by Amir Taheri | Aug 26, 2016 | Middle East
While some commentators are speculating about a possible change of Turkish policy towards Syria in favor of Iranian and Russian positions, Tehran’s daily Kayhan yesterday launched a scathing attack on Ankara for pursuing a “hidden agenda” in Syria. The newspaper,...
by Amir Taheri | May 13, 2016 | Opinion
One of Iran’s chief features has always been the existence of several hundred small and medium towns each with its distinct characteristics and long history. For example, imagine you are in Aqda, on the edge of the Lut Desert; you know that you cannot be anywhere else...
by Amir Taheri | Apr 12, 2016 | Middle East
As the United Nations prepares to host another round of “peace talks” in Syria, signs are emerging of a split between Tehran and Moscow regarding the future of the war-torn nation. One sign of the split came on Sunday when Ali-Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to the...
by Amir Taheri | Nov 30, 2015 | Opinion
By all accounts, the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Tehran last Monday was a carefully choreographed piece of politico-diplomatic ballet to serve three precise objectives. The first of these was to show that Russia recognizes the “Supreme Guide” Ali...
by Amir Taheri | Nov 24, 2015 | Middle East
In a speech at the Press Expo in Tehran earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani expressed regret that Iranians have not succeeded in creating a “lasting newspaper.” He wondered why it was that the Times of London was now in the third century of its existence...