How Iran's theocratic rule takes hits but persists
A lopsided war with Israel and the United States in June rattled Iran’s political order, but it survives through smarter coercion and the disarray of forces that might otherwise bring it down.
The islands fallout: is Iranian patriotism the West’s blind spot?
Europeans may have intended to pressure Tehran when they demanded last month an end to Iran’s “occupation” of the three Persian Gulf islands, but the move instead exposed how badly they misread Iran’s public mood.
Friday, 11/14/2025 Can Tehran use the Cape Town model to escape a water crisis 'Day Zero'?
As Iran’s capital Tehran endures its worst water crisis in living memory, few recent global cases offer clearer lessons than Cape Town in South Africa in 2018.
Wednesday, 11/12/2025 Iraq votes under watchful gaze of US and Iran
Iraq’s parliamentary election on Tuesday unfolded under the shadow of foreign influence from the United States and Iran which have for two decades vied over the future of the war-battered Arab nation.
Tuesday, 11/11/2025 Tehran’s 'Kneel Before Iran' statue rekindles debate over nationalist turn
Tehran’s unveiling of a towering statue depicting the Roman Emperor Valerian kneeling before pre-Islamic Persian King Shapur I has renewed criticism of the Islamic Republic’s appeal to nationalist sentiment following the June war with Israel.
Sunday, 11/09/2025 Double squeeze: Iran faces record capital flight as oil revenues fall
Iran’s Central Bank’s latest quarterly report shows capital flight hit a historic peak in the spring of 2025, underscoring the depth of the country’s financial strain.
Saturday, 11/08/2025 Tehran eyes Caspian energy boost, risking deeper dependence on Moscow
The new push for an electricity grid linking Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan grid promises closer energy integration but could leave Tehran more exposed to Moscow’s leverage as rival corridors threaten to dilute its regional role.
Saturday, 11/08/2025 Western charity scrutiny tests line between faith, foreign influence
A British inquiry into a pro-Iran charity reflects a mounting Western struggle to balance freedom of religion with efforts to confront Iranian political influence as Tehran's ties with Western Europe and North America plumb new lows.
Thursday, 11/06/2025 No regrets: Khamenei ramps up defiance of US with hostage crisis praise
Almost half a century after young revolutionaries stormed the US embassy in Tehran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei once again defended the move, leaning into the original break between the arch-foes and all but ruling out rapprochement.
Wednesday, 11/05/2025 Survival mode: how Tehran adapts through crisis, endures decay
Tehran is in a tougher position after the 12-day war and the return of UN sanctions but may not be as close to collapse as some Iranians might like.
Tuesday, 11/04/2025 Iran's runaway inflation empties tables, pushes children out of school
A new report by Iran’s Statistical Center (ISC) reveals a sharp acceleration in food inflation, hitting millions of families where it hurts most.
Saturday, 11/01/2025 ExxonMobil’s Iraq return highlights Iran's stalled oil ambitions
ExxonMobil’s return to southern Iraq this month underscores how far Baghdad has surged ahead of Tehran in exploiting their shared border oilfields—and how the two neighbors’ fortunes are diverging.
Thursday, 10/30/2025 Best defense: why Tehran might go on offensive to avoid bitter concessions
Tehran may be preparing for confrontation rather than calm, if the recent remarks of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are any indication, preferring the uncertainties of further conflict over meeting US peace demands seen as humiliating.
Tuesday, 10/21/2025 China walks tightrope as UN sanctions drive Iran deeper into its orbit
The return of UN sanctions has deepened Tehran’s isolation and tested Beijing’s pragmatic balancing act in a region shaken by Donald Trump’s new peace plan and the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.
Tuesday, 10/21/2025