http://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries http://www.rferl.org/img/rssLogo.gif http://www.rferl.org en-US Copyright 2009 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:53:23 +0000 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The conflict in Iran's southeast with Jundallah, an ethnic Baluch insurgent group, has arisen from a combination of ethnic, sectarian, economic, and political problems. But Iran's Islamic regime continues to offer only short-term solutions to the minority's complaints. http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Offers_ShortTerm_Solutions_To_LongTerm_Problems_Of_Baluch_Minority/1858243.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Offers_ShortTerm_Solutions_To_LongTerm_Problems_Of_Baluch_Minority/1858243.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:31:10 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Offers_ShortTerm_Solutions_To_LongTerm_Problems_Of_Baluch_Minority/1858243.html#relatedInfoContainer In the view of the conservatives, Khamenei is above the law, a status he inherited from the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who said the supreme leader can suspend or set aside even basic tenets of Islam to protect the Islamic republic. The reformists, however, seek checks on the leader's vast authority, and some have even challenged the notion that the supreme leader's authority comes directly from God. http://www.rferl.org/content/Authority_Of_Irans_Supreme_Leader_Is_Key_To_Divisions/1819721.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Authority_Of_Irans_Supreme_Leader_Is_Key_To_Divisions/1819721.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:35:55 +0000 Commentary http://www.rferl.org/content/Authority_Of_Irans_Supreme_Leader_Is_Key_To_Divisions/1819721.html#relatedInfoContainer In the recent election, former and current IRGC leaders who have benefited enormously during Ahmadinejad's rule, together with the supreme leader, foresaw the possible return of a reformist agenda and undertook brazen measures to "nip it in the bud." http://www.rferl.org/content/Dilemmas_In_The_Midst_Of_A_Coup/1757862.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Dilemmas_In_The_Midst_Of_A_Coup/1757862.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:26:04 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Dilemmas_In_The_Midst_Of_A_Coup/1757862.html#relatedInfoContainer The commanders of the Revolutionary Guard, who receive their orders directly from the supreme leader, continue to interfere in many aspects of political life under the pretext of safeguarding the revolution and its achievements. In recent years, owing to a raft of internal problems and external challenges, including Iran's nuclear standoff with the West, Ayatollah Khamenei has relied increasingly on the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij militia to maintain his influence and domestic security. http://www.rferl.org/content/Military_Could_Tip_The_Balance_In_Irans_Election/1747536.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Military_Could_Tip_The_Balance_In_Irans_Election/1747536.html Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:22:32 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Military_Could_Tip_The_Balance_In_Irans_Election/1747536.html#relatedInfoContainer Israel's declared objectives are to stop Hamas from firing rockets at southern Israel; to end the smuggling of arms to Gaza via the 200 or so tunnels linking southern Gaza with Egypt; and to weaken the military capabilities of Hamas. Hamas for its part hopes to take advantage of Israel's aversion to the prospect of significant casualties and force it to quickly terminate its offensive, rather than get bogged down in a war of attrition. http://www.rferl.org/content/Israel_Unlikely_To_Agree_Gaza_CeaseFire_Until_Military_Objectives_Achieved/1369158.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Israel_Unlikely_To_Agree_Gaza_CeaseFire_Until_Military_Objectives_Achieved/1369158.html Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:51:40 +0000 Commentary http://www.rferl.org/content/Israel_Unlikely_To_Agree_Gaza_CeaseFire_Until_Military_Objectives_Achieved/1369158.html#relatedInfoContainer With a nominal strength of over 13 million, the volunteer Basij militia plays a key role not only in coercing Iranians to observe strict norms of behavior, but in quelling crime, smuggling, and political unrest. Its support helped Mahmud Ahmadinejad capture the presidency once, will it be enough for a second term? http://www.rferl.org/content/Irans_Basij_Force_Mainstay_Of_Domestic_Security/1357081.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Irans_Basij_Force_Mainstay_Of_Domestic_Security/1357081.html Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:57:57 +0000 Commentary http://www.rferl.org/content/Irans_Basij_Force_Mainstay_Of_Domestic_Security/1357081.html#relatedInfoContainer The oil price fall could hardly have come at a worse time for Ahmadinejad, who is seeking reelection for a second term in about eight months' time. http://www.rferl.org/content/By_Hossein_Aryan/1336169.html http://www.rferl.org/content/By_Hossein_Aryan/1336169.html Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:45:47 +0000 Commentary http://www.rferl.org/content/By_Hossein_Aryan/1336169.html#relatedInfoContainer The Georgia crisis and the U.S. agreement to locate part of its missile-defense system in Poland have revived a Cold War mentality among some observers in both Russia and the West. Even though Russian and U.S. officials have denied any intention of starting another Cold War, some analysts are already predicting a new polarization of the world. http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_Military_Alliance_With_Iran_Improbable/1200466.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_Military_Alliance_With_Iran_Improbable/1200466.html Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:58:55 +0000 Commentary http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_Military_Alliance_With_Iran_Improbable/1200466.html#relatedInfoContainer The Georgia crisis will also have repercussions on the Middle East and, in particular, on the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. The conflict in Georgia has temporarily taken attention away from that issue, but rising tensions between the United States and Russia could affect future cooperation in handling Iran. They could even jeopardize the U.S. strategic objective of stepping up pressure on Tehran with another round of UN sanctions. http://www.rferl.org/content/Georgia_Conflict_Could_Produce_Split_On_Iran_Sanctions/1192887.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Georgia_Conflict_Could_Produce_Split_On_Iran_Sanctions/1192887.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:23:48 +0000 Commentary In mid-June, the so-called 5+1 group of countries tasked by the UN with negotiating with Iran over its contested nuclear program offered Iran a broad package of incentives, including assistance with its civilian nuclear program, in exchange for the suspension of uranium enrichment. Iran rejected a similar proposal two years ago. But this time it responded with a smile, not a sneer. http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Sends_Mixed_Signals_On_Eve_Of_Nuclear_Talks_/1184470.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Sends_Mixed_Signals_On_Eve_Of_Nuclear_Talks_/1184470.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:02:06 +0000 Commentary