Iran and the United States
- Lining up behind Leader
- Putin's Role
- Not Talking to Bullies
Tehran has condemned the US and UK military strikes against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen, rejecting US President Donald Trump's warning against its support for the militant group which it continues to say acts independently of Iran.
Economy
- Energy crunch
- Exports amid blackouts
- Inflation, no talks
Iran’s Supreme Labor Council approved a 45% increase in the minimum wage, setting the new base salary at 104.4 million rials ($110) per month, but the decision has drawn criticism from lawmakers and labor representatives who argue that it fails to match rising living costs.
Tehran’s city council has voted to prohibit advertisements for global brands associated with Israeli companies such as Coca-Cola and Nestle, expanding the ban to sales in municipal markets and purchases by the city municipality.
The Islamic Republic’s crackdown over the years has gradually turned the ancient festival of lighting bonfires before Nowruz into a night of youth defying authorities.
Domestic Politics
During his June 2024 election campaign and his first six months in office, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian positioned himself as the "good cop" in the country's familiar good cop/bad cop dynamic between reformists and hardliners.
President Masoud Pezeshkian should commit harakiri, a form of Japanese ritual suicide, rather than seek scapegoats for the country's soaring inflation, suggested a prominent Iranian commentator.
Conservatives farther to the right even of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have become more assertive in their demands to implement a new restrictive hijab law which has been stalled for months.
More than 1,300 Voice of America (VOA) employees were placed on leave Saturday, and funding for two US news services broadcasting to foreign countries was terminated after President Donald Trump ordered major cuts to VOA’s parent agency and six other federal entities.
Iran has unveiled a prototype of its national artificial intelligence (AI) platform, developed in collaboration with Sharif University of Technology.
Iran's Nuclear Program
- Iranian denial
- Military option
- US assessment
The Islamic Republic is very close to developing a nuclear weapon, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog warned on Saturday, as the world awaits Tehran's response to Donald Trump's offer of either nuclear talks or the possibility of airstrikes on its atomic sites.
The fast improving relationship between the United States under President Donald Trump and Russia may mean Moscow will seek more distance from Washington's Mideast nemesis Iran, Russian-born journalist and filmmaker Tanya Lukyanova said.
Iran is intensifying its crackdown on women, minorities, and activists using drones, facial recognition, and tracking apps to monitor and suppress dissent, a new UN report reveals.
The UN rights body has ruled the detention of a top Iranian rapper and activist arbitrary and contrary to international law in a response to a petition submitted by rights groups and international lawyers on his behalf.
A new United Nations report has strongly criticized Iran for a dramatic increase in executions, systematic gender-based discrimination, and repression of minorities in 2024.
Iranian authorities have ramped up an effort to control female singers, blocking Instagram accounts belonging to multiple artists in recent days under judiciary orders.
Water Worries
- Drop in rainfall
- Tehran's drought
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a stark warning about Tehran's critical water shortage and land subsidence, calling it God's wrath and urging immediate, collaborative action from officials and experts.
Turkish security forces arrested five people accused of spying for Iranian intelligence in a coordinated operation across Istanbul, Antalya, and Mersin, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday.
Iran Sanctions
- New US Sanctions on Iran Oil
- Can Trump zero out Iran oil sales?
Iranian oil exports are buoyant and cannot be halted by stepped-up US sanctions, Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said as Washington sanctioned him personally and expanded curbs on Tehran's crude trade.
Iranian authorities have intensified their campaign against online dating content, summoning or arresting 15 people involved in organizing blind date events on social media.
In Case You Missed It
The recent admission by a former Revolutionary Guards minister about orchestrating the killing of dissidents on European soil in the 1980s and 1990s shed light on Tehran's ruthless suppression of opponents abroad.
Eye for Iran Podcast
- Watch on YouTube
- Previous Episodes
The ceasefire between Turkey and an outlawed Kurdish group could further empower Ankara to fill a regional power vacuum after Tehran and its allies were battered in warfare with Israel, foreign relations expert Henri Barkey told Eye for Iran.
Tehran Insider
Last week I took my teenage niece to a concert at Tehran’s iconic Vahdat Hall, where two large portraits hang high on stage walls, watching over the audience. “What’s the Islamic Republic doing here,” my niece joked.
Almost four in ten marriages in Iran end in divorce, according to the latest official figures, giving rise to theocrats' cries of a crisis that may not be as obvious to some of the women gaining their freedom.
A vast, dark cloud blankets Tehran. We don't even need to say when: it’s almost all the time, with fewer than ten days of clean air last year.
Tehran's art scene is moving underground with exhibitions and performances that defy pervasive censorship, turning home venues into sanctuaries for creative self-expression.
Iran Protests
Iran unveils national AI platform prototype Women will topple Islamic Republic even if it survives war: Nobel laureate Pezeshkian hits out at hijab law after hardliners hamstring agenda Iranian singer Mehdi Yarrahi receives 74 lashes, lawyer says
Society
Iran expands crackdown on online dating, detaining organizers Ozempic hype grips affluent Iranians as others chase essential medication Iran bans pre-revolution period drama over hijab, dance scenes Breaking up is hard to do, but more Iranian women dare divorce anyway
Human Rights
Iran deploys drones and surveillance in crackdown on women - UN report Trump administration eyes US visa ban for Iranians Dissident Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi's detention was illegal, UN body says Iran steps up crackdown on female singers
United States
Trump cuts US-funded media broadcasting to non-democratic states Dear Ayatollah: Trump makes politics personal with Khamenei letter Khamenei says talks pointless with deal-breaker Trump Bluffs, uncertainty and threat of war shape Iran's debate on US talks
Iran Sanctions
US sanctions cannot cut off our oil exports, Iran's oil minister says Iran condemns US sanctions on oil minister as 'hostile' US sanctions Iran's oil minister, upping ante in standoff US sanctions Swedish gang for alleged aid to Iranian attacks abroad
Mideast Crisis
Iran dismisses Trump's warning, denies control of Yemen's Houthis Attack on Iran's nuclear sites would contaminate Persian Gulf, Qatar warns Iraq’s Iran-backed PMF militia fears terrorist label by the US Israel to brace for year of war on Iran, says new military chief
Iran’s 45% minimum wage increase faces criticism over inflation gap Iran uncovers oil pipeline taps amid fuel smuggling crisis Questionable growth: How Iran’s government skews economic data Iran's president warns of 'God's wrath' over Tehran's water crisis
Iran Nuclear
Iran very close to acquiring nuclear weapons, UN watchdog warns Iran says Russia and China agreed talks will focus only on nuclear issue China and Russia back Iran amid renewed US pressure Indirect talks with the US could be Tehran's attempt to buy time
Military
Trump authorizes massive airstrikes on Yemen in warning signal to Iran Iran's IRGC vows devastating response to potential US attack Strikes on Iran nuclear sites could trigger long campaign - think tank Trump unfazed as Russia, China join Iran for naval drill
Diplomacy
Iran praises Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement Trump thaw may mean Russia drifts from Iran US threats undermine its talk of peace, senior Iranian cleric says Iran says Trump's letter will be delivered via UAE
Domestic Politics
Tehran bans advertisements for global brands linked to Israel Iran's president should 'harakiri' over inflation crisis, analyst says Pezeshkian’s dilemma: Stand his ground or step down? Iran to increase 40 parliamentary seats after decades of delay
Iran Insights
Iran's President Pezeshkian loses role as 'good cop' Iranian bonfires festival or youth defiance night? ‘Super-revolutionaries’ challenge Khamenei over hijab War or peace debate takes over Tehran after Khamenei rejects Trump overture
