes to the financial markets, it is a rule of thumb that past success is a poor indicator of future performance. Sadly, it turns out, that's also the case with political science.
On Oct. 7, 1997, during the Clinton administration, the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (POMI/MEK) was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The MEK represents the main opposition group to the Iranian theocracy and has been the source of key intelligence relating to Iran's secret underground nuclear sites. According to a senior Clinton administration official, the designation of the MEK as a terrorist organization was intended as a "goodwill gesture" to Tehran and its newly elected "moderate" President Mohammad Khatami. Such a goodwill gesture coming on the heels of the Khobar Towers bombing in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where we had proof of Iran's involvement, resulting in the killing of 19 U.S. servicemen and the wounding of more than 500 was unbelievable.
Iran began delivering money to Afghan President Hamid Karzai as early as 2003, a former Afghan official says.
Hard-line Iranian lawmakers called on Tuesday for the country's opposition leaders to face trial and be put to death, a day after clashes between opposition protesters and security forces left two people dead and dozens injured.
Pro-government crowds swarmed outside the battered home of a key Iranian opposition leader Friday after militiamen attacked with firebombs and beat a bodyguard unconscious in a brazen message of intimidation and pinpoint pressure on dissent.
"The people of Iran, I think they choose an Islamic republic ... I must respect the Iranian people's [choice]," he said.
Bahrain's opposition leader sees future without U.S. fleet →
