Khamenei banks on patience Trump may lack
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has hinted at and cautioned about potential negotiations with the United States, maintaining his long-held strategy of calculated ambiguity.
Iran and the United States
Senators express mixed feelings on aid freeze which could affect Iran programs
President Donald Trump’s executive order last Monday to freeze all foreign aid funding has split US senators, some of whom see a welcome return to fiscal discipline and others see a threat to critical foreign policy priorities.
News in Brief
Tehran upholds 10-year prison sentence for Iranian-American journalist
An Iranian court of appeals has upheld the 10-year prison sentence for Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, a former employee of a US government-funded broadcaster, his lawyer announced on X.
Mauritius suggests it will help keep Iran at bay if Chagos deal finalized
Mauritius urged the United States to finalize a deal ceding sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, vowing not to let any third party overrun the Indian Ocean territory - in a likely reference to Western adversaries Iran and China.
Economy
Poor gasoline refining fuels Iran's cancer crisis, expert warns
The use of poorly refined gasoline, a major source of air pollution in Iran, is driving the country's cancer crisis, a Mashhad University of Medical Sciences professor has warned.
Iran's IRGC tests new loitering drone during wargames
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a new loitering unmanned aerial vehicle called Rezvan during drills held by its ground forces, according to state-run media.
Prince Pahlavi entreats Trump not to fall for Tehran's diplomatic feints
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged US President Donald Trump not to give in to feigned pragmatism by the Islamic Republic which succeeded his ousted father, warning that such a move would perpetuate tyranny and terrorism.
Human Rights
Nobel laureate calls anti-execution campaign in Iran a growing civil movement
Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent human rights activist, has described the No to Execution Tuesdays campaign by female prisoners as a "civil movement capable of expanding across Iran".
Mideast Crisis
Iran mocks Trump’s Gaza plan, suggests sending Israelis to Greenland
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized US President Donald Trump's plan to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other nations, countering with the suggestion that Israelis should be resettled in Greenland.
Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Afghanistan sparks controversy
Iranian media and political commentators have criticized Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s official visit to Kabul on Sunday, arguing that Tehran has not yet formally recognized the Taliban government.
Q&A: What are the religious qualifications for Khamenei's successor as Supreme Leader?
A pivotal aspect in choosing a successor to Ali Khamenei, the ultimate authority in Iran and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, will involve assessing the candidates' religious knowledge and credentials.
Domestic Politics
Mysterious ultraconservative clerical party arises in Iran
A shadowy new ultraconservative party calling itself the Society of Revolutionary Clerics is staking a place in Iranian politics well to the right of Saeed Jalili, the main standard bearer of opposition to the current relatively moderate government.
Q&A: Unpacking the controversy around the Iran-UAE Crescent gas deal
The 2001 gas supply agreement between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and the UAE-based Crescent Gas Corporation (CGC) remains one of the most controversial topics in Iranian politics.
Iran's Nuclear Program
Iran blames US pressure for nuclear standoff
Iran has accused the United States of obstructing progress on the nuclear issue through pressure exerted on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Tehran Insider
Breathing the air that’s no more
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.
Notes from underground: an evening of secret theater in Tehran
Tehran's art scene is moving underground with exhibitions and performances that defy pervasive censorship, turning home venues into sanctuaries for creative self-expression.
Syrians have every right to hate us Iranians
"I can’t remember the last time I was so shaken as I was watching images of Assad’s prisons," says Fatemeh, who has seen the inside of Iran’s prisons for her activism. “My country funded these crimes. Syrians have every right to hate us."
You think it's bad today? Wait till you see tomorrow
Mahmoud looks spent; he’s 45 but looks older. Grey-haired, unshaven, bespectacled — financial anxiety has worn him out. He owns no home, holds no significant assets and dares not think about the future. "Let’s make it to tomorrow is our motto," he says.
In Case You Missed It
Iranian money-laundering tycoon back in headlines with crypto plans
Unofficial reports surrounding the activities of Babak Zanjani, once Iran's richest man and a figure synonymous with corruption and sanctions evasion, have reignited public and media interest.
Eye for Iran Podcast
Gaza ceasefire puts Iranian hostage diplomacy in the spotlight
A ceasefire deal announced this week between Israel and Hamas signals a defeat for the Palestinian militant group's main backer Iran, a former hostage in Tehran who also influenced the ceasefire negotiations told Iran International.
Human Rights
Tehran upholds 10-year prison sentence for Iranian-American journalist
One year on, Iranian prisoners continue campaign against rising executions
Nobel laureate calls anti-execution campaign in Iran a growing civil movement
Tehran files charges against prominent critic after his comments on Palestinians
