Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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The late Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani speaks during a biannual meeting of Iran’s Assembly of Experts in Tehran, on MArch 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

Iranian cleric’s death leaves gap in key power body

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Oct 21, 2014 | Middle East

Ankara, Reuters—The head of Iran’s top clerical body has died after lying in a coma for months, leaving a gap in the only institution that has the authority to elect and dismiss the country’s Supreme Leader. The death of 83-year-old Ayatollah Mohammad Reza...

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, and former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, left, during a session of Assembly of Experts in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013 (AP Photo)

Opinion: The struggle to succeed Khamenei has already begun

by Amir Taheri | Oct 3, 2014 | Opinion

During his recent stay in New York, President Hassan Rouhani hosted a “private dinner” for a number of former US officials, oil executives, and lobbyists. According to several participants, Rouhani tried to pass on a simple message: If the US does not help him clinch...

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Image of Navvab Safavi being escorted to court by Iranian police. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Iran and the Ikhwan: Assassinations, Pamphlets and Meetings

by Amir Taheri | Jun 7, 2014 | Features

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The young man had been waiting for hours before his “target” came out of his house. “Could we have a word?” the young man demanded, stepping in front of the older man. “Let’s have more than a word while I walk to work,” the old man replied. The...

Opinion: Tehran should fear the Iranian people, not the West

by Camelia Entekhabi-Fard | Nov 12, 2013 | Opinion

During the week’s slower days in Iran, Thursday and Friday (which are tantamount to the weekend there), the news did not attract much attention. One of the top concerns was preparations to eat chelow kabob—everyone’s favorite meal—as families gather to sit down...

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European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attend a news conference at the end of the Iranian nuclear talks in Geneva November 10, 2013 (AFP PHOTO / Pool / Jason Reed)

Rouhani says Iran rejects threats, cites red lines in nuclear talks

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Nov 11, 2013 | Middle East

Dubai/Geneva, Reuters—President Hassan Rouhani, architect of Iran’s diplomatic opening to world powers, said on Sunday Iran had “red lines” and would not bow to threats—in an apparent bid to keep hardliners on side as Tehran edges toward a deal on...