Supreme Leader

Iran’s next president holds all the cards for US rapprochement

Four decades of mistrust between Tehran and Washington isn’t likely to end soon. But it can be managed if mutual diplomacy prevails.

Iran 'will support' any nation or group that fights Israel – Khamenei

"We will support and assist any nation or any group anywhere who opposes and fights the Zionist regime," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says ahead of Quds (Jerusalem) Day.

Lessons from the assassinations of Soleimani and a Hezbollah commander

New claims surrounding the death of a prominent Hezbollah commander shed light on the shifting ground realities in Syria and the region.

The pandemic deepens the sectarian divide in the Middle East

Accusations of biological aggression is distracting the region from working together to defeat Covid-19.

Iran dissidents urge vote boycott as leaders eye high turnout

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader, told Iranians to "disappoint the enemy" by voting in Friday's parliamentary election, which comes during one of the most testing periods for Iran since the ouster of the pro-US shah in 1979.

What impact will a tightened vetting system have in Iran?

The Iranian Guardian Council disqualified thousands of candidates, including reformists and conservatives, for parliamentary elections with low turnout expected.

A dip in popularity forces Iranian leaders to readjust rhetoric

The downing of the Ukrainian airliner, a harsh crackdown on protests and a drastic vetting system could mean Iranians stay home in large numbers on election day.

Iran social media posts call for more protests after plane disaster

Protesters, with students at the forefront, have staged daily rallies in the country after the government admitted they shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane that killed all 176 aboard. Some protests have been met with a violent crackdown.

Esmail Ghaani: Who is the new commander of Iran’s Quds Force?

Qasem Soleimani's less charismatic replacement won't change Iran's regional policies, but we might witness an expansion.

The deadly combination of US-Iranian belligerence and EU-UN impotence

US-Iranian absolutism could have been mitigated had the European Union and the United Nations shown some teeth over the last two years

Analysis: Can Iran and US de-escalate tensions after Soleimani killing?

Iran has promised revenge for the killing of top military commander Qassem Soleimani. The Islamic Republic’s response will be carefully calculated, but could lead to spiralling violence.

Hichkas: the fearless Iranian rapper singing for 'all the nobodies'

The rap singer articulated citizen discontent over the killings of protesters in November and his songs went viral, resonating with disgruntled Iranians.