'Berlin Wall's Lessons For Today'

In an op-ed for "USA Today," Jeffrey Gedmin discusses RFE and the role of free media in societies living under repressive regimes. More

Victory Over Tradition

For Iranian Shi'a, the Islamic Revolution seemed like a dream come true, pushing their faith to the forefront. Yet it subverted centuries-old traditions in which senior clerics remained largely independent of the state. More

Features & Commentary

'West Must Accept' Khomeini's Structures

David Owen was British foreign secretary from 1977 to 1979, giving him an insider's view of the shah's overthrow 30 years ago this week. Radio Farda asks Lord Owen how he regards what happened three decades ago, and where he sees things going from here. More

Iranians Have Paid Dearly For Fateful Misjudgment

We were responsible for what happened. Perhaps we deserved it. But it is still up to us to change things for the better. More

Why Can't The West And Tehran Be Friends?

Opportunities for any significant easing of bilateral tensions have been few and far between, but by most accounts include the period shortly after Mohammad Khatami's election as president in 1997. More

Documenting The Meeting Of A Queen And Her Adversary

"The Queen And I" is a newly released documentary that introduces Iran's former empress to a onetime opponent turned filmmaker. In their native Iran, Farah Pahlavi resided in a palace and lived a fairy-tale life; Nahid Persson grew up wishing her parents didn't have to work so hard, and ended up joining the revolution against the shah. Thirty years later the two meet, and find they have more in common than they had expected. More

Iran's Former Empress Discusses New Documentary

The former empress of Iran, Farah Pahlavi, is the subject of a newly released documentary from an unlikely source -- Iranian-born filmmaker Nahid Persson, a former communist who took part in the 1979 revolution. Farah Pahlavi discusses her decision to participate in the documentary, which follows the former empress and her onetime opponent as they share ideas and concerns about the country they were both forced to leave. More

Capturing Heady Days, Grim Aftermath

Reza Deghati has spent the last three decades capturing images of despair, hope, and the lives of ordinary people in war-torn areas around the world. And the photojournalist, known internationally simply as "Reza," has the Iranian Revolution -- whose 30th anniversary is being marked in the run-up to February 10 -- to thank for helping steer him toward an award-winning career. More

Former Hostage 'Wrong' About 1979 Events

American John Limbert has had what could be called a lifelong love affair with Iran since first traveling to the country in 1962. When the U.S. Embassy was captured by Iranian students in 1979, Limbert was newly posted as a Foreign Service officer. Along with 50 other Americans, he was held captive for more than a year. Today, he shares his reflections on the 30th anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution. More

Economic Equality Continues To Escape Iranians

Thirty years after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the promises of economic justice that helped spur the movement remain unfulfilled. With unemployment in oil-rich Iran approaching double digits, inflation spiraling, and incomes far below levels seen under the shah, the economy has exposed itself as the establishment's Achilles' heel. More

Possibility Of Warmer U.S. Ties Buoys Rights Activists

U.S. President Barack Obama has said he would be prepared to extend a hand of peace if Iran were to "unclench its fist," and his administration has reportedly sent a letter aimed at unfreezing diplomatic relations. Some Iranian rights activists see this as an encouraging sign, and believe their work could benefit. More

A Successful Revolution?

This week and next, Iran is marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. The 10 days of observances mark the time it took the revolution's leader, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Kohomeini, to topple the last vestiges of the Shah's rule following his return to Iran on February 1. Since then, the Islamic Revolution has proved to be one of the world's most durable. But has it succeeded in making life better for ordinary Iranians? More

An Iranophile Looks At Iran's Islamic Revolution

Today, like at that time, the Iranian people deserve better than what they have. These creative, artistic, and humane people should have the opportunity to fulfill their talents and their dreams in peace, freedom, and security without worrying that someone will put them in jail for expressing the wrong opinion or wearing the wrong clothes. More

Multimedia

Images Of The Iranian Revolution

Photojournalist Reza Deghati, known internationally simply as "Reza," captured iconic images of the Iranian Revolution and the ensuing hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009