by John Kampfner They are not what they might be, but they are better than they could be. The conclusion of a nuclear arms reduction agreement after months of protracted and often fraught negotiations, suggest that relations between the US and Russia appear to be moving towards a position of grudging co-operation. The deal, cutting each [...]

President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s government says Iran has no intention of developing a nuclear weapons capability. UNITED NATIONS — China has taken part in a conference call with five other world powers to discuss a U.S. proposal for a fourth round of United Nations sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program — but no deal has [...]

A group of Iranian film directors and artists has written an open letter to the government demanding the “unconditional release” of prize-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi, RFE/RL’s Radio Farda reports. Panahi, 49, was arrested at his home on March 1 along with family and friends in the ongoing crackdown on opposition activists begun after Iran’s disputed [...]

by JAHANGIR SALEHIAN “This trip to Israel was a New Year’s gift to the Iranian regime,” read one reaction from an internet user who, like many, was enraged by Caspian Makan’s trip to Israel. Makan, Neda Agha Soltan’s fiancé, has incited both sides of the post-presidential election confrontation in Iran with his visit and meeting [...]

Mohammad Reza Shalgouni is a founder-member of the Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran (Rahe Kargar) and has been elected as a member of its central committee on a number of occasions. He spent nine years as a political prisoner in Iran under the shah and today is an active supporter of Hands Off the [...]

By Abbas Djavadi, Arash Hassan Nia March 25, 2010 A recent pronouncement by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appears to have settled a long-standing row between President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s government and parliament on how to reduce and gradually eliminate government subsidies of basic goods and services. From gasoline and electricity to sugar and flour, total [...]

“…has illustrated that even among those who say they care for social issues, men believe they can do what they like…” Zirzamin talks with Torang Abedian, the director of “Not An Illusion”. Zirzamin: Torang, thanks for accepting our request for an interview. Can you tell us little about yourself and “Not An Illusion“. Torang Abedian: [...]

Rasool Nafisi WASHINGTON—Browsing through the Iranian journals and listening to the current discourses in that country, one might be shocked to find out that a major debate is under way over whether the government is entitled to “cut the right arm and the left leg” of those opposing the regime. But such is the state [...]

By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ Published: March 24, 2010 A top Google executive on Wednesday called for rules to put pressure on governments that filter the Internet, saying the practice was hindering international trade. Alan Davidson, director of public policy for Google, told a joint Congressional panel that the United States should consider withholding development aid for countries [...]

By Rodrigo Davies The fans who are crowded into a basement bar in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, on a chilly Tuesday evening already know the lyrics to the songs, even though none of them have been officially released. This is not the hottest new British or American band who are hoping to break out of [...]