Author Archives: iPouya

Iran the Winner of the Arab Spring?

Posted on June 17, 2013 by iPouya

On March 7th I participated in my 4th HuffPost Live discussion, this time joined by Flynt Everett. I argued that Iran’s regional clout had been weakened by the Arab Spring and that it was an opportune moment to reach an … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring, Iran | Leave a comment

Reconstructing a Persian Past: Contemporary Uses and Misuses of the Cyrus Cylinder in Iranian Nationalist Discourse

Posted on June 11, 2013 by iPouya

Ajam Media Collective: Recently, the Cyrus Cylinder, an imperial decree that dates from the sixth century B.C., left its home in the British Museum to be displayed on a museum tour across the United States until the end of the … Continue reading →

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Iran’s 2009 Protests Haunt Upcoming Elections

Posted on May 26, 2013 by iPouya

Here is my most recent article at the Huffington Post: On May 21, 2013, Iran’s Guardian Council, the powerful 12-member body charged with vetting hopefuls for the Iranian presidency, determined that Iran’s former president, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, 78, was unfit … Continue reading →

Posted in 22 Khordad, Iran | 3 Comments

Stephen Hawking’s support for the boycott of Israel is a turning point

Posted on May 13, 2013 by iPouya

The Guardian: A standard objection to the Palestinian campaign for the boycott of Israel is that it would cut off “dialogue” and hurt the chances of peace. We’ve heard this again in the wake of Professor Stephen Hawking’s laudable decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Palestine | 1 Comment

The Failed Neocon Attempt to Destroy an Iranian American Anti-war Organization

Posted on May 10, 2013 by iPouya

From a former AIPAC insider, M.J. Rosenberg: The war over war with Iran has many battlefronts. Inside Washington, the battle line is between a small coalition of peace and security, non-proliferation and religious groups opposing war and favoring a peaceful … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, US-Iran Relations | 1 Comment

Stephen Hawking joins academic boycott of Israel

Posted on May 8, 2013 by iPouya

The Guardian: Professor Stephen Hawking is backing the academic boycott of Israel by pulling out of a conference hosted by Israeli president Shimon Peres in Jerusalem as a protest at Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Hawking, 71, the world-renowned theoretical physicist … Continue reading →

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Jewish settlers are terrorising Palestinians, says Israeli general

Posted on May 2, 2013 by iPouya

The Independent: A senior Israeli army commander has warned that unchecked “Jewish terror” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank threatens to plunge the territory into another conflict. In unusually outspoken comments, Major General Avi Mizrahi took aim at extremist … Continue reading →

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UC Berkeley: ASUC Senate passes divestment bill SB 160 11-9

Posted on April 18, 2013 by iPouya

Today, I’m especially proud to be a Cal alum: – The Daily Cal: In a dramatic vote that was emotional for all sides, the ASUC Senate voted 11-9 to divest from companies affiliated with Israel’s military early Thursday morning. The … Continue reading →

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Iran’s MEK to open Washington office

Posted on April 12, 2013 by iPouya

The “People’s Mujahideen” or Mujahideen-e Khalq Organization (MEK) went from being listed as a terrorist organization for years to moments later opening up an office in DC.  I wonder what they had to do in order to get the official … Continue reading →

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Iraq’s Branch of Al Qaeda Merges With Syria Jihadists

Posted on April 10, 2013 by iPouya

I have long said that the war in Syria is very much connected to Iraq. Now, unfortunately, it’s official. A lot of the jihadists fighting in Syria are jihadists who fought in Iraq but were driven out of the country … Continue reading →

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Photos: Syria in Ruins

Posted on April 8, 2013 by iPouya

I visited Syria in the summer of 2008. I can’t believe large swaths of the country now amount to such harrowing images of destruction. See the photos here.

Posted in Syria | 1 Comment

A Journey to IRAN by ISA at Penn State University

Posted on April 8, 2013 by iPouya

This is a magnificent video compilation that captures Iran’s diversity, both cultural and geographical. It’s a nice change beyond the regular depictions of a menacing Iranian monolith.

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Syrian government guerrilla fighters being sent to Iran for training

Posted on April 6, 2013 by iPouya

Reuters: The Syrian government is sending members of its irregular militias for guerrilla combat training at a secret base in Iran, in a move to bolster its armed forces drained by two years of fighting and defections, fighters and activists … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Syria | 1 Comment